The Graduates School of Oceanography at the University of Rhode Island will further develop an automated coulometric detection processor for shipboard use. This Single-Operator Multiparameter Metabolic Analyzer (SOMMA), will allow the simultaneous processing of several key metabolic parameters in seawater. These measurements, obtained from a single sample, include total carbon dioxide, oxygen, carbon-14, pH, alkalinity, and various derivative data. A microprocessor will control SOMMA's operation, perform statistical analyses, and store resulting data. It will be designed to work with a variety of existing, interchangeable chemical detectors. Improvements in making rapid, accurate, and efficient measurements of chemical parameters in aquatic samples will benefit many chemical, ecological, and microbiological studies. Being able to make these measurements onboard research vessels when samples are fresh is a further benefit and minimizes possible chemical degradation from having to store and transport samples ashore for analysis. //
