PMEL is looking to purchase an autonomous insitu camera to identify and categorize plankton in the Bering and Chukchi Seas.  To accomplish these goals, the camera system must have the minimum requirements.

1.  Camera must be able to operate insitu, mounted on a CTD frame as a stand-alone system.

2.  Camera must be able to operate to a depth of 500 meters,

3.  Camera must be self-powered, able to do multiple half hour casts in a row.

4.  System must include particle identification and classification software.

5.  Information stored on camera must be downloadable between CTD casts.

6.  System must be able to identify and image particles between .1 mm and up to 1 mm in size. 

7.  High image resolution for camera with a minimum of 4 megapixels.

8.  Color resolution of a minimum of 16 bits.