A Portable Core Sampler for Lake Deposits

Abstract

A pneumatically operated core sampler is described which is easily portable and may be used by two men from a rowing boat. The apparatus takes an undisturbed sediment core 6 m long and is substantially independent of water depth up to a limit of some 250 m. The hydrostatic pressure operating on a cylindrical anchor chamber embedded in the sediment is used to hold the apparatus in contact with the bottom while the coring tube is driven downwards by compressed air. On completion of the coring operation, the anchor chamber is automatically filled with air, the coring tube is extracted from the sediment, and the apparatus brought to the water surface by the buoyancy lift. The use of heavy weights and the associated lifting tackle is therefore avoided.