A Stable Platform for Micro-Scale Studies of Velocity, Temperature and Conductivity

In the past ten years, several investigators have constructed instruments to measure small scale processes in the oceans. In attempting to describe these processes, insufficient attention has been given to the problem of the sensors or the recording of body motion relative to the media which is being measured. Many investigators chose to limit their studies to scales which are unaffected by sensor motion or to make certain assumptions about frequencies and amplitudes of the sources of noise. When attempting to resolve microscale phenomena, these problems become acute if not absolutely limiting. An instrument was developed at Scripps Institution of Oceanography in 1974 to attempt to advance the state-of-the-art in ability to accurately resolve these small scale processes. It has at its heart a free falling body which employs a large overmass and uniform drag characteristics to stabilize its motion during data acquisition. In addition, several body motion parameters are carefully recorded. The sensors are selected for optimum resolution in time and space and very careful examination of sampling techniques were undertaken.