A System for Calibration of Expendable Conductivity, Temperature, And Depth (XCTD) Probes

A system for calibrating production quantities of XCTD probes is being developed. This paper presents the system objectives in terms of meeting the accuracy and cost targets of the probes and discusses the analytical derivations which form the basis for the calibration process. Also presented is a functional description of the system hardware and how it will be implemented on a production line to meet the calibration requirements for each XCTD probe. The purpose of this paper is to present a plan to meet the technical challenges inherent in the high volume production of characterized XCTD probes. Successful implementation of the plan will provide the oceanographic community with a new source for the efficient and accurate in-situ measurement of ocean salinity.