AMBRE: A new CTDO2 data acquisition system

A new CTDO₂ (Conductivity, Temperature, Depth, dissolved Oxygen meter) data acquisition system called AMBRE has been recently developed at IFREMER. The AMBRE system is based both on a VME computer which-acquires digitalized data in real time and on a UNIX work station for the display, the validation and the back up of the data. In addition to data acquisition, the system also allows sampling bottles to be triggered at interactively defined levels. The software, written in C, is based on a MOTIF interface. The product is easy to use and should be appreciated for its acquisition security. The operator follows data acquisition on several user defined graphs on which sampling levels can be indicated. A “spy” function attached to each graph returns values of mouse selected data points. The consistency of sensor measurement is checked in real time using statistical tests. A warning is generated in case of incoherent data. The system may be connected to the ship Ethernet from which navigation or bottom bathymetry can, for instance, be acquired. The system is now used with a NBIS MARK III CTDO ₂, but the system was built to be easily adapted to any kind of CTDO₂ connected to a conductor cable