High resolution current profiler

A High Resolution Current Profiler (HRCP) system has been developed which employs a pulse-to-pulse coherent Doppler technique to measure ocean current profiles with high spatial, temporal, and velocity resolution. This technique is conceptually similar to the conventional single pulse incoherent Doppler technique, except that the Doppler frequency shift is computed, by comparison of sequential pulse echoes rather than from a single pulse. This method leads to a much improved current measurement precision. The developmental HRCP measures vertical profiles of water velocity over a 10 meter range, with a depth resolution of 20 cm. Velocity measurement precision is approximately 0.5 cm/sec at a 3.3 Hz sampling rate. The HRCP development has been carried out by RD Instruments under contract to Det norske Veritas, Norway.