An oceanographic instrumentation system

Oceanographic data is of great importance for developing an effective design criteria for offshore structures and pipelines. Therefore, the need arises for gathering such data directly, by instrumenting the ocean. Oceanographic instrumentation, unlike conventional process instrumentation, is of special nature. The effort to measure the ocean bottom parameters makes it even more so. Two such instrument packages were deployed successfully in the Gulf of Mexico--one near Transco platform in Ship Shoal area. Block 214 in the summer, 1975 and the other near Tenneco platform in West Cameron area. Block 643 in April, 1976. At the time this work was begun the most widely used bottom particle velocity meter was and still is, a Savonius Rotor meter. Although various other current meters for oceanographic application are available in the market today, very few if any, have ever tried to put Strouhal Vortex Shedding theory to practice for measuring ocean current. This paper deals in detail with the design and development of a current meter based on vortex shedding principle. In addition, the paper also deals briefly with the design and development of complete electronics for measuring other parameters such as temperature, current direction, pressure, wave heights etc. based on more or less conventional or semi-conventional methods.