Accession Number:

ADA188234

Title:

A Microcomputer-Controlled Digital Acquisition and Analysis System for the Expendable Bathythermograph

Descriptive Note:

Memorandum rept.

Corporate Author:

SACLANT ASW RESEARCH CENTRE LA SPEZIA (ITALY)

Report Date:

1985-10-01

Pagination or Media Count:

23.0

Abstract:

The expandable bathythermograph XBT has been an important tool for basic and applied oceanographic survey work. This has led to a significant body of work being done on the accuracy of the XBT system as a whole. One of the most important limitations has been the analogue recording and manual digitization of the profiles. A digital interface is described that replaces the standard deck unit and removes this problem. The interface is controlled through an IEEE-488 interface bus by a microcomputer or a minicomputer. The data is stored with 12 bit precision 10 times a second. As many as 115 profiles, each recording to 450 m in depth, may be stored on a single cassette. The microcomputer and plotter may be used for a number of analytical tasks including isotherm following, contour plotting, and sound speed or density calculations. The profiles may also be automatically compressed by a most reversible algorithm and coded to standard format for radio transmission. The bibliography contains presently available research reports on the XBT. Keywords Bathythermograph data Electrical conductivity-temperature-depth profile Contour plotting Density Digital expendable bathythermograph Horizontal variability Salinity-temperature-depth profile Sippican Mk-9, T5, and T7 Sonar performance Sound speed Temporal variability.

Subject Categories:

  • Physical and Dynamic Oceanography

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE