Office of Marine Programs
University of Rhode Island
Narragansett Bay Campus
Narragansett, RI 02882-1197
Phone: 401-874-6211
Fax: 401-874-6486
Email: OMP@gso.uri.edu
Instrumentation
Underway Measurements |
| A variety of instruments located on the ship record data along the ship’s track. Some instruments make measurements just below the surface of the ocean while other instruments are able to measure the ocean hundreds and thousands of feet below the ship. The ship also is outfitted with sensors that measure the weather. Some of the underway systems installed on the Endeavor are described here. |
| An Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) is a type of sonar that measures water current velocities over a range of depths. An ADCP does this by producing a pulse of sound at a known frequency that travels through the water. The echo of the returning sound undergoes a frequency shift (Doppler effect) as a result of scatterers in the water (for example, particles and small plants and animals). Currently, a 75 kHz ADCP is installed in the hull of the R/V Endeavor that measures water current velocities from the near surface ocean down to 750 meters (2,461 feet). Measurements are made continuously while the ship is underway and the real-time data is displayed on computers for the scientists to view. |
| Water depth is measured continuously on the Endeavor using an instrument known as an echosounder. An echosounder uses sound waves to determine the depth of the water. Endeavor measures full ocean water depths down to ~5,000 m (16,400 feet) with a dual frequency echosounder (12 and/or 3.5 kHz). Water depths can also be measured with the ADCP down to 750 meters. |
| Endeavor is equipped with a suite of meteorological sensors that measure the weather: wind speed and direction, barometric pressure, relative humidity, precipitation (rain) and solar radiation (sunlight). The data from these sensors is displayed on the “Where in the World is the R/V Endeavor Now?” page. |
| The ship’s position, speed made good and track made good are measured using GPS (Global Positioning Satellites). |
| Uncontaminated seawater is pumped from an intake located 16 feet below the water surface and 48 feet from the bow to a thermosalinograph. This instrument makes continuous measurements of sea surface temperature and conductivity (used to calculate salinity). Sea surface temperature and salinity data are displayed on the “Where in the World is the R/V Endeavor Now?” page. |
