A compact thermometer for the study of microthermal structure from oceanographic buoys

Abstract

A solid-state, thermistor thermometer, of small physical size (13 cm x 14 cm), low cost ($21.00 worth of parts), and long-term stability (of the order of 0.01 C in 60 days) is described. It has been used successfully - in vertical arrays - for the study of ocean thermal microstructure in turbulent layers. Several probes can easily be plugged in on a 5 mm diam, single conductor cable that also carries the load of a special, compact oceanographic buoy. The electronic circuit is applicable to different types of sensor (i.e. current velocity, direction meters and pressure gauges).