Principles of Oceanographic Instrument Systems -- Sensors and Measurements (13.998)

Labs

Background Labs (Labs 1 to 7)

Lab 1 - Electronics

• Resistors, Capacitors, Transistors, ICs - Identification, Types, Uses
• Operational Amplifiers - Types, Circuit Design, Rules
• Electronic Schematics - Reading, Troubleshooting

Lab 2 - Circuit Construction, Soldering, Scopes, DVM - Build an Op-amp Circuit

Lab 3 - MAVS Circuit Analysis, Discussion, Testing

Lab 4 - Materials for Use in Ocean

• Materials, Corrosion, Pressure Cases, O-rings, Underwater Cables, Connectors, Splices (PDF)
• Power, Batteries (Lithium, Alkaline, Sealed Lead Acid, NiCad, Primary, Rechargeable), Solar, Wind (PDF)

Lab 5 - Compass, Tilt, Motion, Acoustic Releases, Pingers, Acoustic Locators (PDF)

Labs 6 and 7 - Calibrations: Temperature and Sensor Frequency Response in AEL Cal Tank; Pressure (Dead Weight Tester); CTD with Period Counting Technique (PDF)

Cruise Labs (Labs 8 to 14)

Lab 8 - Groups - Divide Class into Two or Three Person Groups

• Shipboard ADCP
• Navigation
• Currents, Temperature, and Conductivity

Labs 8 and 9 - Instruments - individual groups work on

• ADCP
• MAVS
• SeaCat
• CTD
• Acoustic Release and Deck Gear

Lab 10 - Final Instrument Preparation/Checkout

Labs 11 and 12 - Deploy Instruments and Survey (ADCP and CTD) from TIOGA/ASTERIAS; Recover Instruments (PDF)

Lab 13 - Analysis/Discussion

Lab 14 - Oral and Written Presentation/Report of Cruise Results

Photos from the Cruise Labs

Tripod to support instruments for measuring current, waves, and water properties with acoustic command release and pop-up recovery float. Bottom tripod with two acoustic command releases and two pop-up floats for recovery. MAVS current meter is supported at apex and Ocean Sensor CTD is supported on far leg. Weichang Li is facing the camera. MAVS current meter with differential acoustic travel-time sensor using the two rings for transducer support. An inductive conductivity cell in orange and a stainless steel needle permit salinity and temperature to be measured. Paper towelling collects drips from the pressure sensor filled with oil on the end cap. Weichang Li looking on. R/V Oceanus at WHOI dock. Brailer quick release hook for dropping the tripod once it is lifted over the side and lowered to the water. A pull on a line opens the latch allowing the tripod to drop to the sea floor. Echo sounder display of bottom near where the tripod was to be deployed. Red is the bottom and the strong scattering signal from the surface while lighter colors are fish or bubbles in the water. Suspended sediment may be responsible for the lighter color patch above the shallow region at the center of the trace. Lab space on the R/V Tioga with oscilloscope, chart recorder, signal source for transponder ranging to tripod, and navigational chart. Navigational chart of Woods Hole entrance and Vineyard Sound. The pencil points to the intended deployment site for the tripod. Tripod lifted off the deck at the beginning of the launch. Sacha Wichers holds the quick release hook line; Steven Roe is in the blue jacket and Laura Hotta is in the yellow. SeaBird CTD lowered over the side to measure the profile of water properties in Vineyard Sound. SeaBird CTD recovered from its profile to near the bottom in Vineyard Sound. Two students steady the instrument. Pop-up buoy from the tripod after transmission of the acoustic release command. Preparations for catching the pop-up floats and line that will allow the tripod to be recovered on R/V Tioga. Tripod being lifted from the water by the recovery line. Students steady the legs to ease the tripod through the stern gate of the R/V Tioga. Tripod after recovery with some seaweed on sensor tube. One pop-up recovery float is gone and the other is still present for back up in case the first failed to surface or the rope was cut in the recovery attempt.