The acoustic Doppler current meters

The Belgica is also used as a platform to anchor autonomous self-registering measuring instruments. In 2001 MUMM acquired an acoustic Doppler current meter which can be placed on the sea bed for several days or weeks and measure speed and directions of sea currents in a maximum of 128 water layers between the sea floor and the surface. The data acquired are stored in the internal memory.

Another current meter has been installed in the keel at the bottom of the Belgica. While the ship is moving, its transducers continuously send out four acoustic beams which are in turn reflected on the particles suspended in the water column. The returning signals are processed at various intervals, providing measurements of the current speeds and directions prevailing at many depths beneath the ship.

Example of results obtained after processing of current meter measurements [Image: 150KB]

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