Current Meters
Current meters are devices that measure the currents of the ocean. When studying the movement of the water, scientists are interested in the speed and direction of flow. There are several different types of current meters. Older ones are designed similar to weather vanes people install on their roof in order to see the direction of the wind. In addition to the little paddle that steers the meter in the direction of the flow an anemometer (link) records the current velocity. A later type of current meter is through the use of the Doppler Effect, where the meter sends out acoustic signals that are reflected on particles in the water with a different frequency from which the instrument computes the actual current velocity.
The only way to effectively use current meters is through oceanographic moorings. Oceanographers go to sea on research vessels and drop a heavy weight, mostly n old railroad wheel, into the water at the desired position in the ocean. Attached to the weight is a string that is kept vertically in the water by a float. Current meters and other scientific instruments can then be attached to the string in any depth in order to record the parameters of the ocean.
The Alaska Ocean Observing System is building a network of observation platforms and forecast models. The goal of this network is to provide information products and tools to improve our understanding of Alaska’s ocean ecosystem and allow us to make better decisions about our use of the marine environment.
AOOS is affiliated with the Integrated Ocean Observing System and the
University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences.
UAF is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and educational institution.
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