A towed CTD chain for two-dimensional high resolution hydrography

The need for accurate two-dimensional datasets of temperature and salinity in the upper ocean led to the development of a new type of towed chain. Low-cost sensors are moulded in fins and may be randomly placed on the tow cable, to which they are inductively coupled for power supply and communication with a deck unit. Construction and operation of the chain are described, and examples of measurements in the Norwegian and Greenland Seas are given.