The use of low-cost inertial sensors to improve deep water wave and current measurements from subsurface moorings

Measuring currents and waves from a subsurface mooring using ADCPs is a useful technique in regions of the world where the use of surface buoys is problematic - either because of ship traffic or theft. This paper evaluates the utility of inexpensive MEMS-based inertial sensors for measuring the platform motion. We find that these sensors are capable of providing the necessary measurements of attitude and heading, as well as the translational velocity of the platform at typical wave frequencies.