A low-cost, expendable, helicopter-deployed buoy for ocean surface meteorological measurements

Author

Nelson, Carl V.

Author_Institution

Appl. Phys. Lab., Johns Hopkins Univ., Laurel, MD, USA

Volume

13

Issue

3

fYear

1988

fDate

7/1/1988 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

144

Lastpage

147

Abstract

A low-cost, expendable, helicopter-deployed, wave-riding buoy is described that has been developed to measure meteorological properties at sea. The buoy weighs 8.2 kg and is 1.3-m long and 8.9 cm in diameter in its stored configuration. After deployment, the buoy extends a 2.5-m sensor mast above the water and a 3.8-m ballasted keel below the water. Buoyancy is provided by an inflated air bladder. An airsonde electronics package that measures relative humidity, barometric pressure, and air temperature transmits the data via a UHF transmitter to a receiver on a helicopter. The received data are displayed and recorded in the helicopter. The buoy is considered simple to construct, uses off-the-shelf hardware, and requires very few, easily machined components

Keywords

atmospheric humidity; atmospheric pressure and density; atmospheric temperature; helicopters; humidity measurement; meteorological instruments; oceanographic equipment; pressure measurement; telemetering equipment; temperature measurement; UHF transmitter; air temperature; airsonde electronics package; barometric pressure; helicopter-deployed buoy; ocean surface meteorological measurements; relative humidity; Bladder; Electronic ballasts; Electronics packaging; Helicopters; Humidity measurement; Meteorology; Ocean temperature; Packaging machines; Sea measurements; Sea surface;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Oceanic Engineering, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0364-9059

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/48.570

Filename

570