Vector averaging in a wave field

Measuring current from a sensor beneath a surface buoy, either attached to the buoy or hung on its mooring cable, subjects the measurement to error from sensor motion due to waves. While vector averaging over many wave periods would remove this error, simple averaging over one wave period is not sufficient because of attitude change in the sensor during passage of the wave. Determining attitude and sensor velocity might be done by sophisticated processing of linear accelerometer and vector magnetic sensor measurements but an inertial sensor with rate gyros, accelerometers, and magnetic sensors can best define attitude and sensor velocity. This solution is being explored along with sophisticated processing of simpler measurements.