Ocean current measurement reliability: An engineer's view

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Buoy Group exists to make current measurements in the oceans. Vector-averaging and burst-sampling current meters are used on wire rope subsurface moorings with glass spheres for buoyancy. Since quality is inherent in the sensor design, for high quality data the instruments must function perfectly. The key to the Buoy Group record of 90% overall data return is the team of electronic and mooring technicians. These are well-trained, experienced and highly motivated people who prepare the instruments and mooring hardware and deploy and recover the mooring systems.