Programmable subsurface acoustic recording system

Upgrading of the US Naval Oceanographic Office's electronic package for the moored acoustic vertical array (MAVA) buoy system is considered. The MAVA can simultaneously record the outputs of as many as 12 hydrophones for 32 hours. A low-power microprocessor-based design was chosen for versatility. The effective recording time is put to maximum use with the ability to program start and stop times on an event-by-event basis. Amplifier gains can be automatically selected based on maximum probable peak amplitudes using the automatic gain select function. The effective dynamic range of ambient-noise measurements is greatly increased using the prewhitening filter. Long deployment times are possible due to greatly reduced power consumption between events. Automatic testing, status reporting, and a user-friendly interface are also provided.<>