Influence of Expendable Current Profiler Probe on Induced Electric Field of Ocean Currents

Qisheng Zhang,Zhenzhong Yuan,Xiao Zhao,Xinyue Zhang,Jianen Jing,Shenghui Liu,Shuhan Li

doi:10.1155/2016/9812929

Qisheng Zhang, Zhenzhong Yuan + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/9812929

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Abstract

The expendable current profiler (XCP) is a new instrument that is internationally used to rapidly monitor ocean currents in marine environments. The most crucial part of this instrument is the XCP probe. Since the probe is of high electrical resistance, it acts almost like an insulator with respect to seawater. Placing it into the induced electric field (IEF) of seawater therefore yields a certain level of influence over the electric field. Therefore, in order to improve the accuracy of XCP measurements, the conditions associated with this influence can be used to guide the design of XCP probes; at the same time, these can also serve as reference points in order to provide technical support for the processing of XCP data on ocean currents. To this end, computer-based numerical simulations and laboratory-based physical simulations are used in this study. The results showed that after an XCP probe (diameter: 5 cm; length: 52 cm) was inserted into seawater, the voltage difference of ocean currents at both ends of the electric field sensor placed above the XCP probe increased by a factor of 1.85 (as compared to the case in which there is no influence from the probe).

Highlights

The United States began researching expendable temperature and velocity profilers (XTVPs) as early as the 1970s and in 1978 successfully developed the first XTVP [1, 2]
The results showed that after an XTVP” to “expendable current profiler” (XCP) probe was inserted into seawater, the voltage difference of ocean currents at both ends of the electric field sensor placed above the XCP probe increased by a factor of 1.85
The company subsequently changed the name of this device from “XTVP” to “expendable current profiler” (XCP) and launched production of the instrument, which became widely used in marine surveys, scientific research, and national defense [4, 5]

Summary

Introduction

The United States began researching expendable temperature and velocity profilers (XTVPs) as early as the 1970s and in 1978 successfully developed the first XTVP [1, 2]. The XCP can be deployed through a probe launch or be manually cast from the carrying platform of ships, submarines, and aircraft. It can quickly measure ocean currents and temperature profiles while sinking and can calculate water depth based on the probe’s sinking velocity [9, 10]. Data are transferred to the carrying platform through wired or wireless communication modes, and the real-time data of ocean currents and temperature variation with respect to water depth is obtained after data processing. The results of seawater experiments showed that the ocean current velocities measured by XCP and ADCP are very similar [7]

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