While a CTD leak can result in a dangerous situation, it is not common. Pressure housings may flood under pressure due to dirty or damaged o-rings, or other failed seals, causing highly compressed air to be trapped inside. For example, a housing that floods at 5000...
Field Procedures & Deployment
What is the profiling depth range limitation, and where has the Thetis been tested?
Our current depth operating specification for the Thetis Profiler is in water columns ranging from 5 to 100m in depth. The Thetis Profiler has been most rigorously testing in 50 m offshore of Newport, OR, though other systems have been deployed in several other...
How will my CTD be affected by adjacent objects?
Sea-Bird’s CTDs are not directly affected by adjacent objects, unlike some CTDs that shift their calibration due to proximity effects. However, the CTD can only measure the water it sees. There are 2 concerns to keep in mind when mounting the CTD:If the CTD is...
What power system is used for the Thetis?
The Thetis system uses on board batteries (BlueFin Robotics, 1.5kW) for power.
How many/what kind of spares should I have on ship for my instrument?
Very few Sea-Bird instruments completely fail due to component malfunction or manufacturing defects. However, we see a reasonably large number that require repairs of some sort. Most of these are simply due to the user breaking the equipment through rough handling,...
What location information does the Thetis provide, and are there emergency position locator features for the Thetis?
All Thetis models include an integrated GPS system. GPS acquisition times are typically less than 2 minutes. The GPS is only activated if a break-away condition has been detected.There is an option to integrate an autonomous (self-contained and powered) Iridium...
Does it matter if I deploy my moored instrument, which includes a conductivity sensor, in a horizontal or vertical position?
Yes, vertical is usually preferable. In the presence of consistent currents and suspended sediment, we have seen instances where a horizontal conductivity cell is scoured by the abrasive effect of the flow. When scouring is particularly intense, the electrodes can be...
What is the maximum cable length for real-time RS-232 data?
Cable length is one of the most misunderstood items in the RS-232 world. The RS-232 standard was originally developed decades ago for a 19200 baud rate, and defines the maximum cable length as 50 feet, or the cable length equal to a capacitance of 2500 pF. The...
How can I identify and fix bubble spike failures in my Hydrocycle data?
First off, let’s see what a relatively good Raw Data Plot looks like. The different phases are the pre-flush phase (dark blue), the ambient baseline reading period (red), the sample reagent pump phase (green), the sample read/reaction phase (purple), and finally the...
Featured Posts
January 2024 Newsletter
Welcome to the Sea-Bird Swell – our monthly newsletter that gives you the latest in what’s happening at Sea-Bird Scientific, and the broader oceanographic community. CTD Appreciation Day Was January 22nd! HANDS OFF AND HIGH-QUALITY DATA: USING THE HYDROCAT-EP V2 CTD...
Oceanology International 2024
We hope to see you at #Oi24 We are excited to return to Oceanology International 2024 again in London, UK from March 12-14. Overview Oceanology International brings together 500+ exhibitors in the only event that links the three key players in the industry:...
Ocean Sciences Meeting 2024
We hope to see you at #OSM24 We are excited to return to Ocean Sciences Meeting 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana from February 18-23 at booth number #527. Overview The Ocean Sciences Meeting 2024 is co-sponsored by the American Geophysical Union, the Association for the...
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