Development of a data acquisition system for an oceanographic buoy

Abstract

This work presents the development of a data acquisition system for an oceanographic buoy that includes the necessary sensors to measure the meteorological and marine variables which are involved in the physical processes in the ocean-atmosphere interface. In general, the development consists of three phases: • Either digital or analogical conditioning of the signals resulting from the different sensors. • Development of the instrument's control system. • Development of both control and instrument-user communication programming. Among the most important characteristics of the system are the following: • The buoy has sensors to measure wind direction and speed, atmospheric pressure, relative humidity, air temperature, water temperature, marine current direction and speed, and wave height. • The system is programmable, this is, the sampling intervals can be programmed as well as the start and end dates of an experiment by means of a personal computer and a user-friendly software in the Windows platform. • The instrument was designed for a low consumption of energy and with a system of solar cells to recharge the battery. To date, partial results have been generated in respect to the measurement of the oceanographic variables because the physical structure of the buoy has not been finished yet. It is important to point out that the development of this instrument is pioneer in the field of oceanographic electronic instrumentation in our country, besides it helps in the formation of qualified human resources.