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Sea-Bird is a leading manufacturer of oceanographic CTDs and integrated water sampling systems. Sea-Bird has been serv-ing customers in universities, oceanographic institutes, government agencies, engineer- ing Þ rms, and navies throughout the world for more than 30 years, and has built a repu- tation for producing the most accurate data possible.The Company The Company Sea-Bird Electronics manufactures oceanographic CTDs and integrated water sampling systems. The CTDs are designed to measure conductivity, temperature, and pressure (depth), dissolved oxygen, and other variables, enabling oceanographers to determine salinity, density, and other properties contributing to ocean circula- tion, the function of marine ecosystems, and global climate dynamics. The compa- nyÕs top management has extensive ocean- ographic and sea-going experience and is dedicated to advancing the science of ocean measurement and developing new capabilities that contribute to better under- standing of the oceans. Sea-Bird has been serving universities, oceanographic insti- tutes, government agencies, engineering Þ rms, and navies throughout the world for over 30 years. Sea-Bird employs 110 peo- ple, including 5 oceanographers, and has more than 40 products in current produc-tion. Sea-Bird ScientiÞ c was formed in 2010, joining Sea-Bird Electronics, WET Labs, and Satlantic to provide the best in biogeochemical and physical oceano-graphic sensors, and allowing us to better develop, design, and deliver comprehen- sive, integrated systems for our customers. The Sea-Bird Electronics European cali-bration and repair center opened in 2011. Located in Kempten, Germany, Sea-Bird GmbH offers our European customers the same high-quality repair and calibration services that had only been performed at its facility in the U.S. The Tech The Tech CTDs on research vessels, Þ xed moor- ings, moored proÞ lers, autonomous drift- ing proÞ lers (Argo ß oats), surface salin- ity ß oats, AUVs, autonomous gliders, and large-scale networked sensor arrays in ocean observatories all present differ- ent and complex challenges in acquiring high-accuracy data. These instruments are designed to eliminate or minimize dy-namic errors and preserve initial accuracy throughout a deployment. Sea-Bird proÞ ling CTDs share key fea- tures that minimize dynamic errors. The basic design creates an enclosed ß ow path within which the critical sensors (T, C, & DO) are located. Pumping water through the system forces all measurements to be made on the same sample of water, with predictable delay and ß ow effects. By pumping at a constant rate, T and C sen- sor response times can be engineered to match and to remain independent of the CTDÕs speed through the water. This dra- matically reduces salinity spiking errors produced when sensors with different re- sponse times encounter a gradient. Since the transit time of the water is Þ xed, lag times between measurements made at dif-ferent locations are a known constant, so measurements can be aligned and coordi-nated relative to pressure automatically in hardware or with processing software. Sea-Bird moored CTDs are also de-signed to make measurements in an en- closed ß ow path, but for different reasons. Pumping delivers a completely new sam- ple of water to the conductivity and oxy- gen sensors, independent of ambient cir- culation. Between measurements, water is trapped in the sensors and plumbing, and anti-foulant concentration accumulates to effective levels by diffusion, preserving the initial accuracy for long deployments. SEA-BIRD ELECTRONICS SEA-BIRD ELECTRONICS 13431 NE 20th Stree 3431 NE 20th Stree t, t, Bellevue, WA 98005 Bellevue, WA 98005 Tel: (425) 643-9866 Tel: (425) 643-9866 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.seabird.com Website: www.seabird.com CEO/President: Dr. Norge Larson Employees: 110 Marine Technology Reporter 37 www.seadiscovery.com MTR #6 (34-49).indd 37MTR #6 (34-49).indd 378/1/2012 3:12:56 PM8/1/2012 3:12:56 PM