Page 48: of Marine Technology Magazine (July 2008)

48 MTR July 2008

Sea-Bird Electronics, Inc. 1808 136th Pl. N.E.

Bellevue, WA, 98005 USA

Tel: 425-643-9866

E-mail [email protected] www.seabird.com

President: Dr. Norge Larson, Oceanographer

Vice President: John Backes

Marketing Director: Doug Bennett

Engineering Director: Dave Murphy

Facilities: Engineering and Administrative offices, laboratories, manufacturing,

CNC machine shop, warehouse.

Square Footage: approx. 30,000

Testing Capabilities: conductivity, temperature, and dissolved oxygencalibration baths (12), 10,000 psia hydrostatic pressure test vessels (3), deadweight testers, metrology laboratory - water triple-pointcells, galium melting point cells, 8400B Autosals, IAPSO Standard Seawater

Number of Employees: 95

Annual Sales (US$): 25m

Sea-Bird Electronics, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of oceanographic CTDs and integrated water sampling sys- tems. CTDs measure conductivity, temperature, and pres- sure (depth), as well as dissolved oxygen and other vari- ables, enabling oceanographers to determine salinity, den- sity, and other properties contributing to ocean circula- tion, the function of marine ecosystems, and global cli- mate dynamics. Sea-Bird has been serving customers in universities, oceanographic institutes, government agen- cies, engineering firms, and navies throughout the world for over 30 years, and has built a reputation for producing the most accurate data possible.

The owners and top management of the company have extensive oceanographic and sea-going experience and are dedicated to advancing the science of ocean measurement and developing new capabilities that contribute to better understanding of the oceans. Sea-Bird employs over 90 people, including 5 oceanographers, and has more than 40 products in current production to meet growing meas- urement challenges encountered as oceanographic research and monitoring applications employ more diverse instrument platforms.

Technology Profile: Instruments are engineered to pro- duce the most accurate data possible under the varying dynamic conditions encountered in conventional profil- ing from research vessels, fixed moorings, moored profil- ers, autonomous drifting profilers (Argo floats), AUVs, autonomous gliders, and large-scale networked sensor arrays in ocean observatories. Highest-quality ocean data derives from Sea-Bird's focus on performing most accu- rate calibrations possible, designing instruments that elim- inate or minimize dynamic errors, and preserving initial accuracy throughout a deployment.

Accuracy begins with stable sensors and circuits, and cal- ibration in Sea-Bird's state-of-the-art automated bath sys- tems for temperature, conductivity, and dissolved oxygen.

The calibration facilities are backed by an in-house metrology laboratory where primary standards in temper- ature (water triple point and gallium melting point) and conductivity (IAPSO Standard Seawater) are maintained.

Calibration bath data, reference sensor stability, and stan- dards data are monitored daily and regularly reviewed for consistency by the chief scientist.

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