Precision Measurement Engineering, Inc.

Introduction

The Self Contained Autonomous MicroProfiler (SCAMP) is a portable instrument designed to measure, record, and display extremely small scale (order 1mm) absolute values and fluctuations of electrical conductivity, temperature, oxygen concentrations (under development), and other parameters, in lakes, reservoirs, estuaries, and the oceans. These data can be used to infer the levels of dissipation of turbulent kinetic energy, in-situ fluxes of heat, salt, and oxygen, and the microstructure behavior of these parameters

The SCAMP will make measurements while either descending or ascending through a column of water. This instrument is provided with a flotation and drag system designed to move it through the water column in either direction at roughly 10 centimeters/second. These two deployment modes are provided to allow measurement either of the water column completely up to the surface, or the water column down to a few centimeters above the bottom. The SCAMP must be tethered to the operator on the surface in some way although this tether need not be an electrically conducting cable. The SCAMP is a small, lightweight unit that may be deployed from even a small dinghy.

When used in ascending mode, an expendable weight is connected to the SCAMP and the probe unit is released into the water. The SCAMP is designed to sink at a 45 degree angle, sinking under the water it will later measure. When the SCAMP sinks to the proper depth, then the weight is released and the SCAMP floats vertically upward measuring and recording the various parameters. The measurements are transferred to the HOST program operating on the laptop computer where they may be viewed and stored on the laptop disk drive.

When used in descending mode, the SCAMP is permanently weighted and released directly downward into the water. Upon reaching the bottom, the SCAMP is hauled back and the measurements are transferred, viewed, and stored.

The SCAMP is a descendant of a previous microprofiler designed and built at the Centre for Water Research within the University of Western Australia located in Perth, Australia. The SCAMP is produced by PME under license from the Centre for Water Research.