簡易型XCTD観測装置の開発と海洋モニタリングにおける今後の活用法

Abstract

Seawater temperature and salinity are fundamental for hydrographic observations, and they are determined mainly by CTD (conductivity-temperature-depth sensor) systems on research vessels. Ocean currents, source water origins, and oceanic conditions of nurseries and fishing grounds are assumed based on spatial distributions of temperature and salinity. Expendable CTDs (XCTDs) can record within much shorter times in bad weather conditions, and we developed a new all-in-one XCTD converter, which is portable and works by simple operation with an independent battery, for non-specialists to easily observe temperature and salinity on general boats. In this paper, we introduce the concept and developing history of this XCTD converter, and then report accuracy comparing XCTD and CTD data, for the purpose of reinforcing ocean observation systems and streamlining fishing efforts in Japan's coastal area by utilizing XCTD..