Compact Sensors for Ocean Monitoring

For use in compact, cost-effective drifter buoys, sensors are required that provide precise and long-term stable measurements despite their small size. In large-scale drifter campaigns, sensor costs often represent the largest share of project expenses.

A central goal of the AMuSeD project is therefore the development of compact and affordable sensors for fundamental oceanographic parameters—particularly temperature and conductivity, which serve as the basis for determining salinity.

Inductive conductivity sensors enable low-drift, robust measurements over extended periods. Their encapsulated design provides reliable protection against corrosion and biofouling. Conductivity cells offer a more economical alternative but are more maintenance-intensive and less stable in long-term deployments.

Most commercially available sensors are designed for industrial applications and feature large, complex probes—often unsuitable for mobile maritime platforms and IoT systems. There is a clear need for compact, energy-efficient sensors with standardized data interfaces.

In addition to conductivity, local temperature measurement is essential for accurately determining water density according to TEOS-10. Developing an integrated temperature sensor in-house not only provides technical advantages but also offers significant cost-saving potential.

The iMEK is therefore developing miniaturized, combined conductivity and temperature sensors that can be seamlessly integrated into modular platforms like AMuSeD, enabling long-term, cost-effective, and precise measurement of fundamental oceanographic parameters.