BCO-DMO BlogInstrument: CTD profiler
The Conductivity, Temperature, Depth (CTD) unit is an integrated instrument package designed to measure the conductivity, temperature, and pressure (depth) of the water column. The instrument is lowered via cable through the water column. It permits scientists to observe the physical properties in real-time via a conducting cable, which is typically connected to a CTD to a deck unit and computer on a ship. The CTD is often configured with additional optional sensors including fluorometers, transmissometers and/or radiometers. It is often combined with a Rosette of water sampling bottles (e.g. Niskin, GO-FLO) for collecting discrete water samples during the cast.
This term applies to profiling CTDs. For fixed CTDs, see https://www.bco-dmo.org/instrument/869934.
The rosette frame also held a video camera, Niskin sample bottles, conductivity, temperature and oxygen probes, and an optical backscatter sensor (Seapoint turbidity meter). The CTD with instruments was lowered at 0.5 m s−1 for the first 100 m, and then accelerated to 1 m s−1 for the remainder of each cast.
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