1.) TITLE - SECOND GENERATION WIRELESS EXPENDABLE BATHYTHERMOGRAPH (WXBT)

(1.1) BACKGROUND - The author of this document has had specific experience designing a part of the existing XBT system while under contract with the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Institute (NOAA). It is this exposure that led to this new approach over the existing oceanic temperature measurement technique.

(1.2) ABSTRACT (PROBLEM STATEMENT) - Current Expendable Bathythermograph technology utilizes ocean-going vessels with personnel to deploy wired temperature probes commonly known as “XBT’s”. These instruments contain spools of copper wire that unravels as the XBT plummets to the ocean floor. These wires are left in the ocean possibly entangling wildlife and adding to the oceanic build-up of man-made items.
Further, this technique requires a constant connection with the ship-board measurement equipment. If the wire breaks, the process has to be re-started.

(2.0) PROPOSED NEW SOLUTION - A new XBT design (WXBT) has been envisioned that uses wireless technology to transmit the oceanic information back to the ship-board based equipment without the need for any wires. Deployed using the same or similar delivery systems, this new WXBT will collect the information as it falls through the ocean and when it reaches it’s final depth (either hits bottom or reaches a pre-programmed depth), it automatically returns to the surface. Once the WXBT reaches the surface, it is free to transmit the entire database to the ship-board equipment, regardless of ship speed.