Non-invasive water current measurement system and method
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsJack Lloyd, Lyles Adair, William Stachnik
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Abstract
A method and system are provided for measuring water current direction and magnitude. A plurality of beams of radiation are transmitted radially outward from a location above a body of water. Each beam is incident on the water's surface at an angle with respect thereto. Each beam experiences a Doppler shift as a result of being incident on the water's surface such that a plurality of Doppler shifts are generated. Each Doppler shift is measured with the largest one thereof being indicative of water current direction and magnitude.
Claims25
A method for measuring water current direction and magnitude, comprising the steps of:
- transmitting a plurality of beams of radiation radially outward from a location above a body of water, each of said plurality of beams being incident on the water's surface at an angle with respect thereto, wherein each of said plurality of beams experiences a Doppler shift as a result of being incident on the water's surface such that a plurality of Doppler shifts are generated;
- and
- measuring each of said plurality of Doppler shifts at said location wherein a largest one of said plurality of Doppler shifts is indicative of water current direction and magnitude.
A method for measuring water current direction and magnitude, comprising the steps of:
- providing means for transmitting at least one beam of radiation from a location above a body of water to be incident on the water's surface at an angle thereto, and for measuring a corresponding at least one Doppler shift attributable to said at least one beam incident on the water's surface;
- and
- rotating said means through a circular arc about said location in a plurality of discrete steps, said circular arc being parallel to the water's surface, each of said plurality of discrete steps being indicative of a compass heading of said at least one beam, wherein current magnitude is indicated by a largest Doppler shift of said at least one Doppler shift and wherein current direction is indicated by said compass heading of said at least one beam associated with said largest Doppler shift.
A system for measuring water current direction and magnitude, comprising:
- means for transmitting each of a plurality of beams of radiation radially outward from a location above a body of water to be incident on the water's surface at an angle with respect thereto, wherein each of said plurality of beams experiences a Doppler shift as a result of being incident on the water's surface such that a plurality of Doppler shifts are generated;
- and
- means for measuring each of said plurality of Doppler shifts at said location wherein a largest one of said plurality of Doppler shifts is indicative of water current direction and magnitude.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.