Self-contained ambient noise recorder

Instrumentation apparatus for receiving and recording acoustic signals in a range of depths of from approximately 5–100 m beneath the ocean surface and providing a set of data outputs from which wind velocity and rainfall rate at the surface may be derived comprising:

• an ominidirectional hydrophone for substantially isotropical reception of acoustic energy from its upper hemisphere;
• said hydrophone producing an output signal representative of the wind velocity and the rainfall rate at the surface;
• preamplifier means connected to the output of the omnidirectional hydrophone for amplifying said output signal;
• and
• means for processing and recording said amplified output signal, said processing and recording means comprising a wideband filter connected to the output of the preamplifier means for passing a band of signals in a spectral range not less than approximately 400 Hz, and not more than approximately 40 kHz.