Ocean Currents

Ocean water currents are driven by winds, tides and density differences. The ocean circulation regulates the earth's climate by transporting heat. The flowing water affects offshore and coastal construction and also carries particles, animals, plants, nutrients, pollutants and dissolved gases. The acoustic doppler technique has become the preferred technology for most users measuring ocean current, because it is robust, needs no calibrations, can be used for both point (RCM) and profiling (Acoustic Doppler Current Profiling) measurements and is basically insensitive to fouling.

Currents vary on time scales of seconds to minutes to hours. To obtain reliable information on current dynamics requires instruments that are installed and measure continuously over longer time periods. Spot measurements during shorter expeditions will give limited "snap shot" information.

Methods to measure water current

The “classical” way to measure water current is to use rotor/propeller-equipped instruments. Later generations of current meters measure current speed and direction without moving parts using acoustic doppler, acoustic time travel, or electromagnetic techniques.

The acoustic doppler technique is the preferred technology for measuring currents because it is robust, needs no calibrations, can be used for both point (RCM) and profiling (ADCP) measurements, and is basically insensitive to fouling.

Acoustic transducers send out acoustic pulses that are reflected against particles and/or gas bubbles moving in the water. Depending on the direction and speed of the water suspended particles, a frequency shift (Doppler shift) in the returned acoustic signal will occur, which is used to calculate the water current speed and direction.

Profiling Current Meter

The Aanderaa Doppler Current Profiler Sensor (DCPS), which is also known as an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP), is a 600 kHz profiler with a range of 30-110 m. It is available as a stand-alone current meter and complete instrument. The profiler has a configuration for:

  • Upward or downward use.
  • User-selectable broadband/narrow-band
  • Parallel columns referenced to the surface and instrument simultaneously
  • Surface current measurements
  • Directional waves
  • Unique ability to collect high-quality current information on moving and tilting platforms
  • Used as stand-alone or with a SeaGuardII multiparameter Platform.

The ADCP is designed for maximum compatibility. It can be seamlessly integrated with any logger/modem capable of reading serial RS232 and/or RS422. This stand-alone unit is stripped to remove the overhead of a datalogger if not needed, making it a versatile tool for various applications.

SeaGuardII DCP and SmartGuard are multiparameter instruments from Aanderaa that combine current profiling with other ocean parameters. It has the capacity to serve as an observatory.

Single-Point Current Meter

The SeaGuard platform combined with a suite of Aanderaa Smart Sensors offers large flexibility to adapt the instrument for different missions. Sensors can be plug-and-play added as desired on to the top plate of the instrument or cable connected or included in sensor strings. Analog and serial ports also makes it possible to add sensors from other manufacturers.

One software, the Real Time collector, is used to communicate and set-up all Aanderaa platforms and smart sensors.

Collected data is plotted and analyzed using the 3D-studio software and if the instruments are used on-line the GeoView or the new Hydrosphere software are often selected for real-time presentation of the measurements and for database storage.

For shallow water applications we offer the RCM-Blue an affordable, 300m rated, single point current meter with exceptional autonomy and Blue Tooth communication for set up and data download.


To learn more about these instruments, ocean water currents and their abilities please look at the video of a yearly service of two SeaGuard instruments used for coastal monitoring.

SeaGuardII yearly service and data downlaod


Join Municipal Ecologists and Product Manager Dr. Anders Tengberg as they do the yearly service and data download from two Aanderaa SeaGuard Profiling Current Meters deployed in the Oeresund straight, between Sweden and Denmark.

Aanderaa Quality Assurance


At Aanderaa, we work continually to ensure that our clients receive the best service in the industry. We evaluate our performance on a constant basis to make sure that we are meeting clients’ expectations and finding ways to improve. Please see the video of an individual testing of a Recording Current Meter in the Ulven Lake where Product Manager, Jarle Heltne, makes sure that there is no electronic noise in our Current Meter.

Related Products

SeaGuard Sensor String

The Aanderaa SEAGUARD® Sensor String Systems are complete and flexible subsea observatories for measurements of e.g. dissolved oxygen, conductivity, temperature, current, pressure and tide.

Single Sensors

Aquatic environments are constantly changing. Regardless if you model effects of climate change on a global scale, operate an aquaculture facility, study the impact of human activities in the coastal zone, spreading of pollution, ecosystem changes, or are involved in coastal or off-shore constructions, measurements of relevant water quality parameters are fundamental to understand ongoing changes and risks and make it possible to calibrate and verify mathematical models.

Stand-Alone Doppler Current Sensor

The Aanderaa Current Sensors are available in a profiling and a single-point version with three depth ratings. We offer Doppler Current Profiler Sensor, Doppler Current Sensor and the In-line ZPulse Doppler Current Sensor.

Pressure Based Waves

Measure pressure based Waves with the Aanderaa Wave Sensors- compact fully integrated sensors for measuring wave and tide conditions

MOTUS Stand-Alone Sensor

Turn your buoy into an intelligent data-collecting platform with the Aanderaa MOTUS Wave Stand-Alone Sensor.

Bluetooth Recording Current Meter (RCM Blue)

A self-recording dedicated current meter with Bluetooth for communications and data retrieval - now with the possibility to integrate a pressure sensor!