Overview
The Signature100 combines a four-beam current profiler operating at 100 kHz with an optional scientific echosounder.
Both the current profiler and the biomass measurements have an effective range of 300-400 m providing unprecedented insight into the dynamics of zooplankton, krill or even schools of fish. Likewise, acoustic tracer material can give new insight into small-scale physical processes.
- Currents
- Waves
- Echosounder
Highlights
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300–400 m current profiling range
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Optional center beam with 70–120 kHz echosounder
Usage
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Detection of krill in the water column
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Cost-effective current profile measurements at mid-range
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Plankton migration studies
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Upwelling and downwelling studies
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Internal waves
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Suitable for buoy mounting with internal AHRS
Setup
The Signature Deployment software guides users through setup to ensure even the most detailed concurrent measurement schemes are handled correctly and makes certain all users can fully utilize the capabilities of the Signature ADCP.
Deployment
The Signature100 offers dependable buoy and bottom frame solutions from Nortek and leading industry partners tailored for the instrument. Optional AHRS improves motion correction during buoy-mounted long-range current profiles.
Data
The combined scientific echosounder option enables users to collect concurrent velocity profiles and high-resolution echosounder data from a single instrument. Ocean Contour is a powerful postprocessing software created specifically for the AD2CP platform, and for expert-level biomass processing our industry partners at Echoview can be consulted.
Maximum profiling range | 300-400 m* |
Cell size | 3–15 m |
Minimum blanking | TBA |
Maximum number of cells | 200 |
Velocity range (along beam) | User-selectable 2.5 or 5.0 m/s |
Minimum accuracy | 1% of measured value ± 0.5 cm/s |
Velocity precision | Broadband processing, consult instrument software |
Velocity resolution | 0.1 cm/s |
Max sampling rate | 1 Hz (1/2 Hz at max output power) |
*Maximum range depends on acoustic scattering conditions. |
Velocity range | N/A |
Cell size | N/A |
Profiling range | N/A |
Range velocity limitations | N/A |
Single | Average |
Concurrent | Average and echosounder |
Alternate | N/A |
* US Patent 8223588 |
Sampling | Same as velocity |
Resolution/dynamic range | 0.5 dB/70 dB |
Transducer acoustic frequency | 100 kHz |
Number of beams | 4 slanted at 20°, optional vertical beam for echosounder |
Beam width | 6.1° (slanted) |
Transducer acoustic frequency | 70–120 kHz |
Transducer beam width | 15° @ 70 kHz, 8.7° @ 120 kHz |
Resolution | 0.375–4 m |
Number of bins | 1800 |
Transmit pulse length | 0.5–6 ms |
Transmit pulse | Monochromatic 70 kHz, 90 kHz and 120 kHz or frequency chirp (90 kHz, 50% BW) |
Transmit power | 1.2–120 W, adjustable |
Chirp signal processing | Pulse compression or binned frequency response |
Raw complex data storage | Configurable rate |
Resolution/dynamic range | 0.01 dB / 130 dB |
Linearity | TBA |
AST frequency | N/A |
AST max distance | N/A |
Maximum wave measurement depth | N/A |
Height range | N/A |
Accuracy/resolution (Hs) | N/A |
Accuracy/resolution (Dir) | N/A |
Period range | N/A |
Cut-off period (Hs) | N/A |
Cut-off period (dir) | N/A |
Sampling rate (velocity and AST) | N/A |
Parameters | N/A |
Temperature | Thermistor in head (sampled at meas. rate) |
Temp. range | -4 to +40 °C |
Temp. accuracy/resolution | 0.1 °C/0.01°C |
Temp. time response | 2 min |
Compass | Solid-state magnetometer (Max 1 Hz sample rate) |
Accuracy/resolution | 2° for tilt < 30°/0.01° |
Tilt | Solid-state accelerometer (Max 1 Hz sample rate) |
Accuracy/resolution | 0.2° for tilt < 30°/0.01° |
Maximum tilt | Full 3D |
Up or down | Automatic detect |
Pressure | Piezoresistive (sampled at meas. rate) |
Standard range | 0–1500 m (inquire for options) |
Accuracy/precision | 0.1% FS / Better than 0.002% of full scale |
Accelerometer dynamic range | ± 2 g |
Gyro dynamic range | ± 250°/sec |
Magnetometer dynamic range | ± 1.3 Gauss |
Pitch and roll range/resolution | ± 90° (pitch) ± 180° (roll) / 0.01° |
Pitch and roll accuracy | ± 2° (dynamic)*, ± 0.5° (static, ±30°) |
Heading range/resolution | 360°, all axis / 0.01° |
Heading accuracy | ± 3° (dynamic)2), ± 2° (static, tilt < 20°) |
Sampling rate | Same as measurement rate (up to 1 Hz) |
* Dynamic specifications depends on the type of motion |
Capacity | 16 GB, 64 GB or 128 GB (inquire for larger capacity) |
Data record | Consult instrument software |
Mode | Stop when full |
Accuracy | ± 1 min/year |
Clock retention in absence of external power | 1 year. Rechargeable backup battery |
Ethernet | 10/100 Mbits Auto MDI-XTCP/IP, UDP, HTTP protocolsFixed IP/DHCP client/AutoIP, UPnP |
Serial | Configurable RS-232/RS-422 300–1250000 bps |
Recorder download baud rate | 20 Mbit/s (Ethernet only) - 1 GB in 6 minutes |
Controller interface | ASCII command interface over Telnet and serial |
Depending on configuration | MCBH6F (Ethernet), MCBH8F (serial), MCBH2F-G2 (pwr), optional Souriau M-series metal connector for online use (14M) |
Functions | Deployment planning, instrument configuration, data retrieval and conversion (for Windows®) |
DC input | 15–48 V DC |
Maximum peak current | 1.5 A |
Max. average consumption at 1 Hz | 15 W |
Typical average consumption* | 2 W |
Sleep consumption | 100 μA, power depending on supply voltage |
Transmit power per beam | 4–200 W, adjustable levels |
Ping sequence | Multiplexing or parallel |
* 10 min. avg. profile,1 cm/sec hor. prec., max cell size, max power, long range mode. Consult SW for other configurations |
Internal | One or two 540 Wh alkaline or 1800 Wh lithium |
Duration | Depending on configuration, consult software |
Operating temperature | -4 to +40 °C |
Storage temperature | -20 to +60 °C |
Vibration | IEC60068-2-64 |
EMC approval | IEC/EN 61000-6-2, 61000-6-3 |
Depth rating | 1500 m (for 6000 m version, contact Nortek for specifications) |
Standard model | POM with titanium fasteners. Titanium/POM transducer cups |
Maximum diameter | 460 mm |
Maximum length with room for internal batteries | 765 mm (2 batteries) |
Maximum length without room for internal batteries | N/A |
In air, no battery | 37.5 kg |
In water, no battery | 13 kg |
Battery | 10.0 kg (2x540 Wh), 5.8 kg (2x1800 Wh) |
Signature100
4-beam head
5-beam head (adds 95 kHz center transducer for echo sounder)
Long (for two internal batteries)
Medium (for one internal battery)
Short (no internal battery)
16 GB SD card data logger
64 GB SD card data logger
128 GB SD card data logger
Pressure sensor, 0-1500 m, accuracy 0,1% of FS
Pressure sensor, 0-100 m, accuracy 0,1% of FS
Pressure sensor, 0-1000 m, accuracy 0,1% of FS
10m Ethernet cable with MCIL6MP, Power/RJ45
10-100m Ethernet cable (specify length in comments field) with MCIL6M-PWR/RJ45
10m Serial RS232 cable, MCIL8M-DB9
10m Serial RS232 cable, MCIL8M-DB9 w/RS485 trigger
Serial RS422 cable >10m (specify length in comments field), MCIL8M-DB9
Online cable, Souriau 14M open ended, (specify length in comments field)
Online cable, Souriau 14M PWR/RJ45, max 100m, (specify length in comments field)
Online cable for RS-422 interface box, Souriau 14M (specify length in comments field)
AHRS
Compass and tilt

Cable, 10 m Ethernet cable with 6-pin

Cable, 10 m Serial cable with 8-pin w/RS485 trigger

Cable, 10 m Serial cable with 8-pin

Battery, 18 V - 540 Wh, alkaline
The standard battery for instruments in the Signature series.

Battery, 19 V - 1800 Wh, lithium
An optional high-capacity lithium battery for instruments in the Signature series.

Battery canister, aluminium for 36*D pack w/cable to Signature 2-pin Inline (500m rating)

Battery canister, aluminium for 2*36*D pack w/cable to Signature 2-pin Inline (500m rating)

Battery pack, 5-pack, 18 V - 540 Wh, alkaline
The standard battery for instruments in the Signature series.

Battery pack, 10-pack, 18 V - 540 Wh, alkaline
The standard battery for instruments in the Signature series.