The technology of distributed temperature sensing (DTS) is based on the application of Raman scattering from a laser beam light through optical fibers to detect temperature parameters along a fiber optic cable. The thing is that temperature resolution plays a crucial role. Herewith, this feature makes it possible to efficiently use DTS systems in oceanography.
Even though oceanographic applications of distributed temperature sensing are not new but such observations are not often. The reason is the serious challenges of deployment, calibration, and operation in oceanographic environment conditions. Nevertheless, researchers have tested the DTS system to overcome oceanographic configuration, calibration, and data processing difficulties.
It should be noted that they also evaluate temperature errors of DTS for several common scenarios. Difficult conditions influence the whole process, thus, the researchers look for alternative calibration, analysis, and deployment methods for distributed temperature sensing.
Therefore, these errors will be reduced and the successful application of DTS systems will be increased in dynamic ocean conditions. The thing is that DTS technology allows for “continuously sampling at a relatively high temporal and spatial resolution for significant duration over broad spatial scales.”
Despite distributed temperature sensing is widely applied in environmental applications, the oceanographic area remains challenging and still relatively rare. The main purpose of new DTS development is the solution to common problems present in oceanographic deployments.
To be more precise, the researchers use 2 various DTS systems, 3 fiber optic cables, and 24 thermistors. All of them help to test cables and different calibration configurations and perform distributed temperature sensing. Test results enable them to improve future oceanographic deployments. Moreover, they aid to achieve the best possible temperature signal in difficult deployment and operational environments.
DTS technology is a relatively new oceanographic tool. It allows for detecting temperature across wide spatial and temporal scales. Herewith, the application of such a fragile DTS system in remote and dynamically complex conditions remains difficult. Moreover, sometimes it is impossible to perform distributed temperature sensing at all.
Additionally, DTS systems face challenges during the detection of air/sea boundary. The reason is the change of water level, for instance, tides, waves, surge, etc., when the fiber optic cable can be exposed. Finally, the new DTS has succeeded to detect the temperature variance between the air-sea interface.
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