The thermopile wave meter

Abstract
The thermopile or Mark V wave meter is designed to be a low cost, simple yet durable instrument which can be considered expendable upon Its installation in the ocean. Its electrical characteristics are such that the cable requirements are not rigorous. Its construction is simple. A synthetic rubber bellows is mounted on a plastic base which is in turn mounted on a brass cable connection. A thermopile is mounted inside the bellows with one group of junctions in contact with the air chamber of the bellows, and the reference junctions, insulated from the air chamber, in thermal contact with the surrounding sea water. Thus when a wave passes over the unit, the crest and trough produce a compression and expansion of the bellows with the corresponding temperature change in the gas due to the polytropic cycle. The temperature difference between the air chamber and the sea water causes an emf from the thermopile, which is transmitted to shore by means of a two‐conductor submarine cable, and recorded on a commercial null recorder.

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