A vector measuring current meter

A vector measuring current meter (VMCM) is described. It has two orthogonal cosine response propeller sensors that directly measure components of horizontal velocity. Using a heading from a flux-gate compass the measured components are rotated into the east-west and north-south velocity components, averaged, and written to cassette tape. The instrument, the propeller sensors, and the results of extensive laboratory tests of the instrument in combinations of steady and unsteady flows are described. Comparison of laboratory tests of the VMCM with similar tests of other current meters show the VMCM to be capable of measuring small mean currents in the presence of high frequency oscillatory flows with less error than other current meters.