Aanderaa's pressure-based wave and tide sensor works on the basis of a piezoresistive pressure sensor where the pressure measurements are compensated for temperature effects.
The device measures tides by measuring the average hydrostatic pressure during a certain time interval that the user can set. Wave measurements are done by measuring time series of pressure changes over a certain time period that the user can configure.
The sensors can be mounted on fixed installations: either on a seabed installation in shallow waters, or on a fixed structure in the upper water column, maximum 90 m deep. They can be used as a stand-alone sensor as well as integrated on a data logger.
Output parameters are pressure, temperature tide level, significant and maximum wave height, peak and mean wave period, energy spectrum, steepness of the waves, average zero-crossing wave period and irregularity of the sea state.
Areas of application may include climate studies, weather forecasting and modelling, navigational safety in relation to bridges or ports, or other marine activities.