海流是海洋水文要素之一,是海洋调查和物理海洋学研究的重要课题。此外,在海洋工程、海上军事活动、海洋渔业以及水产养殖等工作中,也经常需要测定海流的速度和方向。在一般性海洋调查中,主要要求能够简便而迅速地得到相当准确的测量结果。 就测流仪器的发展过程而言,最古老的是漂浮法中使用的浮子,现已发展成雷达或声纳追踪的测流装置。近代的电磁海流计和声学海流计也显示了各自独特的优点。然而,目前应用最广的仍然是机械转子型海流计。因为它们在制造和使用方面仍然比较简单、可靠。 Ocean current is one of the elements of ocean hydrology, which is an important issue in marine investigation and physical oceanography. In addition, it is often necessary to determine the speed and direction of ocean currents in marine engineering, maritime military activities, marine fisheries and aquaculture. In general oceanographic surveys, the main requirement is to be able to obtain fairly accurate measurements easily and quickly. In terms of the development of flow measurement instruments, the oldest is the float used in the float method and has now been developed as a flow measurement device for radar or sonar tracking. Modern electromagnetic current gauges and acoustic current gauges also show their own unique advantages. However, the most widely used is still the mechanical rotor-type flow meter. Because they are still relatively simple and reliable in their manufacture and use.