7.3. Errors Produced by the Operating Personnel 



The chief comment which can be made concerning the operation of the Bathy- 

 thermograph is that the ultimate accuracy of the data taken by the instrument de- 

 pends as much upon the reliability of the personnel as it does upon the instrument 

 itself. It has been stated that portions of the data received from the tactical per- 

 sonnel cannot be regarded as reliable. 



Most of the personnel professionally engaged in oceanographic work appreciate 

 and understand the limitations of the Bathythermograph instrument, i.e., its in- 

 ability to picture microstructure, its peculiarities with respect to hysteresis, its 

 dependent errors of temperature and depth, and its variations from the absolute 

 measurement of temperature and depth. These limitations are aot generally under- 

 stood, however, by the majority of Navy personnel who operate the Bathythermo- 

 graph; nor is the care and use of the instrument understood and appreciated by 

 those engaged in gathering a great percentage of the Bathythermograph data. 



It is strongly recommended that an abstract be prepared on the capabilities, 

 limitations, peculiarities, and characteristics of the Bathythermograph and directed 

 in its preparation towards the data procurement personnel. It is felt that if all levels 

 fully understand the importance of the data and the proper treatment of the instru- 

 ment in the collection of this data, more of the data collected would be reliable. 



The errors manifest themselves in terms of (1) the lack of care and handling 

 of the instrument causing jarring and failure, (2) lack of maintaining proper and 

 complete records to the extent of falsifying or not taking readings, and (3) errors 

 involved in reading instruments and reading the Bathythermograph slides. 



A considerable amount of data could be interpreted and analyzed if the op- 

 erating personnel were careful in maintaining complete notes on conditions that 

 existed at the time of the Bathythermograph cast. For instance, such things as 

 double traces, sudden changes in sets, abnormal BT traces, blotches, etc., if accom- 

 panied by the operating experience at that time would provide invaluable informa- 

 tion. This will require the taking personnel to examine each BT card when it is taken 

 to determine if such irregularities existed, and to report any abnormal conditions 

 which may have existed simultaneously. Failure to do this results in lack of relia- 

 bility of the data taken. 



20 



