The ClearSat-ADOS Temperature Profiling system is a rugged, low-cost instrument for defining ocean surface layer thermal structure by measuring temperatures at up to 30 depths from sea surface to 150 meters. ADOS uses Smart Sensors™ affixed to mooring wire to measure temperature and pressure. SmartSensors are self-powered micro-controller mini-instruments that sample temperature and pressure and communicate that data to the surface sphere through mooring wire over an inductive modem data link.

SmartSensors eliminate troublesome underwater connections to expensive multi-conductor cables. Transitions between SmartSensors and hydrographic wire are protected by tough, flexible urethane stress reliefs. Pressure sensors can be added to any node to measure in situ pressure to correct for cable streaming in shearing current. SmartSensors thermistors are calibrated to +/- 0.01 C. Reading are converted to centigrade from calibrations stored in SmartSensor non-volatile RAM. SmartSensor use very little power: as many as 400,000 measurements can be made in the life of a node.

GPS provides accurate time and locations for the measurements. ADOS data is relayed to the user through the Argos System or Iridium SBD. ClearSat-ADOS may be deployed as in drifting or moored temperature sensing arrays.