The Metrology Laboratory is fitted out with the oceanography references and calibration benches devoted to marine sensors.
Accredited by the French Accreditation Committee (COFRAC) for temperature and pressure measurements, this laboratory takes also into account other parameters such as Salinity, Marine Current, Sound speed in water, Dissolved Oxygen, Turbidity, Chlorophyll…
Temperature:

The calibrations are carried out according to various techniques (by comparison, at fixed temperature point) and with various equipments (platinum resistance thermometers, resistance measurement bridge, fixed temperature points, oil and sea water temperature controlled baths…)

  • Range : from –10°C up to +60°C
  • Uncertainty : The uncertainty levels depend on techniques used and on equipment to be calibrated. Nevertheless, there are two main uncertainty levels:
    • Calibration from the temperature of triple point of water (+0,01°C), to the  melting point of Gallium (+39,7646°C) (fixed temperature points of International Temperature Scale of 1990)
      - U = ±0,004°C
    • Calibration by comparison with a temperature reference sensor in temperature controlled bath from -10°C up to +60°C.
      - U = from ±0,009°C up to ±0,016°C according to the equipment used.

 

 

  • Calibrated sensors :
    • Liquid dilatation thermometers, reverse thermometers, numerical thermometers, thermistors, currentmeters, thermo-salinometers, CTD probes, celerimeters…
      .

Pression:

 The calibration in relative pressure are carried out by comparison with an hydraulic pressure balance..
  • Range: 2 ranges.
    • from 100KPa up to 4 MPa
    • from 2 MPa up to 80 MPa
       
  • Uncertainty:
    • from 100 KPa up to 4 MPa : U = ±(65 Pa + 7,01.10-5 Pr)
    • from 2 MPa up to 80 MPa : U = ±(1000 Pa + 9,00.10-5 Pr)
       
  • Calibrated sensors:
    • Pressure sensors,  currentmeters, CTD probes, manometers, reverse pressiometers…
       
Salinity:
  • Range: from 2 up to 42 (PSU)
  • Absolute uncertainty: ±0,01 (PSU)
  • Calibrated sensors: Thermo-salinometers, conductivity sensors…
 Marine Current:
  • Range : from 0 up to 4 m/s
  • Relative uncertainty : ±0,001
  • Calibrated sensors : Mechanical and acoustic currentmeters, electromagnetic sensors…