Sonardyne Origin 600 and CONTROS HydroC Sensor Deliver Real-Time Data for Ocean Acidification Research

Jena, Germany: Leading underwater technology manufacturer Sonardyne International Ltd has integrated a CONTROS HydroC dissolved CO2 sensor from -4H-JENA engineering into its Origin 600 ADCP (Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler), unlocking new capabilities for marine research into ocean acidification. The combined solution enables precise, real-time monitoring of dissolved carbon dioxide levels alongside detailed current profiling, providing critical insights into the impacts of rising CO2 concentrations on marine ecosystems and biodiversity.

The CONTROS HydroC dissolved CO2 sensor from -4H-JENA engineering is designed specifically for accurate and reliable measurement of dissolved carbon dioxide in marine environments. Such sensors are essential tools for understanding ocean acidification, a pressing environmental concern driven by increasing atmospheric CO2 levels. The HydroC sensor integrates seamlessly with Sonardyne's Origin 600 through either direct connection to the ADCP’s external sensor port or via the versatile Origin E-Mux multiplexer, which supports up to four external sensors simultaneously and extends power supply capability for longer deployments.

In a recent deployment for a Sonardyne customer project, the integrated system demonstrated its effectiveness. The CONTROS HydroC sensor, preconfigured using dedicated -4H-JENA engineering software to produce measurements at defined intervals, was cabled directly to the Origin 600, which powered the sensor and logged its data. The logged CO2 data was fused with the Origin 600’s ADCP measurements using Sonardyne’s Edge computing environment, creating an integrated dataset combining current velocity, direction, and dissolved CO2 levels into an NMEA-style format. These data strings were acoustically transmitted to the surface every five minutes via the Origin 600’s built-in acoustic modem. From there, data was sent to a cloud-based system, allowing marine scientists to access real-time updates remotely.

 “We’re grateful to -4H-JENA engineering and UK reseller, Planet Ocean, for providing the CONTROS HydroC CO₂ sensor,” said Eleanor Stanton, Associate Product Manager, Sonardyne International Ltd. “This integration clearly illustrates the extensive connectivity and flexibility of our Origin 600 ADCP, directly supporting vital scientific research by delivering the precise data needed to better understand and address the pressing environmental challenges facing marine ecosystems today.”

“We are pleased to see our CONTROS HydroC sensors playing a key role in essential ocean acidification research. CONTROS sensors are deloyed worldwide but the integration with Sonardyne’s Origin 600 ADCP is particularly exciting as it provides marine scientists with critical dissolved CO2 data in real-time, greatly advancing the immediacy and accuracy of environmental monitoring and analysis,” said Uwe Posner, Senior Sales Manager, -4H-JENA engineering.

Ends

Note for editors:

Visit -4H-JENA engineering on stand Stand N3 at Ocean Business 2025 to discuss this integration project and other applications of CONTROS sensors for marine science globally.

Origin 600 and HydroC

Sonardyne Origin E-MUX

Origin Seabed Lander

Media enquiries

-4H-JENA engineering GmbH

Dr. Maik Grunwald, Head of R&D

E-mail: grunwald@4h-jena.de

Phone: +49 3641 2887 0

About -4H-JENA engineering

-4H-JENA engineering is an established German engineering company providing expert technologies and services in diverse markets. Through its Marine Technologies division, ‑4H-JENA engineering develops, designs, and distributes measuring instruments and complete systems for the investigation of (sea) water for more than 20 years. These include the established CONTROS brand sensors as well as FerryBox systems that sample for various parameters. In addition to the easily configurable and standardised product portfolio, -4H-JENA engineering also develops customised solutions, which are tailored to the respective requirements of the customer. https://www.4h-jena.de/en/start/