Along-beam bin center separation

For ADCPs, the $Z$-axis in instrument coordinates is commonly defined along the axis of the ADCP pressure case. The velocity data are commonly given in terms of this $Z$-coordinate. For a vertical beam, the along beam bin center separation ($r_0$) is given by:

$r_0=\delta z$

where $\delta z$ is the distance between bin-centers along the $Z$-axis.

For diverging beams, the along beam bin center separation ($r_0$) is given by:

$r_0=\frac{\delta z}{\cos \theta }$

where $\theta$ is the angle of the diverging beams with the $Z$-axis.

Schematic of ADCP and its beams, showing the difference between the vertical co-ordinate $z$ and the along-beam radial distances $r$

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