Innovative Platforms for Upper Ocean Research
Abstract
The long-term goal of this research is to seek an improved understanding of the dynamics of the upper ocean and the physical processes that determine the vertical and horizontal structure of the mixed layer. Our ability to fully visualize, measure, and thus understand the physical processes active in the upper ocean in three dimensions on scales from meters to one kilometer is at present very limited. The objective of this project is the development of the technology to make measurements from three-dimensional arrays within the upper ocean. We are designing, modeling, and deploying a moored, subsurface, two-dimensional array that has instruments distributed both horizontally and vertically in the surface boundary layer. This effort would lead to the design and fabrication of a pair of subsurface moorings that would be deployed in 100 meters of water with a horizontal element between the moorings capable of spanning 160 meters at a depth of 15 to 20 meters below the surface. Spaced along the horizontal member at 30-meter intervals would be five instrumented vertical strings extending to a depth of 45-50 meters. Two, 48-inch steel spheres would be used as buoyancy elements on the subsurface mooring. Instruments measuring temperature, pressure, conductivity, current velocity, tilt, and acceleration would be placed along the horizontal member and on the vertical strings.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA552541
Entities
People
- M. Grosenbaugh
- R. Trask
- Robert A. Weller
- Steven P. Anderson
- W. Paul
Organizations
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution