Sampling Autonomy for UUV-based Measurements of Turbulent Nonlinear Internal Wave Anomalies in the Upper Ocean
Abstract
We propose a three-year study to develop autonomy methodologies for sampling rapidlyevolving oceanic stratification of nonlinear internal waves using an Unmanned UnderwaterVehicle (UUV). We will sample well-known soliton features of Massachusetts Bay and the New"Jersey Shelf. While these features have been the subject of previous study, they have not beenstudied using a UUV system capable o""f feature tracking. In particular, we propose to developflight-optimized wave-tracking autonomy to phase lock the UUV system into t""he core of asoliton, allowing direct in-situ measurements through the entire evolution of the wave as it shoalsand dissipates. Thi"s will allow the first ever Lagrangian observation of the velocity and turbulentstructure within a soliton core. Such observations" will provide data to test the hypothesis that theturbulent core of a nonlinear wave can transport scalar properties, such as water""mass anomaliesand biological properties, along propagation pathways. The fate of these transported properties asthey are mixed by" turbulent processes will be investigated.Project
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- May 05, 2017
- Source ID
- N000141712348
Entities
People
- Louis St. Laurent
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution