Fabrication of Flippin Chi SOLO Floats for a Float Array for Submesoscales and Turbulence in ARCTERX
Abstract
Submesoscale (SMS) energy is elevated (a) on the peripheries of mesoscale features, (b) in topographic wakes, and (c) due to turbule nt thermal wind. In 2D quasigeostrophic flows, eddy kinetic energy (EKE) cascades to larger scales as small eddies coalesce. In 3D a geostrophic flows, EKE cascades to smaller scales and is dissipated as turbulence. Both occur simultaneously. For the ARCTERX DRI, w e proposed a profiling float array that contributes to (a) quantifying downscale energy cascades from the SMS flows, (b) determining the relative importance of internal gravity wave (IGW) and SMS currents in turbulence generation and (c) assessing turbulence distr ibutions in both time and space, including the role that turbulence plays in vorticity evolution and vice versa.To sustain coverage over months across spatial scales ranging from mesoscale eddies of O(200) km to turbulence of O(0.0110) m, we will use an array of 15 existing SOLO-II pro- filing floats with CTDs and 8 Flippin Chi SOLO (FCS) floats fully instrumented with turbulence sensors and developed with ONR funding (2 exist, 6 to be constructed with funds from this DURIP proposal). The 2 existing floats have already b een fabricated under ONR grant N00014-17-1-2700 and are ready for use in ARCTERX without further fabrication cost. The 8 FCS floats will be deployed in ARCTERX in 2023 and 2024 to quantify:1.the rate of the downscale cascade and mixing,2.turbulence generated by SM S currents in the interior, and3.coupling between SMS currents and IGWs.This collaboration combines SIO expertise in autonomous plat forms with OSUs expertise in turbulence measurements. SIO will manufacture 6 new FCS floats with CTDs to which OSU will add an addi tional package that includes 2 shear probes, 2 thermistors and pitot tube for sensing turbulence, pressure sensor, compass and 3-axi s linear accelerometer package.The SIO budget includes construction costs of 6 FCS, which will be subtracted from equipment costs in SIOs ARCTERX budget. OSU will submit a separate DURIP proposal to construct the 6 turbulence pods, which will be mounted on SIOs 6 FCS floats.Abstract approved for public release
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Oct 22, 2021
- Source ID
- N000142112915
Entities
People
- S. Johnston
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of California, San Diego