Glider Repeat Surveys of Eastern Boundary Currents off Washington

University Of Washington, Seattle WA

Investigators

Abstract

0095414 Eriksen This project is aimed at demonstrating the effectiveness of gliders to observe boundary currents and describe an annual cycle of eastern boundary current evolution at the terminus of the West Wind Drift. Seagliders are small, reusable autonomous vehicles designed to glide from the ocean surface to as deep as 200 m and back while collecting profiles of physical, chemical and bio-optical properties. Two Seagliders will be deployed in successive missions up to 7.5 months long off the Washington coast to resolve the seasonal cycle of the California/Alaska Current system. All the data, about a thousand profiles of temperature and salinity will be transmitted in near-real time so that the progress of the gliders and current oceanic conditions can be monitored. Oxygen and bio-optical sensors will also be on the gliders. The work proposed is intended as a step forward toward learning to observe boundary currents over long time periods.