The HOT Profiler: A Battery-Powered/Inductively-Charged, Satellite-Linked Moored Profiling System for Long Time Series of Rapid Vertical Profiles of Density and Velocity

University Of Washington, Seattle WA

Investigators

Abstract

The PIs propose to develop and deploy a moored battery pack/communication system that will enable profiling vehicles to measure profiles of temperature (T), salinity (S), velocity, and dissolved oxygen from 80-2500 m each 1.5 hours. The profiler to be used is a tested technology that has the potential to greatly remedy the current gross under-sampling of the ocean. Battery power still limits its endurance: one must either forego resolution of timescales < 1 day, or limit total mission length to < 46 days. The proposed system will replace the power and communications available from the cabled junction box, allowing the profiler to be used to deliver year-long, internal-wave-resolving profiles at any location. Charging will take 4 hours each 4 days. Two-way Iridium communications will allow real-time data access and upload of commands for adaptive sampling. Broader Impacts The broader impacts of the work include the ability to collect high-resolution profiles over extended periods will provide a much-needed tool for understanding a broad range of phenomena in the ocean including but not limited to productivity, carbon cycle and meso-scale circulation. These extended life profilers will be an important asset for remote moorings and well as a key component of cabled observatories.