What’s an ocean glider?

VIDEO: What’s an ocean glider? This is an outline in below two minutes. Transcript

Scientists at the moment are experimenting with utilizing gliders to find populations of spawning fish. The glider illustrated right here is outfitted with an acoustic receiver to “pay attention” for vocalizations—grunting sounds—made by some fish as they mass collectively to spawn within the U.S. Caribbean. The car information the geolocation of the sounds that it “hears” onto an onboard reminiscence card. Study extra.

Do you know?

In 2009, a glider named the “Scarlet Knight” made historical past by crossing the Atlantic Ocean from New Jersey to Spain. Study extra.

An ocean glider is an autonomous, unmanned underwater car used for ocean science. Since gliders require little or no human help whereas touring, these little robots are uniquely suited to gathering information in distant areas, safely and at comparatively low price.

Gliders could also be geared up with all kinds of sensors to observe temperature, salinity, currents, and different ocean situations. This data creates a extra full image of what’s occurring within the ocean, in addition to tendencies scientists won’t in any other case be capable to detect from satellites or giant analysis ships.

Whereas there are various glider designs that use completely different strategies to maneuver via the water, all gliders share the power to journey far distances over lengthy intervals, with out servicing. Unmanned gliders pattern the ocean in locations the place it’s impractical to ship individuals, and at a fraction of the price, permitting us to gather information even in the course of a hurricane. It’s these traits together with developments in sensor applied sciences that make gliders more and more essential as instruments for gathering ocean information.

The glider illustrated on this animation is the Slocum glider. It could seem like a torpedo, however it doesn’t have propellors or an inner engine. As an alternative, it makes use of a pump to softly change its buoyancy over time. This permits the glider to slowly transfer up and down via the water. And because it does so, the massive fins protruding of the edges of the craft create carry to propel it ahead. It’s just like how a glider within the air works, besides the ocean glider can glide up as simply because it glides down.

Video Transcript

An ocean glider is autonomous: it travels via the ocean with out human assist. It’s pre-programmed with journey waypoints after which let out to gather ocean information for days, weeks, or months. Totally different sensors mounted on the glider accumulate completely different sorts of knowledge. This glider is fitted with an acoustic sensor to pay attention for and report noises made by fish throughout spawning season. After gathering information for a set time period, the glider completes its journey. The glider then surfaces and transmits its place so individuals can come choose it up. Mission full!

What’s marine telemetry?

a seal with animal telemetry device

Telemetry tags assist researchers uncover the place marine animals are, the place they go, and what their environments are like.

Marine telemetry makes use of units connected to animals to assemble knowledge. These telemetry units, referred to as tags, are connected to a variety of marine species, from tiny salmon smolts to massive 150-ton whales. Tags are connected to the surface of an animal with clips, straps, or glue, and are typically surgically inserted in an animal’s physique. Alerts from the tags are obtained by analysis vessels, buoys, and satellites.

Telemetry tags don’t simply report the animal’s actions; they will additionally additionally document details about the animal (temperature, coronary heart fee, oxygen ranges), its habits (vocalizations, respiratory, tail beats), and its atmosphere (sound, temperature, salinity, mild).

These observations considerably enhance our understanding of animals’ areas and the way they reply to local weather change and human-made disturbances. Telemetry knowledge additionally improves inhabitants estimates and aids implementation of the Endangered Species Act and different conservation legal guidelines and insurance policies. Marine telemetry can even present knowledge at comparatively low value and in areas which can be tough to review, such because the Arctic.

Because the Earth’s local weather continues to vary, knowledge collected by telemetry tags can inform scientists the impact of hotter ocean water on animal habits, their migration patterns, and the supply of their meals sources. For instance, throughout an uncommon inflow of heat water alongside the West Coast in 2005, telemetry confirmed that sea lions traveled farther than regular from the shore. Knowledge from the tags confirmed the ocean lions made these journeys to seek out the fish species within the area that make up a lot of their weight loss plan. The information from telemetry tags helped scientists perceive extra not solely in regards to the sea lions, but in addition about their most well-liked prey.

Why do scientists measure sea floor temperature?

A simulation of sea-surface temperatures from a GFDL climate model

A simulation of sea-surface temperatures from the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory. This mannequin impressed the U.S. Postal Service to create a Eternally worldwide charge stamp, launched on Earth Day in 2014.


As a result of the ocean covers 71 % of Earth’s floor, scientists file sea floor temperature (SST) to grasp how the ocean communicates with Earth’s ambiance. SST gives elementary data on the worldwide local weather system. SST is an important parameter in climate prediction and atmospheric mannequin simulations, and can also be vital for the research of marine ecosystems.

SST knowledge are particularly helpful for figuring out the onset of El Niño and La Niña cycles. Throughout El Niño, temperatures within the Pacific close to the equator are hotter than regular. Throughout La Niña, the identical space experiences colder than regular ocean temperatures. These cycles are brought on by multiyear shifts in stress and wind speeds, and have an effect on ocean circulation, world climate patterns, and marine ecosystems.

SST measurements profit a large spectrum of operational purposes, together with local weather and seasonal monitoring/forecasting, navy protection operations, validation of atmospheric fashions, sea turtle monitoring, analysis of coral bleaching, tourism, and business fisheries administration.

To measure SST, scientists deploy temperature sensors on satellites, buoys, ships, ocean reference stations, and thru marine telemetry. The NOAA-led U.S. Built-in Ocean Observing System (IOOS®) and NOAA’s Middle for Satellite tv for pc Purposes and Analysis (STAR) merge their knowledge to supply SSTs worldwide.

How are satellites used to look at the ocean?

an artist's rendering of GOES-R in space

The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite tv for pc-16 (GOES-16) is the primary of NOAA’s subsequent technology of geostationary climate satellites. Among the many many missions of this satellite tv for pc, it can accumulate ocean and local weather information.


Satellites are wonderful instruments for observing the Earth and the large blue ocean that covers greater than 70 p.c of our planet. By remotely sensing from their orbits excessive above the Earth, satellites present us far more data than can be doable to acquire solely from the floor.

Utilizing satellites, NOAA researchers intently research the ocean. Info gathered by satellites can inform us about ocean bathymetry, sea floor temperature, ocean shade, coral reefs, and sea and lake ice. Scientists additionally use information assortment programs on satellites to relay alerts from transmitters on the bottom to researchers within the discipline—utilized in purposes akin to measuring tidal heights and the migration of whales. Transmitters on satellites additionally relay place data from emergency beacons to assist save lives when individuals are in misery on boats, airplanes, or in distant areas. Listed here are only a few of the numerous methods satellites assist us be taught extra about our ocean:

Sea Floor Temperatures

A simulation of sea-surface temperatures from a GFDL climate model

A simulation of sea-surface temperatures from the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory.

Understanding the temperature of the ocean floor can inform scientists so much about what’s occurring in and across the ocean. Temperature modifications affect the habits of fish, may cause the bleaching of corals, and have an effect on climate alongside the coast. Satellite tv for pc photographs of sea floor temperature additionally present patterns of water circulation. Examples embrace places of upwelling, characterised by chilly waters that stand up from the depths, typically close to the coasts; and heat water currents, such because the Gulf Stream. Essentially the most generally used instrument to gather sea floor temperatures is the Seen Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard the NOAA/NASA Suomi NPP satellite tv for pc. This sensor captures new information daily, permitting scientists to piece collectively sequence of maps that present sea floor temperature variations over time for various areas across the globe.

Sea Floor Coloration

Satellites additionally present details about the colour of the ocean. For instance, shade information helps researchers decide the affect of floods alongside the coast, detect river plumes, and find blooms of dangerous algae that may contaminate shellfish and kill different fish and marine mammals. Ocean shade information from satellites permits us not solely to establish the place an algal bloom is forming, but additionally to foretell the place it would drift sooner or later. Therapy vegetation additionally use algal bloom forecasts created by NOAA to resolve when to vary their water therapy components to deal with the algae.

Sea Degree Change

A map of complete sea degree change since 1993.

Some of the important potential impacts of local weather change is sea degree rise, which might trigger inundation of coastal areas and islands, shoreline erosion, and destruction of vital ecosystems akin to wetlands and mangroves. Satellite tv for pc altimeter radar measurements might be mixed with exactly identified spacecraft orbits to measure sea degree on a world foundation with unprecedented accuracy. The measurement of long-term modifications in international imply sea degree gives a solution to take a look at local weather fashions’ predictions of world warming.

Mapping

The floor of the ocean bulges outward and inward, mimicking the topography of the ocean flooring. The bumps, too small to be seen, might be measured by a radar altimeter aboard a satellite tv for pc.

Satellite tv for pc imagery may additionally be used to map options within the water, akin to coral reefs. Sea flooring geology is much less complicated than the geology of the continents as a result of erosion charges are decrease, and likewise as a result of the continents have suffered a number of collisions related to the opening and shutting of ocean basins. Regardless of its relative youth and geologic simplicity, most of this deep seafloor has remained poorly understood as a result of it’s masked by the ocean. Thus far, ships have charted solely a small fraction of the seafloor. However because of gravity, the ocean floor has broad bumps and dips that mimic the topography of the ocean flooring. These bumps and dips might be mapped utilizing a really correct radar altimeter mounted on a satellite tv for pc.

Climate

Hurricane Ivan on September 15, 2004, earlier than it slammed into the U.S. Gulf Coast.

The ocean performs a serious position in regulating the planet’s climate and local weather. Climate information is probably probably the most well-known utility of satellite tv for pc know-how. NOAA’s operational climate satellite tv for pc system consists of two kinds of satellites: geostationary operational environmental satellites (GOES) for short-range forecasts, warnings, and observations; and polar-orbiting satellites for longer-term forecasting. Each kinds of satellite tv for pc are mandatory to supply an entire international weather-monitoring system.

Monitoring

NOAA Fisheries scientists maneuver a tagged sea turtle towards the top of the boat ramp.

Satellites offering environmental imagery may additionally be used collectively with different organizations that obtain information from varied sensors. For instance, marine animals, akin to sea turtles and manatees, might be fitted with transmitters that relay details about their places to orbiting satellites. Related know-how can also be used for human search and rescue.