Data Access Options
Project
Solomon Sea Ocean Transport from Gliders
Date Range
2016-08-14 to 2016-11-16
Sensors
This file contains data from the following specific instruments: Sea-Bird SBE 41CP CTD, Seapoint chlorophyll fluorometer.
Summary
Spray glider data from mission 16800101, part of the Solomon sea ocean transport from gliders project. This is the complete science-quality dataset for the full mission, spanning from 2016-08-14 to 2016-11-16.
The western boundary current of the South Pacific Tropical Gyre flows through the Solomon Sea and then to the equator. The degree to which this flow affects the equatorial zone and global climate depends on its transport of water and heat. These transports have been measured since 2007 by underwater gliders crossing the Sea seasonally to monthly. Ocean temperature and salinity profiles and depth-average current are measured every few km to depths of 500 to 1000 m. Velocity shear can be inferred from measured density. Phenomena of interest are ENSO and flow in the Equatorial Undercurrent.
This is a delayed-mode science-quality data product providing the highest-resolution and highest quality data for this mission. After a glider mission is complete and the glider is recovered, the full-resolution data are downloaded and quality controlled resulting in this data product. This product is typically available three to six months after a glider mission is complete.
The delayed-mode science quality full-resolution data product should be used in place of near-real-time data once this higher-quality data product is available. This is a rigorously quality controlled dataset, the results of quality control tests are included as flags. Where appropriate, in addition to the original data with quality flags, corrected variables are also provided. These are noted in the variable metadata.Users of the data must apply the quality control flag variables referenced as ancillary variables on the data variables, these flags provide necessary information for using the data.
About these measurements: A Spray glider moves slowly through the water and collects information about the water it is traveling through. It collects a series of vertical profiles from the ocean seafloor (up to 1000m deep) to the ocean surface. In typical operations to 1000 m depth, a Spray glider travels 15 miles and makes 4 profiles per day. When on the ocean surface, about every three to six hours, it sends the information it collected underwater back via satellite, and then dives back down to continue collecting data.
The Spray ocean glider carries a pumped Sea-Bird CTD to measure pressure, temperature, and salinity, a Seapoint fluorometer, and a Sea-Bird dissolved oxygen sensor. Additionally, a Nortek acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) measures depth dependent water velocity. The ocean glider position is measured at the surface at the beginning and end of each dive by GPS, allowing for a dead reckoning estimation of depth averaged water velocity.
An underwater glider runs on batteries and can stay out to sea for months at a time. Spray gliders collect observations on the ascent of a dive. Sensor observations are not collected on the descent and one vertical profile of observations is collected on the ascent of each dive.
Contributors
Daniel Rudnick (principalInvestigator), Jennifer Sevadjian (resourceProvider)
References
Rudnick, D. L. (2016). Ocean research enabled by underwater gliders. Annual review of marine science, 8, 519-541, doi:10.1146/annurev-marine-122414-033913
Rudnick, D. L., Davis, R. E., & Sherman, J. T. (2016). Spray Underwater Glider Operations. Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, 33(6), 1113-1122, doi:10.1175/JTECH-D-15-0252.1
Rudnick, D. L., Davis, R. E., Eriksen, C. C., Fratantoni, D. M., & Perry, M. J. (2004). Underwater gliders for ocean research. Marine Technology Society Journal, 38(2), 73-84, doi:10.4031/002533204787522703
Sherman, J., Davis, R. E., Owens, W. B., & Valdes, J. (2001). The autonomous underwater glider 'Spray'. IEEE Journal of oceanic Engineering, 26(4), 437-446, doi:10.1109/48.972076
Rudnick, D. L., Davis, R. E., & Sherman, J. T. (2016). Spray Underwater Glider Operations. Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, 33(6), 1113-1122, doi:10.1175/JTECH-D-15-0252.1
Rudnick, D. L., Davis, R. E., Eriksen, C. C., Fratantoni, D. M., & Perry, M. J. (2004). Underwater gliders for ocean research. Marine Technology Society Journal, 38(2), 73-84, doi:10.4031/002533204787522703
Sherman, J., Davis, R. E., Owens, W. B., & Valdes, J. (2001). The autonomous underwater glider 'Spray'. IEEE Journal of oceanic Engineering, 26(4), 437-446, doi:10.1109/48.972076
Acknowledgement
This project is funded by the Global Ocean Monitoring and Observing (GOMO) Program of NOAA. These data were gathered by the staff of the Instrument Development Group of Scripps Institution of Oceanography with assistance of William Kessler of NOAA's PMEL. Much of the field work was carried out by Dive Gizo. Residents of the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea were extremely helpful, particularly in rescuing errant gliders.