Sea Technology

FEB 2013

The industry's recognized authority for design, engineering and application of equipment and services in the global ocean community

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Cable-Free Automatic Profling Buoy Real-Time Oceanographic Profles From Low-Maintenance Buoy By Monica S. Kolding ��� B��rd Sagstad T he underwater universe of the oceans has always been a challenge to observe and monitor, particularly with remotely operated fxed foating installations for vertical profles. Most environmental parameters such as light, temperature, oxygen and salinity vary signifcantly and often abruptly with depth, making high-resolution depth curves one of the most important diagnostic indicators for hydrological dynamic processes and environmental conditions of the water column. With the globally increased focus on the marine biosphere as a source of food and the physical role of the oceans in regulating climate, the need for such data is rapidly rising. Aquatic resource managers and the growing aquaculture industry use environmental data to understand the interactions between biotic communities and their abiotic surroundings, as well as routine monitoring of ambient water quality. Marine and climate researchers use the same data to better map and understand the oceanographic circulation systems, and to calibrate dynamic models for future predictions and scenarios. Standard hydrological data are normally acquired by CTD sensors, with auxiliary Floating APB5 buoy near Bergen, Norway, with solar panels, wind generators and measuring instruments for dissolved oxygen, embedded Web server. turbidity and fuorescence, for example. The data collection, however, is normally shipply, has been heavily dependent on electrical cable connecdependent and manually operated, and, hence, expensive tions. All existing advanced scientifc CTD probes require and time-consuming. Remotely controlled automatic promanual reading or cable-dependent data transfer between fling with real-time results has, therefore, long been an the instrument and the recipient. For automatic profling, attractive goal in marine technology. There are, however, this results in relatively long and heavy cables and vulnernumerous obstacles in achieving practical solutions, and able, fatigue-prone connectors, such as slip rings. This is foremost among these are communication, energy demand because an oscillating body hanging from a winch drum and maintenance. cannot have a fxed socket connection without twisting the cable. In addition, the weight and corresponding energy deCable Connections, Biofouling Challenges mand for hoisting become substantial. Up until present, communication and data transfer beAn important but often overlooked problem of sensitive tween the sensor and the recipient, as well as energy supand reliable data collection from submerged instruments is 10 st / FEBRUARY 2013 www.sea-technology.com

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