Design and initial results of a bottom stationing ocean profiler

Abstract

Absfracr-The benefits of untethered or drifting buoys and platforms have been well documented over the past decade. Study of physical, chemical and biological processes in the ocean can often he optimized using systems that profile andlor drift. However, it is at times useful to station a sensing system so that measurements are made only after or during specific conditions, e.g. a storm, an algae bloom, or underwater geologic event. A new autonomous platform has been developed that can provide the benefits of an untethered drifter while also providing the benefits of a stationary buoy. The Bottom Stationing Ocean Profiler (BSOP) is an instrument platform that stations itself on the sea floor and ascends and descends autonomously to gather water column profile data. While at the surface the BSOP transmits acquired data via the ORBCOMM satellite system to provide researchers a near real-time observation of the study area.The BSOP unit is designed to remain at sea for extended periods up to several months. It uses an oil-based buoyancy control system to ascend and descend at speeds up to 0.5 meters per second. The unit is low cost, easy to deploy and recover using only light duty gear and can support a wide variety of sensors. Command scripts are downloadable while the unit is in communication with a satellite ground station; this permits reprogramming of mission parameters if needed. The unit has an integral global positioning system receiver to accurately identify surface position. This is important to the scientific mission hut is also used for recovery operations. BSOP design and early results are presented.

Molecular detection of the brevetoxin‐producing dinoflagellate Karenia brevis and closely related species using rRNA‐targeted probes and a semiautomated sandwich hybridization assay1

“…One of the main aims of the Sentinel Program was to detect K. brevis using both the SHA and optical detection methods. In conjunction with these biosensors, bottom-stationed ocean profilers (BSOPs, Langebrake et al 2002) would collect physical parameters, with the ultimate aim of deployment of both the biosensors and BSOPs to allow concurrent collection of biological and physical data. Biophysical models have already been developed to predict the conditions under which coastal upwelling occurs in the hot spot for K. brevis blooms.…”

Novel Robotic Platforms for the Accurate Sampling and Monitoring of Water Columns

“…BSOP is an instrument platform that stations itself on the sea floor and ascends and descends autonomously to gather water column profile data. It uses an oil-based buoyancy control system to ascend and descend at speeds up to 0.5 meters per second [ 29 ]. APEX ® is an autonomous, neutrally buoyant drifter that uses a variable buoyancy engine to surface on a programmed schedule.…”

Characteristic function–based trial-and-error control of underwater profilers for vertical-column observation

“…To enhance the ability of gathering various kinds of data throughout a large water column under low cost with state-of-the-art technologies is a significant need in modeling and prediction of ocean physical processes, assessment, and protection of underwater creatures and other maritime activities. 12 Over the past several decades, cost-effective autonomous Lagrangian floats capable of water column sampling and configured with sensors for various applications have well demonstrated their utility for large-scale observations. 13,14 Because these platforms are man-portable, they are much easier to deploy and, if cost-effective, recovered, such that they have been widely applied for underwater circulation modeling and prediction as well as a number of other research endeavors.…”

“…To enhance the ability of gathering various kinds of data throughout a large water column under low cost with state-of-the-art technologies is a significant need in modeling and prediction of ocean physical processes, assessment, and protection of underwater creatures and other maritime activities. 12…”