Acoustically tracked passive drifters for measurement of oceanic circulation. Adaptation to the Nordic Seas

A review of the technology to use neutrally buoyant subsurface drifters or floats for Lagrangian measurements of ocean circulation was made. Focus was put on the RAFOS technology which uses small floats that listen to low-frequency sound-transmitting sources moored at fixed positions in the deep wat...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Golmen, L., Søiland, H.
Other Authors: Golmen, L. - Project manager
Format: Report
Language:unknown
Published: Norsk institutt for vannforskning 1995
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/11250/208610
Description
Summary:A review of the technology to use neutrally buoyant subsurface drifters or floats for Lagrangian measurements of ocean circulation was made. Focus was put on the RAFOS technology which uses small floats that listen to low-frequency sound-transmitting sources moored at fixed positions in the deep water. Recent applications of this and similar techniques have been studied. Some suggestions for future float applications with emphasis on studies in Nordic waters are presented. These include measurement of the internal circulation in the deep basins, and the exchange of waters between them. The float technology requires close follow-up during planning and execution of experiments by the scientists involved. It is recommended in the beginning to spend most efforts on tasks related to scientific planning and performance, and less on the technological parts, by applying as much commercially available equipment as possible. Nordic Council (NMR) Norsk institutt for vannforskning (NIVA)