Flux Surface Glider Experiment

PIs: Iwao Ueki, Tatsuya Fukuda, Makito Yokota, Ken Ando, and Yasuhisa Ishihara (JAMSTEC)

Description

The goal of this project was to pilot surface Wave Gliders^®1 to measure air-sea heat and momentum flux for potential integration for the in situ observing system. The Wave Glider payload units for air-sea heat and momentum flux measurements were developed by JAMSTEC, based on the technology of long-term TRITON moorings. Inter-comparison experiments with mooring observations demonstrated that air-sea flux measurements, including winds, sea surface temperature, air temperature, relative humidity, shortwave radiation, longwave radiation, and surface currents, were in agreement thus demonstrating the feasibility of using in situ Wave Gliders observations for estimating bulk fluxes, radiative fluxes, and currents. The demonstrations might be helpful to consider for making a flux observation network using Wave Gliders in the tropics. This project was funded by JAMSTEC.

¹Wave Glider is a trademark name; hereafter referred to without ®

Accomplishments

Three field experiments have been completed:

1. South of Japan (July 26-Aug. 15, 2016）
– Establish WG operations by small boat
– Conduct 1-month observation in the open ocean

2. South of Republic Palau (Nov. 3-Dec. 16, 2016)
– Establish WG operations by small diving boat near a tropical island.
– Compare glider and mooring observational data.

3. Eastern Indian Ocean (Dec. 9-29, 2017)
– Conduct inter-comparison with mooring observations.

Lessons Learned

1. The flux glider can capture comparable variability of surface flux associated variables with mooring observations. In terms of sea surface salinity, the flux glider can detect finer salinity structure.

2. Basic payloads for air-sea flux observations have been established and shown to capture comparable variability as seen on moorings.

3. Deployment and recovery operations can be completed using small boats with relative ease.

4. The stability of sensors over weeks to months were relatively good.

5. JAMSTEC plans to conduct 3 observation lines associated with TRITON moorings [137E, 147E and 156E]

6. Challenges included decreased performance in severe weather conditions and some sensors needed reinforcement from water intrusions.

Publications

In preparation

Data

The data will be disseminated from a JAMSTEC website and posted here when available.