Dawn in the age of robotic oceanography: Utility in studying extreme events

Oscar Schofield, Scott Glenn, Josh Kohut Rutgers University

Coastal Observation and Prediction Sponsors:

Since October 2003 273 deployments, >100,000 kilometers flown, >5,000 days at sea

Rutgers University - Coastal Ocean Observation Lab

Vessels Satellite Satelli te Ships/ Vessels CODAR Glide r Data Vis. Secur ity Educati on

REMUS Modelin g Leadershi p

CODAR Network

L-Band & X-Band Satellite Receivers

Glider Fleet

3-D Nowcasts & Forecasts

Science Results 1
Hurricane Irene
Aug 20-29
Total inches of rainfall

32

First tropical storm to threaten NYC since Hurricane Gloria in 1985 Flooding records broken in 26 rivers Caused at least 56 deaths Damage nearly $8 billion

Two Gliders Deployed by MARACOOS in Hurricane Irene

RU16 Deployed for mapping bottom dissolved oxygen. Provided data on mixing during storm.

RU23 Deployed to map subsurface T/S structure for fisheries. Damaged early - drifter Recovered by fisherman Provided data on inertial currents during storm.

Hurricane Irene

Hurricane Irene
0 26

depth
temperature

55 0

14 33

depth salinity

55 0

29 105

depth
55

% oxygen
8/12

date

9/07

60

WARM (RTG only) Assimilation of SST, after clouds assume SST remains warm

COLD Update (AVHRR) Assimilation of SST, use glider temp after storm enters region

Using glider temperatures decrease RMSE of Hurricane wind forecast intensity by 61% in the glider domains Gliders can improve our understanding of extreme storms and improve forecasting now, the main hurdle is deploying the network of gliders

Science Results 2
Understanding ecosystem changes along the West Antarctic Peninsula

We are using the WAP as zone to study how rapid warming can shift the food web

Fastest winter warming location on Earth Northern WAP perennial ice is gone 87% glaciers in retreat Sea ice duration decreased by ~60 days Increase in ocean heat content Increase in wind and clouds

Adaptive Sampling of Penguin Habitats

Penguin Foraging locations

Anvers Island Hot spots along the peninsula are associated with deep undersea canyons located near suitable breeding areas, which can be reached in a days foraging effort (~30 km).

Data from 2007

Mark Moline & Bill Frazer

Gliders can provide a sustained presence in sampling extreme polar oceans allowing us to study ecosystem responses to climate change Glider Data Traditional Sampling

The Future: Automation and Machine to Machine Networks Demonstration by the Ocean Observatory Initiative (10/30/2009-11/20/2009)
Design, Testing and Deploy Observatory (simulated) data Models ~3 km ~100 m Sensor & Platform

Virtual Ocean

Data Assimilation

Data Analysis Science Questions & Drivers Data Synthesis: Nowcast & Data Impact

A fleet of four gliders October 30 November 20, 2009

4 Deployments (3 Rutgers, 1 University of Delaware) 77 in-water days 1608 km flown

COMBINING THE FIELD ASSETTS WITH OCEAN FORECASTS FOR PLANNING AND PROSECUTION EFFORTS

Known constraints (slow 0.5 knot, Battery, shipping lanes) Uncertain constraints (time-varying 3D currents) Operate autonomously & replan daily

From A to B in the shortest time Follow a time-varying feature (shelf-slope salinity intrusion)

PLANNING IN THE FUTURE

Increase model resolution

Reduce forecast error

The Future: Engaging next generation: The example of the Scarlet Knights Mission Summary
Rutgers students in the COOLroom

Preparing for recovery off Galicia, Spain 221 days at sea, first ocean basin crossing by an underwater robot.

Trans-Atlantic Education
Social networking tools developed to enable collaboration between scientists and students in the U.S., Canada, Spain and Portugal on the RU15, RU17, and RU27 longduration glider missions.

Interactive Data Interface Google Earth, Glider GUI

Briefing Blog Web Portal

Global Glider Challenge The Challenger Mission

December 9, 2009 Baiona, Spain
Rick Spinrad to Bob Goodman: Build and Coordinate a Global Glider Fleet to complete the first robotic revisit of the HMS Challengers Circumnavigation, and inspire students along the way. Bob Goodman to Rick Spinrad: We accept your challenge.

HMS Challenger Voyage First Scientific Circumnavigation 1872-1876 111,000 km = (15 gliders x 7,400 km/glider)

The undergraduate Challenger Mission: Please join the team