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www.ocean-sci-discuss.net/6/1261/2009/
doi:10.5194/osd-6-1261-2009
© Author(s) 2009. This work is distributed
under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Technical Note: Animal-borne CTD-Satellite Relay Data Loggers for real-time oceanographic data collection
1NERC Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, KY16,8LB, UK
2LOCEAN/Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, France
3Valeport Ltd., Totnes, UK
4British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK
*now at: Norwegian Polar Institute, Polar Environmental Centre, 9296 Tromsø, Norway
Abstract. The increasing need for continuous monitoring of the world oceans has stimulated the development of a range of autonomous sampling platforms. One novel addition to these approaches is a small, relatively inexpensive data-relaying device that can be deployed on marine mammals to provide vertical oceanographic profiles throughout the upper 2000 m of the water column. When an animal dives, the CTD-Satellite Relay Data Logger (CTD-SRDL) records vertical profiles of temperature, conductivity and pressure. Data are compressed once the animal returns to the surface where it is located by, and relays data to, the Argos satellite system. The technical challenges met in the design of the CTD-SRDL are the maximising of energy efficiency by minimising size, whilst simultaneously maintaining the reliability of an instrument that cannot be recovered and is required to survive its lifetime attached to a marine mammal. The CTD-SRDLs record temperature and salinity with an accuracy of better than 0.005°C and 0.02 respectively. However, due to the limited availability of reference data for post-processing, data are often associated with slightly higher errors. The potential to collect large numbers of profiles cost-effectively makes data collection using CTD-SRDL technology particularly beneficial in regions where traditional oceanographic measurements are scarce. Depending on the CTD-SRDL configuration, it is possible to sample and transmit hydrographic profiles on a daily basis, providing valuable and often unique information for a real-time ocean observing system.
Discussion Paper (PDF, 724 KB) Interactive Discussion (Closed, 6 Comments) Final Revised Paper (OS)
Citation: Boehme, L., Lovell, P., Biuw, M., Roquet, F., Nicholson, J., Thorpe, S. E., Meredith, M. P., and Fedak, M.: Technical Note: Animal-borne CTD-Satellite Relay Data Loggers for real-time oceanographic data collection, Ocean Sci. Discuss., 6, 1261-1287, doi:10.5194/osd-6-1261-2009, 2009. Bibtex EndNote Reference Manager XML
