2. Floats and Drifters
Floats and drifters are instrumental tools used for ocean observation and monitoring. These devices are deployed at the sea surface to collect data on temperature, salinity, current, and other important oceanographic variables. The data collected by these devices help us better understand the ocean and its interactions with the atmosphere and the broader climate.
Ocean floats are autonomous devices that are often designed to move up and down the water column, as well as remain fixed at a specific depth in the ocean for extended periods of time. While floats can move up and down, they often do not have propulsion to move laterally in the ocean like UUVs. Floats are equipped with sensors that measure various oceanographic parameters, such as temperature and salinity; they also have a communication system that allows the data to be transmitted to a satellite (or, in a less common case, a support vessel). Ocean floats are designed to be self-sustaining and are rarely retrieved — meaning that they can remain at sea for months or even years without the need for maintenance or intervention. This also means that once the onboard battery power runs out, the float ceases to operate.
Drifters, on the other hand, are passive devices that are deployed at the sea surface and are carried by surface ocean currents. They are also equipped with sensors for measuring various oceanographic variables + a communication system for data transmission. Unlike ocean floats, drifters operate exclusively at the surface and their movements are solely determined by ocean currents (and other external interventions).
Ocean floats and drifters play an important role in ocean observation and monitoring by providing continuous and long-term data on ocean temperature, salinity, and current. The data collected by these devices can be used to create ocean models that help us better understand ocean circulation and the transport of heat, salt content, and other important oceanographic variables. This information is critical for a wide range of applications, including climate modeling, weather forecasting, and ocean resource management.
In addition to their scientific value, ocean floats and drifters also have a pivotal role in maritime safety and security. The data collected by these devices can be used to track the movement of ocean currents, which can help predict the spread of oil spills, hazardous algal blooms, and other marine pollutants. Additionally, ocean floats and drifters can help infer the movements of marine organisms, which follow important indicators of ocean health and are also critical to the livelihoods of many coastal communities.
Despite their many advantages, floats and drifters also have some challenges associated with their use. For example, the deployment and retrieval of these devices can be difficult and expensive, especially in remote and harsh ocean environments — as a general principle, human operations in the marine environment are always expensive. Additionally, the data collected by these devices can be limited by the quality and accuracy of the sensors, as well as by the availability of communication systems. While floats and drifts are vitally important to ocean observation and they are some of the most cost-effective ocean monitoring technologies, their capabilities can be significantly supplemented by high-power data beacons at sea for coordination and management.
As these technologies continue to advance, it is likely that floats and drifters will play an even greater role in ocean observation and monitoring, providing critical information for a wide range of applications in the blue economy.
Please visit www.oceanmotion.tech to learn more.
The editing of this article was powered by deepsage.ai
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