New generations of Marlin drifters.Results of development and testing

Motyzhev S.*, Horton E.**, Lunev E.*, Kirichenko A.*, Tolstosheev A.*,* Marine Hydrophysical Institute NASU/Marlin-Yug Ltd, Kapitanskaya,2, Sebastopol, Ukraine, 99011** Naval Oceanographic Office, 1002 Balch Boulevard, Stennis Space Center, MS 39522-5001,USA

Components of WOCE drifter technology to be taken into account when developing of the smart buoy idea

Userneeds

Manufacturer abilities

Datatransfer

Deploymentsof buoys

Userneeds

Space-timeresolution

Controlled parameters

Hardware Software

Dataformat

DBCP-M2

DBCP-M2+

Other

Buoy'smodes

inoperation

Samples

Analysis

Transfer

Switch-on

Landing

Pick-up

AreaSeason

Buoy

DAR 40

Aut.depl.

Electronics

Sensors

Datalogging &analyzing

PTT

GPS

Standard AP

SST

Wind

Additional Tz

T.profile

Waves

Bio-optical

GTS

Other e.g.ADS

Drifter

Datadistribution

Synoptical10-th day

Mesoscale3-d hour

High 60min

Manufacturer

Matrix of user needs and manufacturer abilities(No downlink capability)

Settingof time

Unified electronics of last generation of the Marlin WOCE drifters

PTT MT105A Certified by CNES France

Main Features Operation range: -30…+60CStorage range: -40…+70 CAny channels S1…S14

Voltage range: +7 …+15 VDC

Transmitting power: 1.25±0.1 W (50 Ohm)

Power supply: transmit mode < 6 VADC; sleep mode < 100 A

Interface: RS-232

Dimension: 100 80 20 mm

Weight: < 100 g

Data processing board MM400

Main Features Operation range: -10…+60C

Storage range: -20…+60C

Voltage range: +6 to +15 VDC

Power supply: measuring mode < 2 mА; sleep mode < 100 A

Air pressure: range - 10 to 1100 hPa

resolution - 0,05 hPa

accuracy - 0,5 hPa

1-Wire® technology (300 sensors)

Interface: RS-232

Dimension : 80 50 20 mm

Weight: < 100 g

Unified electronics of last generation of the Marlin WOCE drifters

Two-processors Marlin electronicswide variety of applications:

WOCE style driftersAutomatic weather stations

Etc.

Data processing board MM400

Argos PTT MT105A (Certified by CNES France)

SVP-B drifter (Storm Buoy)-First generation, 2003

Parameter SVP-BSVP-B

(Storm buoy)AP resolution

(hPa)0.1 0.05

AP dynamic range (hPa)

850.0 to 1054.7 930.00 to 1032.35

APT dynamic range (hPa)

-25.5 to +25.6 -12.75 to +12.80

Interval between

samples (min)60 15

AP measurement

Standard algorithm

40 AP samples (40 s).

Median of the lowest 3 points.

Median within 1 hPa

“Storm” algorithm

10 standard measurements within 15 minutes with 90 sec interval.

Average of 10 medians

Rank for data transfer

1 4 (0, 1, 2, 3)

Goal: Investigation of the tropical waves transformation in AP depression and so on.

SVP-B drifter (Storm Buoy)-First generation, 2003

Registration of the hurricane Fabian in August-September 2003

AdvantagesGood resolution of AP variability

No AP spikes

DisadvantagesLarge enough time interval

between samples

Parameter SVP-BSVP-BT

(Storm buoy)AP resolution

(hPa)0.1 0.1

AP dynamic range (hPa)

850.0 to 1054.7 850.0 to 1054.7

APT dynamic range (hPa)

-25.5 to +25.6 -25.5 to +25.6

Interval between

samples (min)60 30

AP measurement

Standard algorithm

40 AP samples (40 s).

Median of the lowest 3 points.

Median within 1 hPa

“Storm” algorithm

10 standard measurements within 15 minutes with 90 sec interval.

Average of 10 medians

Rank for data transfer

1 5 (0, 1, 2, 3, 4)

SVP-BT drifter (Storm Buoy)-Second generation, 2004

Tz sensor at the end of tether (12.5 m)

Goal: Investigation of the heat processes in the active layer

SVP-BT drifter (Storm Buoy)-Second generation, 2004

Registration of the hurricane Frances in August-September 2004

AdvantagesBetter resolution of AP variability

DisadvantagesLarge enough time interval between

samplesFast loss of drogue and Tz sensor

SVP-BT drifter (Storm Buoy)-Second generation, 2004

Registration of the hurricanes Katrina and Rita (August-September 2005)

AdvantageHigh reliability of the AP channel in storm

conditions

SVP-BT drifter (Storm Buoy)-Second generation, 2004

AdvantageBetter resolution when multisatellite service

Hurricane Rita

SVP-BTC drifter

Temperature chain up to depth of 60 m Main Features

One-wire communication of chain with buoy

Temperature sensorsRange: 0…40 СType: DS18B20 (Dallas Semiconductor)Accuracy: +/-0,2 СResolution: 0,04 СNumber of sensors: 10Depth: 12,5; 17,0; 22,0; 27,0; 32,0; 37.0; 42,0; 47,0; 52,0; 57,0 mDuration of measurement (10 sensors): 20 s

Time constant: 100 s (in stirred water)

Depth sensorRange: 0…100 mType: D0,6 (Orlex)Accuracy: +/- 1mResolution: 0,1 mDuration of measurement: 3 s

SVP-BTC drifter. First generation, 2004

Experiment in the Black Sea Cooling of upper layer for August-December 2004

Model, fixing the locations of temperature sensors depending on

depth sensor data

Intercalibration of the drifter and Argo profiling

float in the Black Sea

SVP-BTC drifter. Second generation, 2005

50 km

The testing of a chain's temperature sensors in Meteo-France

thermostabilized chamber has shown that accuracy is +/-0.2°C

MGI and NAVOCEANO Experiment in the Black Sea Testing of temperature chain in laboratory and in situ

SVP-BTC drifter. Second generation, 2005

MGI and NAVOCEANO Experiment in the Black Sea Heating in upper layer for April-August 2005

Failure of the Meteo-France drifter. Some technological problem.

SVP-BTC drifter. Second generation, 2005

MGI and NAVOCEANO Experiment in the Black SeaFragment of Tzi variability with 60-min resolution

for two days (16-18 May 2005)

SVP-BTC drifter. Second generation, 2005

Testing of tether and chain automatic deployments after drop into water

Data of depth sensor

SVP-BLT drifter, January-August 2005MGI and NAVOCEANO Experiment in the Black Sea

SVP-BT drifter with smaller hull as a carrier for new generation of drifters

SVP-BLT drifter, January-August 2005MGI and NAVOCEANO Experiment in the Black Sea

AdvantageSmall size and less cost

DisadvantagePossible AP spikes when wind took place

SVP-BLT drifter, January-August 2005MGI and NAVOCEANO Experiment in the Black Sea

No any AP spikes for storm buoy with 40-cm hull

SVP-B Storm Buoy, deployed in July 2003

Userneeds

Space-timeresolution

Controlled parameters

Hardware Software

Dataformat

DBCP-M2

DBCP-M2+

Other

Buoy'smodes

inoperation

Samples

Analysis

Transfer

Switch-on

Landing

Pick-up

Buoy

DAR 40without chain

Aut.depl.

Electronics

Sensors

Datalogging &analyzing

PTT

GPS

Standard AP

SST

Wind

Additional Tz

T.profile

Waves

Bio-optical

GTS

Other e.g.ADS

Drifter

Datadistribution

Manufacturer

New generation of drifters

Synoptical10-th day

High 60min

Mesoscale3-d hour

AreaSeason

Setting of time

Completed

Status

In processing

Conclusions

1. Deployment of the 1250th drifter has marked that technological phase of the drifter technology development is behind.

2. Further investigations could be directed to have more parameters under reliable control as well as longer lifetime when constant hardware budget.

3. One of the possible ways might be a creating of drifter networks, when each drifter could choose resolution of sensors, frequency of samples, number of sensors in operation, variants of data transfer, etc. according variability of the parameters under control.

4. The further efforts of network operators, data users and drifter creators could be directed to develop some requests for those drifters to be realized by manufacturers with smallest financial and material spending.

Thanks