Assessing the potential of autonomous submarine gliders for ecosystem monitoring across multiple trophic levels (plankton to cetaceans) and pollutants in shallow shelf seas
Year: 2014
Type: article
Abstract: A combination of scientific, economic, technological and policy drivers is behind a recent upsurge in the use of marine autonomous systems (and accompanying miniaturized sensors) for environmental mapping and monitoring. Increased spatial–temporal resolution and coverage of data, at reduced cost, is particularly vital for effective spatial management of highly dynamic and heterogeneous shelf environments. This proof-of-concept study involves integration of a novel combination of sensors onto buoyancy-driven submarine gliders, in order to assess their suitability for ecosystem monitoring in shelf waters at a variety of trophic levels. Two shallow-water Slocum gliders were equipped with CTD and fluorometer to measure physical properties and chlorophyll, respectively. One glider was also equipped with a single-frequency echosounder to collect information on zooplankton and fish distribution. The other glider carried a Passive Acoustic Monitoring system to detect and record cetacean vocalizations, and a passive sampler to detect chemical contaminants in the water column. The two gliders were deployed together off southwest UK in autumn 2013, and targeted a known tidal-mixing front west of the Isles of Scilly. The gliders’ mission took about 40 days, with each glider travelling distances of >1000 km and undertaking >2500 dives to depths of up to 100 m. Controlling glider flight and alignment of the two glider trajectories proved to be particularly challenging due to strong tidal flows. However, the gliders continued to collect data in poor weather when an accompanying research vessel was unable to operate. In addition, all glider sensors generated useful data, with particularly interesting initial results relating to subsurface chlorophyll maxima and numerous fish/cetacean detections within the water column. The broader implications of this study for marine ecosystem monitoring with submarine gliders are discussed.
Source: Methods in Oceanography
Institutions: National Oceanography Centre, Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, British Antarctic Survey, University of St Andrews, Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Oslo Centre for Interdisciplinary Environmental and Social Research, Masaryk University, RECETOX, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, The University of Adelaide
Language: English
Subfield: Ocean Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Life below water
Open Access status: hybrid
Funders: Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, UK Government, Sight Research UK, European Commission, Norsk Institutt for Vannforskning, Natural Environment Research Council, RECETOX Přírodovědecké Fakulty Masarykovy Univerzity
Awards: G2141841917, G3010589082, G3163172065, G3207356259, G3339324051, TOWARDS A JOINT EUROPEAN RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE NETWORK FOR COASTAL OBSERVATORIES, G393177772, G4273689849, Pelagic Ocean Science: Ecology and Interconnectivity of Diverse Ocean Networks (POSEIDON), G5120126432, G5324585312, G5700176411, G5702163051, G5854776967, G6138189312, G684092545, Gliders: Excellent New Tools for Observing the Ocean (GENTOO)
OpenAlex ID: W2157481354