Working towards improved real-time data transmission from moorings
HiAOOS has two key ambitions to meet through observing systems and field work:
- Improve the observing capacity in the ice-covered Arctic Ocean based on moorings and drifting ice based buoys.
- Advance research-based innovations related to underwater GPS, daily data download from moorings using ROVs, and new acoustic array technology.
Part of the HiAOOS team, focused on developing a mooring with improved real-time data transmission, met on October 17 2023, at IOPAN in Sopot. Thomas, Normen, and Nils (AWI) as well as Piotr and Agnieszka (IOPAN) discussed different options for how to design a mooring that integrates a subsurface profiling winch with other instruments distributed deeper along the mooring line.
Two versions of the profiling winch were presented by AWI (the full size system and a compact version) along with the discussion of the next development steps which include developing a satellite data transfer and ice/waves sensing capability. The current IOPAN activities that focus on acoustic data transfer were also reviewed.
Together they deliberated the details of integrating an acoustic modem on the winch to retrieve data from deeper located instruments. The aim is to send the data from self-contained devices together with data collected by a profiler in near-real time via a satellite link.
After agreeing on the next steps of the joint work and discussing different possibilities for field tests, the team enjoyed a nice dinner at the Baltic Sea waterfront.