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Underwater window to our oceans
Curious dophins check out gliders in SA waters. High resolution picture.
The launch of torpedo-like Seagliders in South Australian waters in May is giving SARDI’s oceanography team new insights into the marine environment sustaining our valuable fisheries.
The gliders which can plunge to depths of 1000 metres are picking up information about our seas – ocean depth, salinity and oxygen levels, currents, water temperature and more. Technically impressive, they glide slowly through the ocean propelled by buoyancy control and wing lift to alternately dive and climb along slanting glide paths, transmitting data and receiving commands via satellite. They can travel entire ocean basins in missions lasting several months.
The seagliders will be used to determine the nature and magnitude of deep boundary currents between Eyre Peninsula and the western mouth of Bass Strait.
SARDI Oceanography leader, Associate Professor John Middleton, says it is world class science that will also help understand the climate of our ecosystems now, and potential future climate change impacts.
SARDI has gained access to the equipment as part of the $6.59 million Southern Australian Integrated Marine Observing System (SAIMOS) project, involving a collaboration of researchers from SARDI, Flinders University, the Victorian EPA and Marine and Freshwater Resources Institute. More SAIMOS details: http://imos.org.au/saimos.html
