Right now, remotely operated ocean gliders are patrolling the NSW coastline.
An ocean glider ready for deployment off Forster-Tuncurry. Photo: Tim Ingleton.
The track taken by a recently deployed ocean glider along the NSW coast
Their job is to help measure extreme events like marine heatwaves and freshwater plumes from coastal flooding.
These clever underwater vehicles are autonomous – able to propel themselves, moving up and down in the water while constantly measuring key ocean conditions like temperature and salinity.
The use of ocean gliders to monitor the environmental conditions along the NSW coast is made possible by the Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS). It supports multiple deployments each year, each lasting approximately 3-4 weeks.
“To date, scientists working on Marine Estate Management Strategy projects have used the data collected to explore the impacts of coastal outflows on ocean plumes flowing out of major estuaries,” Dr Curtis Champion, a scientist from DPIRD Fisheries said.
The ocean gliders will also help monitor temperature extremes in the NSW marine estate this summer.
“The IMOS event-based sampling initiative is planning to deploy gliders this summer to monitor marine heatwaves forecast for the NSW coast,” he said.
The information gathered supports the NSW Marine Heatwave Response Plan.
The Plan provides early warning and communication around potential marine heatwave impacts. It details actions that are appropriate for responding to marine heatwave events and is funded through Marine Estate Management Strategy.
An example of the data being collected by active gliders currently deployed off NSW are shown below, and full details can be accessed here.
