This pilot is proposed for the 2003-2005 time frame because of the confluence of satellite observations planned for that period. Enhancements to the in situ observations are also sought during that period. It is partly in support of this global ocean data assimilation experiment that the pilot project, an Array for Real-time Geostrophic Oceanography, is proposed to obtain profiles of temperature and salinity throughout the global ocean. The cable provides continuous and ample electrical power. A bottom-mounted winch, also controlled over the Internet, moves an instrument package, with sensors that monitor salinity, temperature, oxygen, light, chlorophyll, optical back scatter, and depth, up and down in the water column.
Frequent profiles yield a near continuous plot of vertical structure of the ocean vs. time.
Video, sound, currents, wave height and period, and parameters related to sediment transport are routinely measured from bottom instruments. References Glenn, S.M., D.B. Haidvogel, O.M.E. Schofield, C. . Coastal predictive skill experiments. An unmanned long-term environmental observatory. Proceedings, Oceans 92, Newport, Rhode Island.