Easy-to-Deploy Surface Moorings for Ocean Research ……Steps towards next-gen ATLAS

Christian MeinigDirector of EngineeringNOAA-PMELSeattle, WA

June 27, 2012

Topics

• Description of core system• Lessons Learned• Work that Remains

PICO Big Picture: Operations Concept

Concept Test: F/V Sea Falcon

PICO Mooring DiagramStandard:-Vaisala WTX-520 (ATRH, Wind,BP, Rain)-Inductive link-Iridium coms

Optional:-Carbon, Tsunami, etc

Prawler :SBE pumped CTDCTD cycle depth ~3-500mRealtime command/control

ETD Deployment Locations to Date

R&D Tsunami Tsunami (DART) R&D Climate (PICO)

Australia-BOMTsunami +realtime MET, SST

Additional spin-offs

• Carbon Buoys (shallow water)• Industry collaboration:– Single continuous composite mooring line (patent)– New commercial low-power SBE CTD– Tech & know how transfer– Shark-bite resistant mooring lines

-Mooring have survived strikes in GOM, Hawaii-Unique bite resistant armor

PMEL Mooring Line Testing

Mooring Line “Prawler” (Profiler+Crawler)

Large Swell

Mooring modeling

Prawler CTD Profiles

(50nm SW of Hono)

Flexible command & control

Prawler

ATLAS spacing

Total distance traveled= 4390km in 264 days, avg: ~20 profiles/day

PICO Recovery (R/V KAHANA)

Where are we?

Status:

Inventiveness S-curve

New System

Make it work

Make it work properly

Maximize Efficiency

Maximize Performance

Maximize Reliability

Minimize Cost

Mature System

Pioneering Engineering & ScienceProspecting, exploring, evaluating

The Breakthrough !

Valu

e

Time

Lessons Learned

• Get “Operations” involved early: Design for Operations...however, x-fer funding usually not included.

• Clear understanding of data “Quality vs Cost”• Discipline of Integration: making wise choices• Spin-offs are valuable developments• Additional tool, not a ‘silver bullet’• Partnerships required

Near Future

www.pmel.noaa.gov/picoThank you

Program Sponsors: CPO, NWS Tsunami, OER

Summary:•A multidiscipline, easy-to-deploy platform has been developed that incorporates O&M concerns

•Sensors have been successfully adapted on that can enhance 4D datasets.

•O&M costs are lower compared to using large ships and traditional methods, especially in ‘remote’ areas.