Designing a Glider Network to Monitor Rapid Climate Change: Evaluation of Heat Transport Amelia Snow 1, Scott Glenn 1, Darcy Glenn 2, Holly Ibanez 3, John Kerfoot 1, Oscar Schofield 1 1 Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 2 University of Vermont, 3 Florida Institute of Technology Background Objectives Technology Acknowledgements References This work was made possible by the Office of Naval Research and internships funded by the National Science Foundation, and the Department of Homeland Security. Gliders were designed and built by Teledyne Webb Research Corporation. RAPID program is funded by the National Environment Research Council. Collaboration were established with and results contributed by PLataforma Oceánica de CANarias and Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Comparison of RU27 to HYCOM Data Sets and Methodologies Results Conclusion Figure 9. Virtual Glider in comparison to HYCOM Model Figure 10. Percent of the total heat transport in the water column Figure 11. RU27 and Cook’s flight paths Baehr, Johanna, and Stuart Cunningham. "Observed and Simulated Estimates of the Meridional Overturning Circulation at 26.5◦ N in the Atlantic." Ocean Science 5 (2009): Print. Glenn, Darcy, Holly Ibanez, and Amelia Snow. "Cook Flight Summary." Print. "Teledyne Webb Research (TWR)." Webb Research Corporation. Teledyne Technologies Incorporated. Web.. Navy’s HYCOM Model works as a good prediction for temperature, currents, and heat transport RU27 and HYCOM showing same ranges and trends Flight in North Atlantic is optimal at 200 meters Shallow glider must be used in North Atlantic while deep glider optimal in Mid-North Atlantic Shows that for Challenger Mission shallow electric gliders best in Northern Ocean basin while deep gliders better in Mid-Atlantic and Equator Ocean basins Figure 1. HYCOM Model Temperature Cross Section for April 27, 2009 to December 4, 2009 from 0 to 200 meters along RU27’s path Figure 2. RU27 Temperature Cross Section for April 27, 2009 to December 4, 2009 from 0 to 200 meters. When compared to the HYCOM model, the thermal structures are similar. Figure 3. HYCOM Current Velocity Cross Section. HYCOM predicted velocity from April 27, 2009 to December 4, 2009 along RU27’s path from 0 to 200 meters depth. Figure 4. RU27 Current Velocity Cross Section. North-South Velocity recorded by RU27 along its path from April 27, 2009 to December 4, 2009 from 0 to 200 meters depth. When compared to the HYCOM model, the velocity structures are similar. Figure 6. RU27 Temperature Profile for September 29, 2009 at 40 O 57’67”N 23 O 04’18”W. Both an up and down cast were plotted from 0 to 150 meters depth. Temperature values range from about 21 o C to about 13 o C. Figure 5. HYCOM Predicted Temperature Profile for September 29, The predicted values at 40 O 57’67”N 23 O 04’18”W. for the temperature range from 0 to 200 meters depth. Values range from about 20 o C to 13 o C. Figure 8. RU27 Density Profile for September 29, 2009 at 40 O 57’67”N 23 O 04’18”W. Both an up and down cast were plotted from 0 to 150 meters depth. Density values range from about 25.5 kg/m 3 to about 28 kg/m 3 Figure 7. HYCOM Predicted Density Profile for September 29, The predicted values at 40 O 57’67”N 23 O 04’18”W for the density range from 0 to 200 meters depth. Density values range from about 25.5 kg/m 3 to about 28 kg/m sensitive to climate change from anthropogenic sources. These outside sources could eventually cause a collapse of the MOC resulting in a net reduction in heat transport in the North Atlantic. A mooring system was deployed along 26.5N in order to continuously monitor the MOC. One drawback of a mooring system is data is only taken at one specific point. Cook, a Slocum Thermal glider, was deployed in the Caribbean and traveled north to 26.5 N and then flew eastward along this line of latitude, collecting conductivity, temperature, and depth data. This data, critical to rapid climate change, will contribute to the Natural Environment Research Council’s RAPID program. A critical component of tracking rapid climate changes in the Atlantic is the Meridional Overturning Circulation (MOC). Results have suggested that the MOC is particularly Teledyne Webb designs and constructs Slocum Electric and Slocum Thermal gliders. Electric gliders use lithium batteries while Thermal gliders use changes in temperature to power itself through the water column. Thermal gliders use its flight through the thermocline and a change in its internal fluid volume to create a change in buoyancy. Electric gliders have enough battery power for short missions typically about thirty days while Thermal gliders, whose major source is environmental energy, have enough power to last up to four years. Both types of gliders are equipped with a CTD (conductivity, temperature, and density) sensor and transmit their data back to the COOL room using an iridium connection. The objective of having a fleet of gliders monitoring critical survey lines is to detect rapid climate change. By using multiple gliders over different lines scientists will be able to monitor the temperature changes in the ocean as well as rapid climate change. HYCOM models will be used to question how well a glider or glider fleet can sample heat transport. Cook’s mission is a starting point for the proposed Challenger Mission. The comparison between Cook and RU27 will show which gliders work best under which conditions and will provide a plan for where to use Electric versus Thermal gliders for future missions. RU27 was compared to the HYCOM model to see how closely RU27’s real time data related to the predicted by comparing cross sections of temperature, current velocity and heat transport. To optimize the flight depth, the ratio of the virtual glider to the HYCOM model, and the percent of total heat transport graphs must be compared. The values closest to percent allow for the best depth for flight.