Autonomous Surface Vehicle Operations in the Arctic: Regional Baseline Data Acquisition

A current- and pressure-recording inverted echo sounder (CPIES) placed on the sea floor monitors aspects of the physical ocean environment for periods of months to years. Until recently, acoustic telemetry of daily-processed data was the existing method for data acquisition from CPIES without full instrument recovery. However, this approach, which requires positioning a ship at the mooring site and operator time, is expensive and time-consuming. Here, we introduce a new method of obtaining data remotely from CPIES using a popup-data-shuttle (PDS), which enables straightforward data acquisition without a ship. The PDS data subsampled from CPIES has 30–60 min temporal resolution. The PDS has a scheduled pop-up-type release system, so each data pod floats to the sea surface at a user-specified date and relays the recorded data via the Iridium satellite system. We demonstrated the capability of an array of PDS-CPIES via two successful field experiments in the Arctic Ocean. The data acquired through the PDS were in agreement with the fully recovered datasets. An example of the data retrieved from the PDS shows that time-varying signals of tides and high-frequency internal waves were well captured. GPS-tracked trajectories of the PDS floating free at the sea surface can provide insights into ice drift or ocean surface currents. This PDS technology provides an alternative method for remote deep-ocean mooring data acquisition.

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A Review of Hydrological Models Applied in the Permafrost-Dominated Arctic Region

Geosciences ◽

10.3390/geosciences10100401 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (10) ◽

pp. 401

Author(s):

Minh Tuan Bui ◽

Jinmei Lu ◽

Linmei Nie

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Data Acquisition ◽

Hydrological Model ◽

Transport Model ◽

Arctic Region ◽

The Arctic ◽

Small Scale ◽

Hydrological Process ◽

Hydrological Models ◽

Near Surface

The Arctic region is the most sensitive region to climate change. Hydrological models are fundamental tools for climate change impact assessment. However, due to the extreme weather conditions, specific hydrological process, and data acquisition challenges in the Arctic, it is crucial to select suitable hydrological model(s) for this region. In this paper, a comprehensive review and comparison of different models is conducted based on recently available studies. The functionality, limitations, and suitability of the potential hydrological models for the Arctic hydrological process are analyzed, including: (1) The surface hydrological models Topoflow, DMHS (deterministic modeling hydrological system), HBV (Hydrologiska Byråns Vattenbalansavdelning), SWAT (soil and water assessment tool), WaSiM (water balance simulation model), ECOMAG (ecological model for applied geophysics), and CRHM (cold regions hydrological model); and (2) the cryo-hydrogeological models ATS (arctic terrestrial simulator), CryoGrid 3, GEOtop, SUTRA-ICE (ice variant of the existing saturated/unsaturated transport model), and PFLOTRAN-ICE (ice variant of the existing massively parallel subsurface flow and reactive transport model). The review finds that Topoflow, HBV, SWAT, ECOMAG, and CRHM are suitable for studying surface hydrology rather than other processes in permafrost environments, whereas DMHS, WaSiM, and the cryo-hydrogeological models have higher capacities for subsurface hydrology, since they take into account the three phase changes of water in the near-surface soil. Of the cryo-hydrogeological models reviewed here, GEOtop, SUTRA-ICE, and PFLOTRAN-ICE are found to be suitable for small-scale catchments, whereas ATS and CryoGrid 3 are potentially suitable for large-scale catchments. Especially, ATS and GEOtop are the first tools that couple surface/subsurface permafrost thermal hydrology. If the accuracy of simulating the active layer dynamics is targeted, DMHS, ATS, GEOtop, and PFLOTRAN-ICE are potential tools compared to the other models. Further, data acquisition is a challenging task for cryo-hydrogeological models due to the complex boundary conditions when compared to the surface hydrological models HBV, SWAT, and CRHM, and the cryo-hydrogeological models are more difficult for non-expert users and more expensive to run compared to other models.

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Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS®) Supports Marine Operations: A Look from the U.S. Coast Guard

Marine Technology Society Journal ◽

10.4031/mtsj.44.6.22 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 44 (6) ◽

pp. 156-165 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Jonathan M. Berkson ◽

Arthur A. Allen ◽

Donald L. Murphy ◽

Kenneth J. Boda

Keyword(s):

Data Acquisition ◽

Coast Guard ◽

The Arctic ◽

Automatic Identification ◽

Identification System ◽

Real Time System ◽

The North ◽

Ocean Observations ◽

Ocean Observing ◽

The U.S

AbstractThe U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) is primarily a user of ocean observations but is also a provider of observations—especially in high-latitude regions. USCG has a long history of making ocean observations for mission activities and in support of other federal agencies. USCG uses the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS®) to understand maritime conditions while conducting the Coast Guard’s roles of Maritime Safety, Maritime Security, and Maritime Stewardship. IOOS data are critical in planning search and rescue operations, ensuring safe navigation at high latitudes, responding to oil and hazardous spills, providing vessel traffic services, and maintaining maritime domain awareness (MDA). The International Ice Patrol makes and uses ocean observations to estimate drift and deterioration of icebergs. The North American Ice Service products are needed in polar and domestic ice operations. The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration and the USCG are developing a way to disseminate the Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System data via the USCG Automatic Identification System. The Coast Guard provides personnel and vessel support for the National Data Buoy Center observational program, a component of the IOOS. Many key oceanographic, biologic, and geologic discoveries in the Arctic and Antarctic have been made from Coast Guard cutters. As oceanographic data acquisition moves from vessel observations to satellite remote sensing and unmanned in situ data acquisition systems, the USCG will continue to support this effort.

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