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Dave Fratantoni preparing glider in the WHOI lab.

Dave Fratantoni preparing glider in the WHOI lab.
Dave Fratantoni preparing glider in the WHOI lab.
Dave Fratantoni preparing glider in the WHOI lab.
Dave Fratantoni preparing glider in the WHOI lab.
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Woods, Nick
Dave Fratantoni preparing glider in the WHOI lab.
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05/23/2011
graphics/Woods_Photos/_DSC0003.JPG
Images feature PO Joint Program students Sophia Merrifield and Nick Woods, led by Dave Fratantoni. They are deploying three profiling floats (yellow instruments, standing vertically), one autonomous glider, and one surface drifter (2x4 with white sheets attached), in order to study the physics and biology off the coast of Cape Cod. The profilers and glider were equipped with acoustic sensors in order to detect whales (especially right whales), as well as a suite of sensors to determine the physical characteristics of the environment. The surface drifter sends its position via satellite, which is recorded to give a sense of the surface flow. Departing from Provincetown on the NOAA vessel Auk, they headed around Race Point, and deployed the instruments about 20 miles offshore. In addition to the instruments deployed, a small hand-held CTD (small orange instrument in photos with Sophie) was used to measure water properties.
Image of The Day caption:
WHOI physical oceanographer Dave Fratantoni prepares a Slocum glider for deployment on a research mission (in this picture, the glider's wings have been removed). The glider moves up and down through the water by changing its buoyancy and before each mission, researchers program it to follow a certain course for a specific amount of time. They also equip it with sensors, such as the black acoustic Doppler current profiler seen here, which measures water velocity and estimates the abundance of zooplankton that are the primary food of North Atlantic right whales.
Caption from Oceanus magazine, vol. 50, no. 2, page 58:
At top, WHOI physical oceanographer Dave Fratantoni, working with WHOI biologists, uses specially equipped robotic gliders that can detect whale calls and alert scientists in real time.
Photo by Nick Woods
© Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
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