Challenger Glider Mission: 20000 Leagues under the sea (2008-2020)

Abstract

Ocean forecasting models are an extremely valuable tool for understanding Earth’s oceans. Current ocean forecast models assimilate satellite and in situ multi-source data sets from the Argo network of over 3,000 drifters. Though assimilating datasets from these drifters is pertinent, it does create some limitations. Observing System Simulation Experiments routinely indicate that additional profile data, especially profile data that crosses frontal features, are the most influential at reducing forecast uncertainty. Since Argos drifters cannot be controlled and are subject to the oceans currents, areas that would provide critical data to ocean forecasting models are often under sampled. A potential solution to this would be to implement datasets provided by Slocum Gliders into the ocean forecasting models. These Autonomous Underwater Gliders are not as limited by the conditions of the oceans as Argos drifters are. Through their ability to sample virtually anywhere in the ocean, they will be able to bridge the gap left by using Argos drifters. Here we present an ambitious project named “The Challenger Glider Mission” (>2008) leaded by the RUTGERS Univ (NJersey, USA) and ROC-SIANI division (Fac CC Mar, ULPGC). Challenger missions belong to the Integrated Ocean Observing Systems of Spain (Lab de predicción de clima, Puertos del Estado) and USA (IOOS, NOAA, NAVY, NASA..). Technical assistance is conducted by Teledyne and assisted by Plocan. Our target (120,000 km over 12 years) is to traverse the world’s ocean with 16 Slocum Gliders. In 2008, the first attempt to cross the Atlantic with a glider (RU17) in the history of oceanography. In 2009 we completed the first transoceanic glider crossing, RU27, Scarlet Knight from New Jersey - Baiona, Vigo over 221 days and 7410 km resulting in an exhibit in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History and a replic in the Naval Museum of the town of Baiona (Vigo, SPAIN). In 2010 we tried an attempt at crossing the North Atlantic along the 26.5ºN line with a prototype Thermal Glider named ‘Cook’. During the EGO International glider meeting (las Palmas GC, 2011), a decision to fly a Slocum glider named Silbo from the arctic to the tropics of the Atlantic was made. From June 2011 to August 2013, Silbo flied from Iceland to Barbados over 610 day, 12030 kms over 3 missions (Iceland –Azores- Canaries- Barbados). Following the success of Silbo and RU27, we have launched RU29 from South Africa in January 2013, which will arrive in Brazil this year (400 days/sea, 8000 km).