Page 42: of Marine Technology Magazine (September 2013)

Ocean Observation Turbulence Microstructure Measurements Turbulence Microstructure Measurements from afrom a Wave Powered Pro Þ lerWave Powered Pro Þ ler The Wirewalker (WW) proÞ ling vehicle developed by the Ocean Physics Group at Scripps Institution of Oceanography provides a platform for observ- ing oceanographic phenomena that vary rapidly in depth and time. The smooth, Òfree risingÓ mode of operation of the WW makes it a suitable platform for the measurement of small-scale turbulence. A collaborative attempt between SIO and Rockland ScientiÞ c Inc. (RSI) to gather estimates of microstructure and the dissipation of turbulent kinetic energy was carried out in the summer of 2012 using a WW and an RSI MicroRider turbulence payload package. The WW platform provided a unique opportunity for RSI to test the performance of the MR over fast and repetitious autonomous proÞ les in a single location, observing the time evolution of turbulence features in the water column. The Wirewalker system consists of positively buoyant ve- hicle that is driven along a wire by surface waves. The wire is used to suspend a 10kg subsurface weight from a surface ß oat (typically 0.5m diameter). The ß oat-wire-subsurface weight assembly moves vertically with surface waves, while a cam mechanism inside the vehicle rectiÞ es that two-way motion into one direction motion (downwards). Once the bottom stop is encountered, the cam mechanism is mechanically disen-gaged, and the positively buoyant vehicle rises to the surface, completely decoupled from the wire. In this way, high quality oceanographic data can be collected on each upcast. WireWalker and MicroRider deployed in La Jolla Cove. The product of WireWalker/MicroRider integration on Michael Goldin?s workbench. By Andrew J. Lucas, Ph.D., Rob Pinkel, Ph.D., Michael Goldin, Rolf G. Lueck, Ph.D. & Jeremy Hancyk September 201342 MTRMTR #7 (34-49).indd 42MTR #7 (34-49).indd 428/22/2013 11:04:26 AM8/22/2013 11:04:26 AM