A glider deployed by INCOIS in the Arabian Sea.
The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), in collaboration with the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), is set to launch a glider near the research station ‘Bharati’ in Antarctica. This initiative aims to monitor sea temperatures, salinity, and geochemical processes in the frigid region.
Understanding Oceanic Gliders
Gliders are autonomous underwater vehicles that are remotely operated to gather data on vital ocean parameters like temperature, salinity, and geochemical processes.
According to T. Srinivasa Kumar, Director of INCOIS, the glider launch is scheduled for next year coinciding with the next Indian scientific expedition to Antarctica. This effort is part of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) initiative, ‘Deep Ocean Mission – Ocean Climate Change Advisory Services’.
The data gathered from the gliders, combined with information from tide gauges, Argo floats, buoys, and other ocean monitoring systems, will help assess the effects of climate change on sea levels, cyclonic storms, waves, swell surges, and marine ecosystems.
Current Deployment of INCOIS Gliders
Currently, four INCOIS gliders are operational in the Indian Ocean, having been launched in May 2024. Two of these ‘Slocum’ gliders are navigating the Bay of Bengal, approximately 1,000 kilometers from the eastern coastline, while the other two are traversing the Arabian Sea.
Glider Capabilities
These gliders can cover distances of up to 15 kilometers per day and can dive to depths between 1,000 and 2,000 meters. They are remotely operated to control their vertical and horizontal movements at a speed of eight centimeters per second.
The gliders resurface every 10 days, collecting data on chlorophyll, dissolved oxygen, salinity, temperature, and other marine conditions using advanced biogeochemical sensors. Basic data is transmitted in real-time upon surfacing four to five times a day, while more comprehensive data is retrieved when the batteries are replaced after about nine months.
“We retrieve the gliders using our research ship for ‘ballasting’—a process to adjust them for optimal performance based on specific water parameters,” stated E. Pattabhi Rama Rao, Head of Ocean Observations and Data Management.
Revolutionary Data Monitoring at INCOIS
INCOIS has introduced a state-of-the-art real-time data monitoring facility known as ‘SynOPS’ (Synergetic Ocean Observation Prediction Services). This 10,000 sq. ft lab specializes in visualizing ocean data and employs satellite remote sensing and modeling products, featuring a 3D visualization area with a 1.8-meter digital globe.
The satellite data acquisition and processing facility includes an Oceansat3 and X/L band ground station, which enables detailed analysis of ocean information, including sea temperatures, ocean currents, cloud formation, and rainfall patterns in real-time.
Published – September 30, 2024 05:29 pm IST
