Float Image

Lagrangian floats

Lagrangian floats have been used in oceanography for several decades to make observations of global ocean circulation and water column structure. Our Lagrangian float project is moving the concept to shallow coastal waters to develop versatile and low cost platforms. These new floats have an active ballasting system and acoustic altimeters, enabling them to position themselves anywhere in the water column. The floats are dynamic and can perform a range of drifting and profiling behaviors without running into the bottom. The major float components consist of a Netburner micro processor, rechargeable lithium ion battery system, piston style volume changing mechanism, sensors for pressure and altitude, and a safely system for recovery and emergency conditions.

Work is continuing to refine our design, improve performance and evaluate the floats for studying water circulation, phytoplankton distributions, low oxygen regions.

Funding

Project Title: Development of Lagrangian measurement techniques for coastal water management $192,000
Funding Agency: Rhode Island Research Alliance Grant Application

Collaborators

Students

  • Connor Tennant, OE MS Student
  • Bryan McGilvray, OE MS Student
  • Christelle Balt, GSO PhD Student

Publications

  • C. Roman, G. Inglis and B. McGilvray, "Lagrangian floats as sea floor imaging platforms" Submitted - Continental Shelf Research, 2011 [pdf]
  • B, McGilvray and C. Roman, ``Control System Performance and Efficiency for a Mid-Depth Lagrangian Profiling Float'', IEEE OCEANS Sydney, May 2010
  • A. Schwithal and C. Roman, "Development of a new Lagrangian float for studying coastal marine ecosystems", IEEE OCEANS 2009 [pdf]

Gallery

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