Observations once obtained from the network of ocean weather ships provided a tantalizing glimpse of ocean variability on seasonal and decadal time scales. As our interest in climate change grows so does our need for long records of ocean variability. At the same time the cost of maintaining these dedicated ships has become prohibitive.

The moored profiler is designed to climb up and down a mooring wire, sampling at a constant rate for up to one million meters (200 vertical profiles of 500m). Data acquired is at present stored on board for the duration of the deployment and downloaded via serial port once the instrument is on deck. The technology to return real-time data via satellite has been implemented.

The system is autonomous and provides a highly flexible profiling schedule, offering the possibility of full depth profiles interspersed with rest periods and partial water column samples. For example one could program for a daily full water column trip followed by repeated upper ocean profiles of 500m and then park until the next day. For more detailed information on the design see the technical specifications.

The instrument is designed to carry a wide variety of sensors. Two commercially available sensors have been interfaced with the profiler: a Conductivity-Temperature-Depth sensor (CTD) and an acoustic phase-shift current meter (ACM), both manufactured by FSI. Other sensors that could readily be placed on the package include oxygen and nitrate.

The moored profiling apparatus effectively addresses issues of vertical resolution, cost effective long time-series profiling, and seasonal inaccessibility of some dynamically interesting sites.