Tracking drifting ice
David Barber, Centre for Earth Observation Science, University of Manitoba
Researchers at the University of Manitoba deployed an AOS with a current profiler for real-time monitoring on the arctic ice. The data was used to support research on the distribution and motion of hazardous ice features in the Canadian Arctic.
Since the observation site was so remote, there was no chance to recover the equipment at the end of the project. This necessitated data telemetry of ocean current measurements from one of the most hostile and remote locations on the Earth.
The AOS unit controls the sensors and transfers the collected data via satellite.
| Std. temperature range | -25 – 60 °C |
| Voltage input | 9 - 15V |
| Battery | 300 Wh |
| Sleep mode | 1.3mA@12V |
| Data transmit interval | ≥ 5min |
| Data products | GPS position, battery and tempearture |
The Aquadopp Profiler measures water column current profiles using acoustic Doppler technology.
| Acoustic frequency | 0.4MHz | 0.6MHz | 1.0MHz | 2.0MHz |
| Maximum profiling range | 60 - 90m | 30 - 40m | 12 - 20m | 4 - 10m |
| Cell size | 2 - 8m | 1 - 4m | 0.3 - 4m | 0.1 - 2m |
| Accuracy | 1% of measured value ±0.5cm/s | |||
| Data products | Speed, Direction, Sensor data | |||
| Cell zero | No | Optional | Optional | No |
| Cell zero acoustic frequency | 2.0MHz | |||