Description of task
This task is devoted to the integration of complex technological innovative subsystems into an Arctic Ocean Observing System. Its major components are ice tethered platforms, floats equipped with ULS, sea gliders, bottom mooring arrays in various functions and locations, and IPEX buoys on the ice. It serves to the procurement of components to compose the observation system applied in the thematic WP.
In months 25-42 a technical evaluation of the subsystems selected for DAMOCLES and deployed during the first year of the project fieldwork will be done. The implementation of the observing system will be refined and plans for the second year deployments prepared, based on an experience gained from last 12 months. The next set of Ice Tethered Platforms (ITPs) will be procured and prepared for deployments in spring and summer 2008. The Acoustic Ice Tethered Platforms (AITPs) will be tested and deployed in the Arctic Ocean during two field campaigns (airborne and ship-borne). The prototype Moored Ocean Profiling System (MOPS) will be recovered and its performance will be evaluated. Ice Mass Balance buoys (IMBs) and Met buoys will be prepared and deployed in spring. The second Ice Tethered Acoustic Current meter (ITAC) will be built with modifications to the prototype to improve the system performance and deployed in summer from the icebreaker. The development of isobaric floats with integrated ULS will be completed; the floats will be tested and deployed under the ice from the air and during icebreaker operations. In addition, ARGO floats with CTD and SOFAR acoustic will be also deployed. A new prototype of the shallow STERNE glider will be provided and tested in the Arctic Ocean. The deep Seaglider will be prepared and employed for the longer mission in Fram Strait. The arrays of bottom moorings will be redeployed in the key areas (Fram Strait, Svinøy section, Storfjorden, along the Eurasian Margin north of Svalbard). In Fram Strait the acoustic HAM.nodes will be recovered from test deployment and their performance will be evaluated before redeployment at selected moorings. The central communication mooring with yoyo system will be also deployed within the Fram Strait array after atesting period. The improved freshwater array will be deployed in the western Fram Strait.
A dedicated workshop in a frame of S4D, regarding the Arctic Ocean Observing System is also planned.
