Profiling ALACE Instruments
2006
Sherman, Jeff
The Autonomous Lagrangian Circulation Explorer (ALACE) is a free drifting oceanographic float which drifts at a level of neutral buoyancy and periodically rises to the surface where it transmits data to System Argos satellites and is located by them. The basic float was intended to observe ocean currents but recent developments, described in this report, have led to three new versions with expanded capabilities. One model reports temperature profiles from each ascent cycle. A second reports profiles of both temperature and conductivity from which sound speed profiles can be calculated. A third instrument observes microtemperature profiles on repeated vertical profiles and records them internally. At the end of its mission this float must be located from its Argos signals and recovered. All three floats have been field tested and their performances are discussed. The sound speed profiles obtained from the first conductivity and temperature until are accurate to o.25m/s after correcting for instrument drift using relatively stable climatological temperature vs salinity relations at depth. Subsequent sensor improvements are believed to have reduced drift. Autonomous ocean measurement system, Satellite data links, Ocean profilers.
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