Turbulence and Shear Flow Phenomena -1 First International Symposium

ISBN Print: 1-56700-135-1

MEASUREMENT OF SMALL−SCALE OCEANIC TURBULENCE USING AN AUV

Resumo

Small−scale turbulence measurements in up to 150m deep waters, using Florida Atlantic University's small autonomous underwater vehicle, the Ocean Explorer, are described. Cross−stream components of the fluctuating velocity were measured using two shear probes mounted on the nose of the vehicle as it travelled through shallow tropical waters off the coast of Florida and in the Gulf Stream. The turbulence measurements are of good quality and correspond to energy dissipation rates in the range ∈ = O(10−7 − 10−9)m2s−3. Supportive measurements, using on−board sensors, of current profiles and in−situ electric conductivity and temperature were also obtained. The mobile measurement platform and the measurements will be described.