Gliders can travel up to 15 km a day

These gliders can travel up to 15 km a day, dive to a depth of 1,000-2,000 metres and are operated remotely from the command centre by maneuvreing it both vertically and horizontally at eight centimetres per second.

They surface every 10 days while measuring state of sea parameters like chlorophyll, dissolved oxygen, salinity, temperatures and others with help of the latest biogeochemical sensors. While the basic data is transmitted in real time when the gliders surface four-five times a day, the more exhaustive information can be obtained when the battery has to be replaced after nine months.

“We go by our research ship to physically bring back the gliders here for ‘ballasting’ to retrieve data. ‘Ballasting’ is to retrofit gliders suitable for the waters – considering parameters such as salinity and others – in which they are to be deployed,” said Head of Ocean Observations and Data Management Group E. Pattabhi Rama Rao.

An INCOIS glider launched from research ship, into Arabian Sea
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INCOIS’s real time data monitoring facility

INCOIS’s real time data monitoring facility ‘SynOPS’ or Synergetic Ocean Observation Prediction Services, is quite special. The newly launched 10,000 sq.ft lab is for visualising ocean data, satellite remote sensing and model products including 3D visualisation area with a 1.8 metre digital globe. The satellite data acquisition and processing facility has an Oceansat3 and X/L band ground station.

“We can do a visualisation of any kind of ocean information or simulations about sea temperatures, ocean currents, clouds formation, rainfall patterns and others globally, real time or go back in time with the help of data sets from satellites and models,” added the Director.