National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, UK
Carlos Barrera, Instituto Canario de Ciencias Marinas, Gran Canaria, Spain
For more information about the project, and real-time data,
see the NOC Glider pages here
The aim of this project is to improve the ability of scientists to detect signs of rapid climate change.
In September 2008 an autonomous underwater glider was deployed in the North East Atlantic. During the 10 week deployment the vehicle travelled about 2,000 km, sampling almost 1,000 profiles of temperature, salinity and currents in the upper kilometre of the ocean. The results will be used in the Rapid-Watch programme that monitors the meridional overturning circulation of the Atlantic. Also known as the "Atlantic heat conveyor" this is the system of ocean currents that transports heat polewards, thereby influencing European climate.
The project has been described in the followign articles:
Webb Research Corporation glider "Slocum".