Autonomous Gliders in the Antarctic

Fear of the Unknown, and How the Unknown Becomes Known. You Know?

New glider sensors bring new anxiety to this not-so-confident glider pilot, but also reveal a world we wouldn’t otherwise see.

November 23, 2021 - Survey ,

West Coast

Shadowgraph image of baby brine shrimp and pill bug

Left: Shadowgraph image of baby brine shrimp. Right: Shadowgraph image of a pill bug about ¼ inch long, along with some 14 gauge wire for reference. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Jen Walsh

Follow Your Inner Compass

Autonomous Gliders in the Antarctic

That means making sure a glider’s compass actually points north.

November 15, 2021 - Survey ,

West Coast

two staff calibrate glider compass in the parking lot of the science center

Calibrating a glider compass at our science lab in La Jolla, CA. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Jen Walsh

Preparing a Glider for Deployment: A Step-By-Step Guide

Autonomous Gliders in the Antarctic

It’s a long, meticulous process, but well worth it to make sure we don’t lose a glider or the data it collects.

November 08, 2021 - Survey ,

West Coast

large yellow and black glider suspended over pool

Ballasting a glider in our ballast tank. Two spring scales are attached to either end of the glider to determine what it weighs in ocean water. We use a crane mounted on a gantry above the glider to lift the glider into and out of the water. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Jen Walsh

A New Field Season in a New World

Autonomous Gliders in the Antarctic

We’re heading back to Antarctica with our gliders, but this year will be—and already has been—different.

November 01, 2021 - Survey ,

West Coast

NOAA staff packing a truck full of gear to ship to Chile and then on to Antarctica

Barely an inch to spare in the truck with all our gear. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Jen Walsh.

Glider Piloting with Jen: A Recap of the 2019/20 Field Season

Autonomous Gliders in the Antarctic

This season felt like a long play and was less comedy and more tragedy.

April 08, 2020 - Survey ,

West Coast

1611x1074-Cancelled-Flights-SWFSC-J.Walsh.png

Glider Piloting with Jen: We Have Recovered the Gliders

Autonomous Gliders in the Antarctic

Our season came to an anti-climactic end last week.

March 24, 2020 - Survey ,

West Coast

International

Glider Piloting with Jen: Paying Homage to the Magical O-Ring

Autonomous Gliders in the Antarctic

The cheapest component of the glider is the one that keeps it from flooding and sinking.

March 17, 2020 - Survey ,

West Coast

International

Glider Piloting With Jen: Greetings From Ocean Sciences 2020!

Autonomous Gliders in the Antarctic

More about me and how I’m learning better ways to tell stories about our gliders.

March 09, 2020 - Survey ,

West Coast

International

Glider Piloting with Jen: How Does a Glider Do Science? Volume Two

Autonomous Gliders in the Antarctic

This week’s featured sensor—the Conductivity Temperature Depth sensor—may be the most commonly used sensor in all of oceanography.

February 24, 2020 - Survey ,

West Coast

International

Glider Piloting with Jen: Where Are They Now?

Autonomous Gliders in the Antarctic

A glider update as we wrap up the first third of our deployment.

February 10, 2020 - Survey ,

West Coast

International

"Autonomous Gliders in the Antarctic"

Autonomous Gliders in the Antarctic Results