Green Marine UK Deploys Underwater Gliders in North Sea for Enhanced Ocean Data Collection

Green Marine UK has deployed cutting-edge underwater gliders in the North Sea to support a data-collecting exercise led by the UK’s National Oceanography Centre (NOC) and the Met Office. These gliders will survey ocean depths approaching 200m for a three-year period, aiming to improve data collection for weather and ocean forecasts crucial for vessels in the area. The gliders will provide real-time measurements of salinity and temperature to the Met Office, enhancing forecast accuracy.

Green Marine UK Operations & Technology Director, Myles Metson, expressed excitement about expanding their relationship with NOC for this initiative. The company has a history of managing ocean monitoring devices, including projects with Blueocean Tech Systems. Green Marine technicians received training at NOC’s Southampton base to optimize deployment, recovery, maintenance, and data extraction of the gliders. A purpose-built frame has been developed to handle the gliders on Green Marine vessels.

NOC recently announced securing £41.4 million in funding for research on atmospheric, polar, freshwater, and terrestrial environments. This funding will advance environmental observation, data science, and analysis in the UK, driving innovations crucial for climate resilience, natural resource management, and national security. The gliders provided by NOC are capable of operating independently for extended periods, gathering vital information about ocean conditions to inform future ocean modeling and weather patterns.

NOC Engineering Manager, Stephen Woodward, highlighted the importance of understanding ocean circulation and the data gathering potential of gliders for informing decision-making in critical UK services like search and rescue and ocean biodiversity. The project with NOC and the Met Office aims to support future ocean modeling conditions and weather patterns, ultimately benefiting various sectors reliant on accurate ocean data.

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