Timed Communication Buoy System: A Subsurface Mooring System for Efficient Sensor Data Recovery

Abstract

Abstract An ocean subsurface mooring system is an effective platform for acquiring information that would advance our understanding of essential ocean processes and impacts of climate changes. Unlike a surface mooring system, data acquired from a subsurface mooring system cannot be downloaded until the whole system is retrieved. To achieve efficient sensor data recovery, a new, low-cost subsurface mooring system named the Timed Communication Buoy System (TCBS) was designed and implemented. The TCBS is usually integrated in the main float, and designated sensor data can be downloaded by the control system using a noncontact communication method termed Inductively Coupled Link. After data acquisition, an autonomous communication float in the TCBS can be released from the main float. Upon release, the communication float rises to the sea surface and transmits sensor data by satellite communication. To evaluate the performance of the TCBS, a short-term sea trial in the South China Sea (SCS) was conducted. Seawater temperature data over 30 days were collected and analyzed. The results demonstrated valid measurements of vertical wavenumber spectrum and frequency spectrum of internal waves in the SCS. TCBS will lead to important information needed to support fundamental research to better understand the characteristics of internal wave spectrum in the SCS.