RRS Discovery Cruise D381B OSMOSIS Project: Turbulence glider operations report – September 2012

This report provides a brief overview of the Teledyne Webb Research Slocum Electric Glider operations during the RRS Discovery based D381B research cruise. This cruise was commissioned to support the Ocean Surface Mixing, Ocean Sub- mesoscale Interaction Study (OSMOSIS) research project. The glider used had a specialist turbulence probe attached that was supplied by Rockland Scientific International. This system was used to provide millimetre scale resolution of changes to the physical properties of the water column such as temperature, conductivity and shear force. The glider was used in conjunction with more established turbulence measurements operating from a research vessel to establish comparative measurements during key surveys within the cruise schedule. The survey work occurred above the Porcupine Abyssal Plane area of the Celtic Sea at a nominal GPS location of 48º 41.340’N, 16º 11.400’W and a nominal water depth of approximately 4800 metres.