Developed by scientists at the Chennai-based National Institute of Ocean Technology & School of Engineering at Vels University, the sensor can be deployed on drifting buoys on the sea
India has deployed buoys named Pradyu which communicate with Indian satellite INSAT for real-time data telemetry. Credit: Public Domain Pictures Sea surface temperature (SST) is an important parameter for oceanographic and atmospheric studies and to monitor biological habitations in marine environment. Indian scientists have developed a new sensor to measureme ocean temperatures.
The negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistor-based sensor, developed by scientists at the Chennai-based National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) and School of Engineering at Vels University, Chennai, can be deployed on drifting buoys on the sea. The sensor array consists of seven temperature sensors placed at different depths, from 0.16 m to 15 m, and one depth sensor.
India has deployed buoys named Pradyu which communicate with Indian satellite INSAT for real-time data telemetry. Twenty such buoys equipped with the new sensor have been deployed in the Arabian Sea from the research vessel, SagarManjusha. They were used to collected sea surface temperature data for about one month.
The results were compared with data from international systems - Advanced Very High-Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) and Argo floats. The data indicated a distinct warming of the ocean active layer by 1.27 degree C during the exercise. The Argo temperature profile, in turn, returned a result of warming by 0.598 degree and AVHRR by 1.66 degree.
“The difference in the measurements is due to the difference in sensing depth, as AVHRR corresponds to the top 10 micrometre, whereas our sensor measurement is at 0.16 metre depth. The discrepancy with Argo measurement is due to spatial and temporal differences”, explained Tata Sudhakar, senior scientist of NIOT and team leader, while speaking to India Science Wire.
There are many types of drifting buoys with different temperature sensors. Presently, more than 20,000 buoys are deployed in the oceans across the globe. UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission’s Global Ocean Observation System programmehas an international project to deploy and maintain 1,250 drifting buoys over international water boundaries.
Most drifting buoys have their temperature sensors just below the water line. With the deployment of the new sensor, India’s Pradyu buoy will be able to record and transmit both sea surface and sea subsurface layer temperatures, said R Srinivasan, another member of the team at NIOT.
Besides drifting buoys, sea surface temperature is measured with satellite remote sensing radiometers, ships, and moored buoys. Remote sensing measurement is limited by the presence of cloud and rain, while in-situ measurement by drifting buoys provides precise and accurate ocean temperature.
Drifting buoys are small spherical floats, measuring about 16-inch in diameter, with underwater drogues. They flow with the water and record and transmit real-time sea surface temperatures through satellite. Drifting floats called Lagrangian are very common drifting buoys and widely deployed.
Besides Sudhakar and Srinivasan, the research team included V Rajendran of Vels University, and Shijo Zacharia of NIOT. The study results have been published in journal Current Science. (India Science Wire)
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
.png)
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.