In situ sensing: Ocean gliders

Abstract

The chapter begins with a description of ocean gliders, their purpose, and applications in operational oceanography and discussion about the contribution to the global ocean observing system with a particular focus on the western Mediterranean. Ocean gliders can resolve scales of kilometers and hours and have the seasonal to yearly endurance needed to describe climatic variability and capture episodic events. Sampling different spatial-temporal scales has played an essential role in resolving societal challenges and economic applications, particularly in ocean boundaries, by understanding the impact of human activities in coastal areas. The growing number of ocean glider observations emphasizes the importance of developing, improving, and sharing best practices for ocean glider operation, data collecting, and analysis to get high-quality in situ observations. Although ocean gliders are a mature platform with proven scientific output, improvements in dependability, ease of use, and range would significantly influence platform efficiency, allowing for more extensive adoption and application to a broader range of scientific and operational activities. The chapter aims to enable the ocean community to develop improved methodologies for all ocean glider activities, from research to operations to widely accepted applications.