Customer
NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
Mission Location
Main Hawaiian Islands
Highlights
- Each Wave Glider Winch collects chlorophyll-a data in depths of 150 m, approx. 5-10 times per day
- Wave Gliders gather data close to shore through high precision navigation
- Measuring seasonal and year-to-year differences in key ocean parameters helps to better understand ecological processes
“Our previous surveys in 2023 revealed both hotspots and lowspots in ocean productivity near each of the main Hawaiian Islands. The repeated Wave Glider surveys this fall and next summer will help determine whether those ocean features are persistent and identify the underlying mechanisms that drive them.”
Scientists from NOAA’s Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) have begun a second year of data collection for the Integrated Ecosystem Assessment (IEA) in Hawai‘i with support of Wave Glider Uncrewed Surface Vehicles (USVs). Similar to the 2023 mission, three Wave Gliders are circumnavigating the main Hawaiian Islands between one to four miles from shore while measuring surface and subsurface information on important ocean and atmospheric parameters.
“Our goal is to assess and understand changes in ocean conditions and the associated influence to marine ecosystem health in Hawaiʻi,” said Dr. Jamison Gove, an oceanographer with PIFSC and lead of the Hawai‘i IEA. “By measuring seasonal and year-to-year differences in key ocean parameters, such as phytoplankton biomass, we can better understand important ecological processes such as fish reproduction and growth strategies, fisheries hotspots, and marine species migration patterns” said Dr. Gove.
The Wave Glider Winch enables data collection in depths of 150 m. For this mission, the three winches are equipped with fluorometer sensors.
Identifying Seasonal and Year-to-Year Differences
In addition to the Fall/Winter data collection in two consecutive years, another Wave Glider survey mission will be conducted in Spring/Summer 2025.
“Our previous surveys in 2023 revealed both hotspots and lowspots in ocean productivity near each of the main Hawaiian Islands,” said Dr. Gove. “The repeated Wave Glider surveys this fall and next summer will help determine whether those ocean features are persistent and identify the underlying mechanisms that drive them,” added Dr. Gove.
Wave Glider Measurements Above and Below the Surface
The Wave Gliders for this survey are equipped with numerous sensors above and below the surface for measurements of air temperature, wind, barometric pressure, ocean waves, currents, water temperature and salinity. By utilizing automated winches, each Wave Glider collects chlorophyll-a measurements in depths of 150 m, approximately 5-10 times per day. Throughout this 3-month mission, the Wave Gliders are expected to travel a combined distance of 3,500 nautical miles.
Chlorophyll is an important indicator to estimate phytoplankton biomass in the ocean. Phytoplankton are microscopic plants that form the critical base of the food chain – changes in the concentration of phytoplankton provide insights into the overall health of the marine ecosystem and the abundance of fish.
Survey Plan of the three Wave Gliders circumnavigating the main Hawaiian Islands with casting locations. Credit: NOAA PIFSC.
Pairing Crewed and Uncrewed Surveys
The mission kicked off last week with a crewed-uncrewed survey for the west coast of Hawai‘i Island. The NOAA Ship Oscar Elton Sette and the Wave Gliders followed parallel track lines along the shoreline while measuring currents, salinity, ocean temperature, and chlorophyll. Furthermore, over 150 water samples were collected manually in various depths alongside the Wave Gliders to gather additional chlorophyll, turbidity, dissolved organic matter, and eDNA data. These samples are expected to show gradients of human presence and will provide a better understanding of how densely populated areas affect nearshore waters.
