Teledyne Marine is set to transform hurricane forecasting and research through its innovative Slocum glider AUVs.
The company aims to deliver reliable and high-performance AUVs that serve many applications, including oceanographic research and environmental monitoring.
Teledyne Slocum gliders have been used for oceanographic research for over two decades, providing scientists, researchers, and organizations with dependable and efficient platforms for collecting vital data from the world’s oceans.
The company reached a significant milestone when over 1,100 Slocum gliders were delivered and deployed worldwide, supporting diverse scientific and commercial endeavors.
Slouch glider applications span oceanography, climate research, oil and gas exploration, and environmental monitoring.
Teledyne’s Slocum Storm gliders have garnered attention for their key role in hurricane forecasting while teaming up with NOAA, the US Navy, and academic researchers.
These gliders form picket lines in front of advancing storms measuring the subsurface water temperatures along the storm path to help determine whether the ocean heat energy content will either feed or starve a tropical cyclone.
This approach significantly enhances storm intensity model predictions. Understanding their behavior is paramount, given the destructive nature of hurricanes and their profound impact on both coastal and inland communities.
Key highlights of Teledyne Slocum gliders’ contributions to hurricane research include:
- Real-time Data Collection: Teledyne Slocum Gliders are equipped with sensors that measure various ocean parameters, including temperature, salinity, and depth-averaged currents.
- Improved Hurricane Forecasting Models: Over the past five years, these gliders have collected and integrated more than 500,000 data profiles into hurricane models, enhancing forecast accuracy.
- Extended Deployment: Teledyne Slocum gliders boast extended endurance capabilities, enabling them to remain on station for months, covering the entire hurricane season and ensuring continuous data collection throughout storm evolution.
- Minimizing Risk: The data collected by these gliders plays a pivotal role in refining storm intensity forecasts, leading to more accurate predictions that facilitate timely evacuations and disaster preparedness.
Clayton Jones, Senior Director of Technology at Teledyne Marine, stated; “These autonomous underwater vehicles are making it possible to gather critical sub-surface ocean data in the most extreme conditions, which, in turn, contributes to saving lives and protecting both our coastal and inland communities. Our technology is a testament to the power of innovation and partner collaboration in addressing some of the planet’s most pressing challenges.”
