The Pioneer Mid-Atlantic Bight (MAB) Array includes four glider track lines strategically designed to fill geospatial gaps between mooring locations and extend observations into offshore regions beyond the core array.
During the Pioneer 23 expedition, the OOI-CGSN team successfully deployed all four gliders, each of which will patrol these track lines for approximately three months while collecting valuable oceanographic data.
These autonomous underwater vehicles play a critical role in broadening the spatial reach of the Pioneer Array. By regularly sampling ocean conditions across wider areas, the gliders complement fixed mooring observations and help provide a more complete picture of regional ocean dynamics.
At scheduled intervals, the gliders surface to transmit their collected data back to shore via satellite, allowing researchers near real-time access to important measurements while maintaining long-duration missions at sea.
Image credit: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI).
Image credit: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI).
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