CURRENT STATE AND DEVELOPMENT PROSPECTS OF TOWED OCEANOLOGICAL PROBING SYSTEMS

  • A. N. Grekov Institute of Natural and Technical Systems
  • N. A. Grekov Institute of Natural and Technical Systems
DOI 10.29006/1564-2291.JOR-2025.53(3).10
Keywords methods, towed systems, models, contact measurements, immersion, analysis

Abstract

The article is devoted to the analysis of modern towed probig systems used to measure seawater characteristics in situ during vessel motion. Key methods are considered, including integral meters, hydrosonde strings, systems with automatic depth control and cyclic sounding. Particular attention is paid to the advantages of towed systems over autonomous devices (drifters, gliders) and stationary networks: high mobility, operational data transmission, flexible adaptation of the trajectory and depth of measurements. Based on experimental data and the author’s developments, a comparative analysis of 8 methods is carried out, their technical characteristics, limitations and areas of application are highlighted. For example, the method of cyclic depth change (up to 1000 m at a speed of 15 knots) provides high resolution in the study of microstructural processes, and hybrid systems (for example, MGI 4201) combine CTD, hydrochemistry and turbulence measurements, reducing the time of expeditions. The results are presented in tabular form, including an assessment of the methods by the criteria: spatiotemporal resolution, towing speed, and measurement complexity. Practical recommendations emphasize the feasibility of combining methods to solve specific problems (microstructural, mesoscale, and large-scale studies). The key conclusion is the formation of a new paradigm for expeditionary research based on synchronous multiparametric monitoring in real time. This allows moving from local measurements to dynamic control of the probing process, which significantly increases the efficiency of studying ocean processes and optimizes resource costs.

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Published
2025-09-21
Issue
Vol 53 No 3 (2025): Journal of Oceanological Research
Section
Marine techniques

Transfer of copyrights occurs on the basis of a license agreement between the Author and Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, RAS