Autonomous Research Vessels for Adaptive Upper-Ocean Process Studies

: We seek to obtain a more complete and fundamental understanding of the hierarchy of processes that transfer energy and momentum from large scales (bot atmosphere and ocean) to the microscale, which help set the vertical structure and horizontal variability of upper ocean heat content and salinity variability. A primary focus is to measure the interplay between these finescale dynamics and turbulence, which ultimately drives the irreversible heat/freshwater transports. The turbulent cascade impacts the acoustic, optical, and biogeochemical properties of the water column, and feeds back to alter the larger scale circulation. We emphasize observations, innovative sensor / instrumentation development and integration, and process-oriented internal wave and turbulence modeling for interpretation.