MicroSoar: A High Speed Microstructure Profiling System

by Glenn H. May

As ocean ecosystems continue to deteriorate in the face of human induced pressures, marine management professionals are increasingly being urged to predict the impacts of various activities on ocean ecosystems. Many ecosystem interactions are still not adequately understood, so managers often turn to scientists to provide data and analysis on impacts resulting from specific actions. One important physical ocean process in need of more empirical data is microscale turbulence. Because it is responsible for mixing across isopycnal surfaces in stratified waters, turbulence is important in many physical, chemical and biological processes in the ocean. An elementary description of turbulence and mixing is presented along with a summary of the role of turbulence in marine ecosystems. Measurements of turbulence are specialized and costly. In order to be of use to scientists, turbulence must be measured over large areas of the ocean. A short summary of techniques for measuring turbulence is presented. A new microstructure data acquisition system was developed to acquire microstructure data eight times faster than previous methods allow. The design details of the high-speed microstructure data acquisition system called MicroSoar are presented along with some preliminary data obtained from its deployment on actual cruises.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I am greatly indebted to Dr. Tom Dillon for his many hours of instruction and support throughout the development of MicroSoar. Tom is responsible for developing the concept and obtaining original funding support for the project through National Science Foundation Grant OCE-9421204 and Office of Naval Research Grant N00014-94-0-1325. Tom is our principal resource for expertise on turbulence, instrumentation and microstructure. I am privileged that he not only allowed me great latitude in the detailed design of the MicroSoar electronics, but that he constantly supported my decisions. He always has time for questions and is uniquely able to break complex physical relationships down into understandable conceptual elements.

I would like to thank Dr. Jack Barth for taking MicroSoar under his wing at a time when our initial resources were depleted. Jack has provided MicroSoar with funding support through his Office of Naval Research Grant N00014-95-1-0382. His innovations have taken SeaSoar to new heights in oceanic data acquisition. Jack has given freely of his time and advice on many occasions when I needed it most and MicroSoar could not have been completed without him.

Dr. James Good, the head of the Marine Resource Management program at OSU, deserves credit for steering me over to Tom Dillons project to begin with. In spite of the fact that my studies here have carried me beyond what a traditional MRM degree encompasses he encouraged me to continue and supported my involvement with MicroSoar.

I would like to express my deepest and most heart felt gratitude to the person I worked most closely with on the MicroSoar Project, Dr. Anatoli Erofeev. Anatoli created all the software for MicroSoar including data acquisition, monitoring and data analysis. Anatoli is an exceptional programmer, statistician and scientist and was able to surmount every problem that a complex data acquisition system like MicroSoar presented to him. His drive and enthusiasm for the project was an inspiration.

I would also like to recognize the fine work done by Kieran O'Driscall in the fabrication of many of the MicroSoar electronics and mechanical assemblies. Kieran did much of the mechanical fabrication, finishing and pressure case testing as well as building up prototype electronics assemblies. His good humor is contagious and kept us all in good spirits during the most trying times.

There are two very talented people working in the Oregon State University Microstructure lab that I would like to recognize. Mike Neely-Brown designed the MicroSoar Pressure Case, End Caps, Probe Mount Assembly, nose fairing and mounting fixtures. He is responsible for many aspects of the Chameleon microstructure instrumentation probe designs that we used on MicroSoar. Mike patiently answered about a million questions and always found time to help with the more demanding mechanical problems we encountered. I would also like to thank Ray Kreth for giving me the first explanations of microstructure electronics and calibrations and allowing me to raid his parts bins for breadboards.

Two very important people providing SeaSoar support during the cruises were Marc Willis, COAS Marine Technician Superintendent, and Linda Fayler, Marine Technician. Both of these exceptional individuals provided logistical support and problem solving during MicroSoars integration to SeaSoar. They were always ready to help and their professional conduct and willingness to accommodate our attempts to combine the MicroSoar and SeaSoar systems went well beyond the call of duty.

Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to my MRM and COAS classmates, instructors and staff. There are too many names to mention here but I would like to thank you all for accepting me into the community. I have been forever enriched by my experience here at the College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences.

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Abstract

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Appendix A

Bibliography

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