Moorings are stationary platforms that carry multiple instruments for collection of data above and below the ocean surface. One of the major goals of SPURS was to deploy an array of three oceanographic moorings; a single Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) surface flux mooring and two Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL) Prawler moorings. These moorings were deployed for about a year, to collect information on the central part of the study area.

Each mooring was made up of two parts: a surface buoy and a subsurface mooring wire. The surface buoy measured meteorological parameters like wind speed, solar radiation, and humidity, to assess how the ocean interacts with the atmosphere. Multiple instruments were also attached to the subsurface mooring wire for collection of data throughout the water column. Visit WHOI for videos and interactive multimedia on moorings and buoys.

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Types of Stationary Platforms

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WHOI Surface Flux Mooring

What does it do? Surface flux moorings collect surface measurements of atmospheric parameters, radiation, turbulence, evaporation, waves, and precipitation and subsurface measurements of current direction and speed, temperature, and salinity. How does it work? The surface buoy is made up of an Air-Sea Interaction METeorology (ASIMET) System, consisting of seven sensors that measure how energy and water move between the ocean and atmosphere (read more about the ASIMET System here). The ASIMET system sits in a large foam float, which is attached to the subsurface mooring line. The subsurface mooring line has multiple instruments attached to take measurements down to 500m below the surface.

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Prawler (Profiler + Crawler = Prawler) Mooring

What does it do? A Prawler mooring obtains a vertical profile of conductivity, temperature, and depth using a single sensor. How does it work? The Prawler part of the mooring is a single, subsea instrument that uses wave-powered technology to move up and down a mooring line. After the Prawler reaches its pre-programmed bottom depth, a ratcheting mechanism harnesses the wave motion to crawl up the mooring line to the top before starting the process over again. Click here for a schematic of the Prawler mooring and instrument.