Objective
The MELOA project proposes to develop a low-cost, easy-to-handle, wave resilient, multi-purpose, multi-sensor, extra light surface drifter for use in all water environments, ranging from deep-sea to inland waters, including coastal areas, river plumes and surf zones. The device will be developed as an upgrade to the WAVY drifter conceived by the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto, which was used to measure the surface circulation forced by wave breaking, including detailed structure of rifts and the littoral drift current (Jorge da Silva et al, 2016).
The philosophy of the WAVY drifter will essentially be respected:
a small-size sphere with just enough room to accommodate power source, GPS-receiver, communications modules, antennae, sensors and data processor;
optimised buoyancy to prevent the drifter trajectory responding to the wind instead of the current, while providing just enough exposure of the antennae to ensure acquisition of the GPS signal at the required rate and reliable near real-time communications.
Given the low influence of wind upon the drifters’ displacements, MELOA will provide a cheap effective way to monitor surface currents and surface dynamic features anywhere in the World Ocean. Through equipping the drifters with thermistors at two different levels, the possibility is open for monitoring “near-skin temperature” and near-surface vertical temperature gradients, which will be invaluable for calibration/validation of satellite derived SST fields.
Fields of science
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringaerospace engineeringsatellite technology
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensors
- natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesoceanography
- humanitiesphilosophy, ethics and religionphilosophy
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinator
28760 Tres Cantos (Madrid)
Spain
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Participants (9)
08034 Barcelona
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1249-093 Lisboa
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H91DCH9 Galway
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
4450 718 Matosinhos Porto
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
31520 Ramonville St Agne
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1070-061 Lisboa
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4200 465 Porto
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3030-290 Coimbra
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3840-385 Vagos
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.