Gliders yield valuable marine life data

Hydro International -

The influence ocean eddies have on marine life in the oceans surrounding Australia's south-east is expected to become clearer after scientists examine data from new deep-diving research ‘gliders' patrolling the East Australian Current.

Eddies can be up to 200 kilometres across and they distribute heat and nutrients around the ocean and form their own distinct habitat. An insight into ocean eddies is also an insight into how ocean dynamics influences regional climate.

CSIRO scientists and technicians last month retrieved one of three gliders working in south-east Australia after a five-month programme criss-crossing the East Australian Current.

"We will see in significantly more detail than ever before the profile of the ocean eddies spinning off the East Australian Current which are critical to shaping the composition of the biological hotspots driving fisheries production and supporting marine life," says oceanographer Ken Ridgway (right on the image) at the CSIRO Wealth from Oceans Flagship.

South-west of Tasmania another glider has been measuring a deep ocean current called the Tasman Outflow, that feeds into the global network of ocean currents.

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