The McLane moored profiler: an autonomous platform for oceanographic measurements

Abstract

The McLane Moored Profiler (MMP) is an autonomous profiling instrument platform developed through a collaboration between the McLane Research Laboratories, Inc. (MRL) and the Advanced Engineering Laboratory and the Department of Physical Oceanography of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI). The authors' goal is to make moored profiler technology both available and useful to a broad cross-section of the oceanographic community. The platform and software are designed for ease of operation and maintenance. The baseline instrument suite includes both a CTD and an acoustic current meter. Provisions have been made in the design for a variety of additional instruments, including commonly available bio-optical and chemical sensors. The engineering development is largely complete, and the first commercial units have been delivered. Laboratory, dockside, and open ocean tests are ongoing.