Underwater Gliders Retrieved After Successful Second Mission

On April 27th, AOML physical oceanographers partnered with the University of Puerto Rico to successfully recover two underwater gliders from the Caribbean Sea aboard the R/V La Sultana of the University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez. The gliders successfully transected a region in the eastern Caribbean providing approximately 3000 profile observations of temperature, salinity, oxygen, and surface as well as depth-average current velocities.

The recovery involved a field team at sea retrieving the gliders and a pilot team at AOML steering them to an area where they could be safely recovered. After recovery, the gliders were brought to the University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez in La Parguera where they underwent a thorough refurbishment in preparation for their next deployment in July.

Photo credit: NOAA

  • The R/V La Sultana on its way out to collect the gliders. Image credit: NOAA
  • The recovery team pulls up alongside the glider. Image credit: NOAA
  • A glider is brought aboard the R/V La Sultana. Image credit: NOAA
  • The glider is placed in its carousel for safe transport. Image credit: NOAA
  • Both gliders on board the R/V La Sultana on their way back to shore. Image credit: NOAA
  • The recovery team on board the R/V La Sultana after a successful retrieval mission. Image credit: NOAA
  • One of the gliders getting a tune up before its next mission. Image credit: NOAA
  • Gliders lined up and ready for deployment. Photo Credit: NOAA.
  • The R/V La Sultana. Image credit: NOAA

Image Captions

From Left:

  1. The R/V La Sultana on its way out to collect the gliders. Image credit: NOAA
  2. The recovery team pulls up alongside the glider. Image credit: NOAA
  3. A glider is brought aboard the R/V La Sultana. Image credit: NOAA
  4. The glider is placed in its carousel for safe transport. Image credit: NOAA
  5. Both gliders on board the R/V La Sultana on their way back to shore. Image credit: NOAA
  6. The recovery team on board the R/V La Sultana after a successful retrieval mission. Image credit: NOAA
  7. One of the gliders getting a tune up before its next mission. Image credit: NOAA
  8. One of the gliders getting a tune up before its next mission. Image credit: NOAA
  9. Gliders lined up and ready for deployment. Photo Credit: NOAA.
  10. The R/V La Sultana. Image credit: NOAA