Microbial Oceanography of the Oxygen Minimum Zone (MOOMZ)

Two OSU Seagliders (sg157 and sg158) were deployed on Friday Mar 6, 2009 off the coast of Iquique, Chile. sg158 was recovered yesterday, but sg157 remains, collecting observations of temperature, salinity, density, currents, chlorophyl, backscatter, CDOM and dissolved oxygen. sg157 will continue to fly a cross-shelf section from about the 200 m isobath to 100 km offshore until July or August.


Currently, sg157 is headed offshore toward 71 W in deep water, making full dives to 1000 m. sg157 is completing dives too quickly, about 180 minutes vs. 330 minutes optimally, which I think is due to the max pitch at +/- 30 degrees. However, the overall flight seems well tuned; I'm getting good low pitch and roll bias numbers.

sg157 is having some altimeter issues, when it comes up onto the slope, getting false returns, and turning around too soon. I'll continue to work on that the next time we come on shore.