Technical note: Turbulence measurements from a light autonomous underwater vehicle

Abstract. A self-contained turbulence instrument from Rockland Scientific was installed on a light autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) OceanScan Marine Systems and Technology Lda. We report the data quality discuss limitations of dissipation estimated two shear probes during deployment in Barents Sea February 2021. The AUV mission lasted for 5 h, operating at typical horizontal speed 1.1 m s−1. programmed to find cross maximum along-path thermal gradient 10, 20 30 depths along 4 km transects. Although vibrations contaminate probe records, noise is mitigated by removing vibration-induced components spectra using accelerometer signal measured multiple directions. Dissipation rate estimates observed transects varied range 1×10-8 6×10-6 W kg−1, with values orthogonal typically agreement within factor 2. show good nearby vertical microstructure profiles obtained ship transects, indicating that measurements are reliable this relatively turbulent environment. However, lowest rates limited 5×10-8 making setup unfit use quiescent environments.