Robots will measure the conditions of Ecuadorian maritime currents

From next October, 5 robots that will be located approximately at 500 meters deep in eastern and western waters of the Galapagos Islands, will take measurements of the Equatorial undercurrent.

According to the staff of the  Oceanographic Institute of the Navy (Inocar), the purpose is to collect information, in real time about the  temperature, salinity, speed of water flow, chlorophyll and dissolved oxygen in the depths.

The Coordinator of this plan, Pritha Tutasi, points out that in 2012 a previous measurement was  made in the South of Isabela island, Galapagos, and explains that there are four robots type Spray Glider, created in the United States, and a Sea Glider which will make the study.

According to Tutasi, who has worked for four years in this project called Repeat Observations by Gliders in the Equatorial Region (ROGER) together with the institutes Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and Scripps Institution of Oceanography (Scripps), both Americans.

“The main difference with other measuring marine equipment is that these gliders (sailplanes) are unmanned and can be operational for three months, in addition, they can  transmit information in real time so  we immediately get the satellite signal and get more accurate data”, indicates Tutasi.

Carlos Perugachi, technician from the Inocar, says that robots do not take samples and are specialized in the measurement of the current flow. Perugachi adds that depending on the study, other equipment will be used to complement the information.