ng616-20180701T0000

AOML's Physical Oceanography Division, the Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System (CARICOOS), and NOAA's Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) are leading a multi-institutional effort that brings together the research and operational components within NOAA and the university community to implement and carry out sustained and targeted ocean observations from underwater gliders in the Caribbean Sea and southwestern tropical North Atlantic Ocean. The upper ocean thermal structure in this region has been linked to rapid intensification of tropical cyclones, and to the seasonal Atlantic hurricane activity. However, there are only few (<300) upper ocean thermal observations carried out per year in this region. The goal of this work is to enhance our understanding of air-sea interaction processes during hurricane force wind events. In order to accomplish this goal, the network of hurricane underwater gliders was implemented to assess the impact of hurricane force winds on upper ocean density structure, and assess the impact of ocean profile data from underwater gliders in hurricane intensity forecasts. The 4 Naval Oceanographic gliders deployed off Puerto Rico were part of a larger network that included an additional 5 in the USVI. These gliders were provided and operated by the Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO) and are part of a larger effort to deploy and operate over 100 gliders simultaneously. The data these Littoral Battlespace Sensing (LBS) gliders collect is used in underwater ocean forecasts that support a wide range of naval operations.