FLIP (Floating Instrument Platform): A major Fred Fisher contribution to ocean science

Abstract

Frederick H. Fisher, a loyal and zealous member of the Acoustical Society of America, was an imaginative and effective developer of new techniques for research in both laboratory and seagoing acoustics. Most notable among his contributions was his work in bringing into being and enhancing the usefulness of the spar buoy laboratory, FLIP, from its inception in 1960. Not only did Fred use FLIP in his own research, its existence and many of its ancillary capabilities constituted a base for the seagoing research of others. The authors of this paper have benefited from FLIP’s unique capabilities, starting with long-range sound propagation studies in the 1960’s and 1970’s. FLIP’s stability and deep draft structure provided the platform for development of acoustic Doppler techniques for the measurement of ocean currents. Most recently, FLIP has been involved in studies of marine mammal vocalizations and use of multielement arrays to investigate details of shallow-water propagation. Fred’s initial studies of sonar bearing accuracy, for which FLIP’s construction was funded, and his dedication to advancing FLIP’s ability to contribute to ocean science, constitute a legacy that is being utilized today, more than 40 years after FLIP’s launching.