Proposal of a Strategy for Three-dimensional Wide-area Ocean Observation with Swarm Intelligent Autonomous Underwater Gliders

Abstract

The ocean absorbs heat and carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and serves to mitigate rapid climate change caused by human activities. The ocean also has the function of maintaining natural cycles such as the oceanic general circulation, carbon cycle and providing us with fishery resources. A healthy, pollution-free marine environment is essential for the sustainable development of human society. However, global warming, ocean acidification, oxygen depletion, and accumulation of marine plastic waste are now facing serious threats to marine ecosystems. In order to conserve the abundant sea, it is very important to have a correct understanding of the ocean environment and marine ecosystem conditions over a long term and wide area. In this research, the authors assume the underwater glider with independently controllable main wings, SOARER developed at Osaka Prefecture University, and propose a threedimensional wide-area ocean observation strategy for Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Several cases of underwater cruise simulation with swarm intelligent autonomous underwater gliders were carried out to estimate the required number of underwater gliders which cover the Japan's EEZ and to consider its validity and effectiveness.