OS Ocean Science OS Ocean Sci. 1812-0792 Copernicus Publications Göttingen, Germany 10.5194/os-3-173-2007 Development of an automatic multiple launcher for expendable probes Zappalà G. 1 Reseghetti F. 2 Manzella G. M. R. 2 CNR-IAMC, Section of Messina, Messina, Italy ENEA-CRAM, S. Teresa di Lerici (SP), Italy 03 04 2007 3 2 173 178 Copyright: © 2007 G. Zappalà et al. 2007 This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 Generic License. To view a copy of this licence, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ This article is available from https://os.copernicus.org/articles/3/173/2007/os-3-173-2007.html The full text article is available as a PDF file from https://os.copernicus.org/articles/3/173/2007/os-3-173-2007.pdf

A main goal of a Ship Of Opportunity Programme (SOOP) is the provision of temperature profiles in near real time. The use of commercial ships and expandable probes allows the reduction of costs, in comparison with research ship cruises. A major cost effectiveness is achieved using an automated multiple launcher, requiring minimum personnel effort. A multiple launcher, developed in the framework of the Mediterranean Forecasting System – Toward Environmental Prediction Project (MFSTEP), allows for a sequential collection of eight temperature profiles, using a software-programmable sampling strategy. The data acquisition system can be remotely controlled in every functionality, and data can be transmitted by GSM-GPRS or satellite telephone systems.

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