Pioneer Mid-Atlantic Bight Mobile Asset AUVs

Coastal Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) are Mobile Assets that survey the area in and around the array of moorings at the Coastal Pioneer MAB Array. Two Coastal AUVs (HII REMUS-600 AUVs) travel along transects across the shelf-break frontal system extending beyond the mooring array, covering an area approximately 1000 square kilometers in size centered on the array of moorings. The primary role of the AUVs is to resolve cross- and along-front “eddy fluxes” due to frontal instabilities, wind forcing, and mesoscale variability. These AUVs travel along saw-toothed transects, penetrating the sea surface and diving down to a maximum depth of 600 meters.