CCS - Saildrone SD1007 2018 V1 bioacoustic data

Trials of two Saildrone platforms (SD1007, SD1008) were conducted between the 28rd March and the 7th of June 2018, commencing in Hobart and finishing in central NSW. The platforms were operated both on and off-shelf during this time. The WBT Mini echosounders had a selection of pre-programmed operation settings that were optimised for the particularly water depths. These were selected remotely by Saildrone operators who anticipated changing water depths. The acoustic systems were operated for the first 42 days of the 71 day mission, ceasing on the 9th of May at 17:50. The premature end to acoustic recording was presumably as a side effect of the technical difficulties that the Saildones had been experiencing due to high sea states where power allocation had to be prioritised to controlling the platforms. Additionally a controlled inter-calibration experiment was conducted east of Maria Island from the 5th April 20:30 UTC to 6th April 05:48 UTC. For that experiment both Saildrone platforms and RV Investigator (Voyage IN2018-T1) acquired acoustic and carbon chemistry data in a series of designed movements that will allow comparison of measurements taken at the same time in the same water mass. Results of these experiments will be reported separately. Both Saildrone platforms were able to provide high quality acoustic data sets over a sustained 6-week period in shallow and deep-water situations.