Resinex has recently contributed to a crucial project in the field of oceanographic research. Del Mar Oceanographic (DMO) secured funding from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to utilize the Wirewalker profiling system. The goal was the calibration and validation (Cal/Val) of NASA’s new Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite.
DMO provided the Wirewalker system, while the data processing required for satellite calibration and validation, as well as the deployment and recovery of buoys, were entrusted to various research groups, among which were the Multiscale Ocean Dynamics (MOD) and the Ocean Time Series Group at the University of California, San Diego, in addition to JPL staff.
The Wirewalker was installed on four Resinex buoys, positioned in the Pacific Ocean’s area known as Point Conception, characterized by highly turbulent ocean conditions. Consequently, the buoys were designed to withstand adverse weather conditions, ensuring data collection continuity even in extreme atmospheric conditions, with a buoyancy of 750 kg and a maximum diving depth of 300 meters.
The buoys were deployed in February 2023 and, after 200 days, were successfully recovered. The Wirewalker conducted its measurements in the first 500 meters of depth, providing invaluable data for oceanographic research.
