While this experiment highlights the integration of measurements made across our small armada, the scientists on each ship also integrate data from several instrument platforms. On Sally Ride, we are chasing solitons like those seen in the aerial photos from a previous post.

We are using a profiling instrument (affectionately known as the Very Merry Profiler) cast over the stern of the ship

as well as a daisy chain of thermistors hanging from the bow.

In the figure, the bottom panel displays temperature in the top 20-m as measured by the bow chain. Black dots show the turbulent dissipation rate, indicating the strength of mixing, overlaid on the temperature measurements. The areas where we see large dissipation correspond to areas of large temperature gradients, indicating high mixing where solitons depress the thermocline dramatically changing the temperature.