This talk is presented as a Zoom Webinar and requires a passcode. For anyone outside the department; If you would like to attend, email lak6@psu.edu

 ABSTRACT

Saildrones are uncrewed surface vehicles. They are products of public (government) – private (industries) partnership in design, development, test, and operation. Saildrones measure variables near the sea surface that are needed to estimate air-sea fluxes. They have been deployed in many parts of the global oceans where few or no in situ observations existed. This presentation will describe the basic capabilities of saildrones, show examples of their past deployments and scientific outcomes, and give a special coverage on the observations during the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season. Then, a concept of the air-sea transition zone will be introduced, a new definition of air-sea interaction suggested, and a vision provided on how saildrones and other uncrewed observing systems may help advance the study of air-sea interaction in the context of the air-sea transition zone.