An Arctic Remote Autonomous Measurement Platform

Perpetual ice cover in the Arctic inhibits broad analysis of the region. Ice camps and research ships do not provide sufficient temporal and spatial coverage. Satellites expand the coverage, but only within the limits of on-board sensors. A multidisciplinary data collection tool is needed to expand coverage in ice covered regions. The Arctic Remote Autonomous Measurement Platform (ARAMP) is a drifting ice or water borne platform to collect data from a variety of sensors, transmit selected results by Argos satellite, and store large data sets for later recovery or off-loading via RF telemetry. A typical sensor suite measures vector wind, barometric pressure, air temperature, humidity, compass, surface temperature, ice motion, broadband ambient noise, and upper ocean currents, temperature and conductivity. Optional sensors might measure ice thickness, ablation, thermal conductivity and solar radiation. ARAMP is a four meter augmented spar buoy. A tower above supports an anemometer, meteorological sensors and antennas. A variable length cable below provides power and communications to underwater sensors. A three-axis accelerometer for ice motion measurements is inside the buoy. Data collection is controlled by a powerful microcomputer that performs intelligent data sampling, spectral analysis of ambient noise, telemetry, data compression, and internal storage.