Oceanographic Glider Measurements During Hurricane Sandy Passage

Slocum glider RU23 captured sub-surface ocean conditions before and during Hurricane Sandy's landfall in 2012. The dataset contains physical measurements including temperature, salinity, conductivity, and density from the Mid-Atlantic Bight. Data were collected by Rutgers University, preserved by NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information.

Use Cases

• Analyze temperature and salinity profiles to study ocean stratification changes induced by Hurricane Sandy.
• Model density variations from conductivity and temperature data to assess mixed layer depth evolution.
• Correlate glider trajectory data with storm track models to validate ocean response to hurricane forcing.
• Use time-series measurements to calculate heat content and energy transfer from the ocean to the atmosphere during the storm.

Strengths

• Data captured a specific, high-impact meteorological event (Hurricane Sandy) in near real-time.
• Includes multiple core physical oceanographic variables (temperature, salinity, conductivity, density).
• Data checked for compliance and aggregated by the Integrated Ocean Observing System's National Glider Data Assembly Center.

Limitations

• Dataset is limited to a single 12-day deployment from one glider, offering a localized snapshot.
• No bio-optical measurements are included, limiting analysis to physical properties only.
• Data is from 2012 and may not reflect current oceanographic conditions or instrumentation.

Provenance

Source

Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey; NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI).

Collection Method

In-situ measurements from a Slocum glider deployment, aggregated and quality-checked by IOOS National Glider Data Assembly Center.

Time Range

2012-10-25 to 2012-11-05

Freshness

Data collection ended on 2012-11-05; dataset is archival.

Geography

Mid-Atlantic Bight, North Atlantic Ocean