IMO scientists Nadín Ramírez and Darío Torres a training program in Coquimbo June 13-14, 2017.

The aim of this training course was for participants to acquire the knowledge and skills required to properly operate gliders, underwater vehicles that are transforming the world of oceanography. These machines can measure temperature, salinity, oxygen levels, fluorescence (chlorophyll) and photosynthetic radiation (amount of light used by microalgae), and they can also incorporate sensors to measure nutrients and ocean currents, in addition to perceiving very slight changes in density and turbulence in the water column. They are remotely operated, successfully monitoring sea conditions in real time.

This program was organized by the Faculty of Marine Sciences at the Catholic University of the North and led by distinguished researcher Justin Shapiro, from the company Teledyne-Webb Research.

“We focused on the differences between first and second generation equipment, and also on the advanced procedures to adjust the operation settings. It was an advanced, very comprehensive course on the operation of these vehicles,” said Nadín Ramírez. For Darío Torres, the event was an opportunity to continue growing professionally. “It was an excellent experience. I have been working with gliders for only a short time, and completing this advanced course was very helpful in terms of my training and knowledge. It will be very useful for future research as well,” he concluded.

IMO already tested these underwater vehicles in 2016; however, it had only used first generation equipment. The current challenge is to continue doing research with more modern gliders.