RBR Australasia, based in Tasmania, has collaborated with the British Antarctic Survey, New York University, and most recently NIWA in New Zealand to support long-term near real-time under-ice measurements in polar regions.
These customized under-ice systems featured the RBR inductive mooring line modem, deployed through and beneath the ice, supporting a combination of RBR temperature, depth, dissolved oxygen, and CTD instrumentation. Additionally, third-party sensors, including Nortek current meters, were integrated.
At the surface, a fully customized RBRcervello unit provided system control, real-time communication with instruments, data logging, and satellite telemetry for near real-time data transmission.
This presentation will explore three key case studies, detailing the methodologies used and the engineering innovations tailored to each project’s unique requirements. It will highlight both successes and the challenges of deploying these systems in remote, extreme environments.
The presentation will conclude with key lessons learned and future directions for advancing similar under-ice long-term measurement systems.