ICES Data Guidelines for Seasoar (Batfish) data. (Compiled May 1999, revised August. 2001; December 2006)

Abstract

The Seasoar (or Batfish) instrument is a towed platform typically equipped with a CTD. Other sensors, such as fluorometers or transmissometers, ma y also be added. The SeaSoar has hydraulically controlled wings, which give it the ability to "fly" up and down in the water column. On a typical deployment, the SeaSoar is towed behind a ship at speeds of up to 10 knots using a faired cable while flying between two depths, U se of a faired cable reduces the drag on the cable and allows the SeaSoar to fly sawtooth profiles with a maximum depth of ~500m. Without fairing or with damaged fairing the depth capabilities of the SeaSoar are dramatically reduced. W ith no fairing at all the SeaSoar would struggle to attain 100m depth