Autonomy is becoming increasingly important in ocean monitoring as it allows for more efficient and cost-effective data collection. One of the ways this is being achieved is through the use of autonomous instruments such as profiling floats and gliders in the polar ocean.

Profiling floats are autonomous instruments that drift with ocean currents and periodically sink to a predetermined depth, taking measurements of temperature, salinity, and other properties. These measurements are transmitted back to researchers via satellite, allowing for real-time monitoring of the ocean's physical and chemical properties.

Gliders, on the other hand, are autonomous underwater vehicles that can be programmed to follow specific paths through the ocean. They use changes in buoyancy to move up and down in the water column, collecting data on temperature, salinity, and other properties as they go. Like profiling floats, gliders also transmit data back to researchers in real-time.

In the polar ocean, the use of autonomous instruments has proven particularly valuable. The harsh and remote conditions of the polar regions make it difficult and expensive to collect data using traditional methods. Autonomous instruments can operate for extended periods of time, allowing for continuous monitoring of the ocean over large areas.

One of the main benefits of using autonomous instruments in the polar ocean is the ability to collect data that would otherwise be impossible to obtain. For example, profiling floats and gliders can provide detailed information on the structure and movement of ocean currents in areas where traditional ship-based measurements are impractical; for example, under ice.