A dynamic period in naval oceanography not too long ago ended as the long-lasting Floating Instrument Platform — popularly often called FLIP — was formally retired from service.
In-built 1962 with funding from the Workplace of Naval Analysis (ONR), FLIP helped generations of scientists and oceanographers higher perceive the mysteries of the ocean, together with inner waves, air-sea interplay and long-range sound propagation. Sadly, age and exorbitant life-extension prices resulted within the platform being disestablished.
On Aug. 3, a solemn gathering of well-wishers watched as FLIP was towed, at sundown, to a dismantling and recycling facility. Final month, a proper goodbye ceremony was hosted by the Marine Bodily Laboratory on the College of California, San Diego (UCSD).
Nonetheless, FLIP — which was owned by the U.S. Navy and managed by Scripps Establishment of Oceanography at UCSD — boasts a proud legacy and represents a golden age of oceanography that noticed a renewed give attention to ocean exploration, the creation of recent fields of examine, and better public appreciation of the scientific and strategic significance of the ocean.
“Over its profession, FLIP was a key mission enabler for ONR’s primary and utilized applications in meteorology, oceanography and ocean acoustics,” mentioned Dr. Thomas Drake, head of ONR’s Ocean Battlespace Sensing Division.
“Whether or not investigating air-sea interplay, ocean mixing, boundary layer dynamics or acoustic thermometry, FLIP’s distinctive properties and capabilities enabled the gathering of beautiful datasets that served because the gold customary for quite a few course of research and intensive mannequin improvement, in the end rising our understanding of the maritime setting.”
Formed like a spar buoy, the 355-foot FLIP resembled an enormous baseball bat. When horizontal, FLIP was towed out to sea the place on-board hydraulics and ballast tanks “flipped” the platform (in about half-hour) to the vertical — producing a steady, cellular at-sea experimental laboratory, able to using out swells whereas offering sensor information 300 ft into the water column.
FLIP might carry a analysis workforce of 11 folks and a crew of 5, and maintain analysis operations for as much as 30 days with out resupply. Additionally, the whole lot mounted on the platform turned 90 levels when it “flipped” at sea. All fixtures — from turbines to bogs — turned at proper angles, and there have been separate passageways, doorways and platforms for each main area inside and outdoors.
As a result of FLIP had no propulsion system of its personal, it needed to be towed by ship to a location. This quiet design made FLIP good for recording ocean acoustics and sounds in addition to observing tidal forces, inner waves and small-scale turbulence. Such information gathering fostered better information of ocean currents and acoustics, air-sea interactions and marine mammal sounds.
As well as, FLIP was essential to groundbreaking naval primary and utilized analysis, a lot of which was sponsored by ONR. This consists of oceanography, meteorology, ocean acoustics and the event of hydrophones (underwater microphones) — in addition to how the higher a part of the ocean interacts with the decrease a part of the ambiance and the way that interface impacts issues like sonar.
One other facet of FLIP’s design that enabled it to be related for six many years was its lack of built-in sensors that would change into out of date. This allowed generations of researchers and scientists to put in cutting-edge gear and know-how for testing.
Retired Scripps bodily oceanographer Dr. Rob Pinkel logged many hours on FLIP cruises, beginning in 1969 as a graduate pupil.
“In whole, I spent about three years at sea aboard FLIP over the course of my profession,” he mentioned. “I loved working with the crew and my analysis group to realize one thing particular. When the entire devices had been performing correctly and the information had been coming in, it was like working a really wealthy gold mine.”
Naval Postgraduate Faculty Professor Dr. Qing Wang led an ONR-sponsored analysis cruise aboard FLIP in 2017 to review air-sea interplay: “FLIP was such a powerful analysis platform that enabled us to do very detailed, thorough work. It actually was a game-changer when it comes to naval scientific analysis and might be missed.”
Rob Sparrock, a program officer in ONR’s Oceanographic Analysis Services division, mentioned, “Shedding FLIP is unlucky, however the loss might be mitigated by new unmanned property and networks of smaller buoys being developed. FLIP’s legacy additionally lives on in present analysis platforms such because the French Polar POD, whose design is impressed by FLIP.”
Although retired, FLIP will reside on at Scripps. One in all its booms (crane-like arms for suspending devices) might be put in on the Scripps analysis pier in La Jolla and used to deploy devices. Additionally, artifacts from the platform might be displayed in a everlasting exhibit at Scripps’ Birch Aquarium.
Warren Duffie Jr. is a contractor for ONR Company Strategic Communications.
