9523403 Nowlin This project wi1l address the need for a new approach to making current meter measurements in remote locations. PIs at Oregon State University have developed various components of an expendable current meter mooring that will, at a present time, release its mooring, rise to the ocean surface, and transmit data via the ARGOS satellite system. In this exploratory project, three of these systems will be purchased, and three entire configurations will be tested in an accessible location prior to committing to a purchase of ten for deployment in the Antarctic. If successful, ten systems will be deployed in the Indian Ocean region of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current during a WOCE cruise on the R/V Palmer in 1996. The primary justification for this cruise has been determined in an already-reviewed proposal that will be recommended for support in FY96. While the current meter arrays will add crucial information to the WOCE Indian Ocean Survey, further testing is an essential precursor to actual deployment. ***
