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What is Underway Monitoring and Why Does it Matter?

Underway Monitoring collects environmental data automatically from research ships while they move. The vessel essentially becomes a mobile scientific laboratory, gathering ocean, atmosphere, and seafloor data 24/7 from anywhere in the world.

This technology gives us a constant stream of information, allowing us to build detailed pictures of marine environments. Modern oceanography depends on this approach. Underway Monitoring can achieve wide spatial and temporal coverage of critical Earth systems, especially in remote ocean areas far from human influence that become accessible for study.

Why is Continuous Ocean Monitoring So Important?

Oceanographic expeditions cost significant resources, so underway monitoring maximises scientific value from every single day at sea. We measure the environment every second of every day, creating immense datasets of entire transits, not just specific experiment locations.

These datasets serve multiple purposes:

  • Scientists use them as standalone records to study large-scale phenomena. 
  • They provide essential context for other experiments. 
  • Continuous wind speed observations help calculate air-sea carbon fluxes directly.
  • They help scientists interpret atmospheric chemistry measurements from the ship's mast.

What Data Do Our Research Ships Continuously Collect?

Our research ships carry comprehensive sensor suites. They continuously measure essential climate variables and other key parameters. All data links with essential metadata, with precise time and GPS position accompanying every measurement, so every data point can be located accurately in time and space.

Atmosphere

We measure atmospheric pressure, air temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, and solar radiation.

Ocean Surface

Our systems capture wave and swell properties, including height and direction. We monitor seawater temperature, salinity, and fluorescence constantly. Fluorescence data indicates chlorophyll-a and phytoplankton levels. A continuous, clean seawater supply flows to onboard laboratories. Visiting scientists can connect their specialised sensors to record specific data.

Water Column

We monitor ocean currents and water depth, giving us a picture of the flows of water beneath the ship.

Geology

We measure Earth's magnetic and gravitational fields beneath the moving ship.

How Are We Advancing Underway Monitoring Technology?

The UK marine science community helps shape our priorities, ensuring that the most impactful technologies are added to our research fleet. Recent upgrades include a state-of-the-art pCO₂ system for monitoring carbon dioxide in surface waters and a wave-height radar to capture vital information on ocean conditions. We have also enhanced our Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCPs), providing higher-resolution measurements of ocean currents and circulation patterns. These upgrades expand the quality and breadth of the data available to researchers.

Accurate metadata is the backbone of good science. Our digital event logging service is under continuous development, with a focus on user-friendly design and standardisation. This ensures that every action, sample, and measurement is recorded in a clear and consistent way. Future scientists will be able to see exactly how and when data was collected, preserving the integrity and usefulness of our records for decades to come.

We have developed robust systems to acquire, store, and display data from all shipboard sensors in near real time, giving scientists immediate access to information while at sea. Building on this foundation, we are now prototyping a next-generation acquisition platform. Using open-source components and Kubernetes orchestration, this system delivers greater flexibility, resilience, and scalability, keeping the UK research fleet at the cutting edge of ocean observation.

Every instrument matters. Our metadata management system records the exact sensor associated with every single data point collected. This comprehensive approach safeguards the long-term value of our datasets by ensuring traceability and transparency. Scientists can be confident that the data they use is both reliable and fully documented, strengthening its impact for years to come.