These pictures were taken aboard the Lucky Lady, the UMass Dartmouth research vessel while she was at the dock. The MeRMADE group is preparing the various instruments for use (on three other boats). To the right are the drifters that will be deployed (the five gallon buckets with lights attached), and the RDI River Rays (with the orange pontoons) that will be towed behind the boat with an acoustic doppler current profiler inside that measures profiles of currents almost up to the surface of the water.

These pictures were taken aboard the Lucky Lady, the UMass Dartmouth research vessel while she was at the dock. The various instruments that will be used are being prepared for use on all four boats. Above are the drifters, which are five gallon buckets with lights attached, and to the immediate right are the RDI River Rays (with the orange pontoons) that will be towed behind the boat with an acoustic doppler current profiler inside that measures profiles of currents almost up to the surface of the water.

Measuring as close as possible to the surface is important, because the buoyant plume that is being studied is only a meter or two thick. Many oceanographic measurements start at two, or even five meters below the surface. MeRMADE team members will only sporadically take measurements below this depth.