RAPID Lander

Many Rapid Landers have been deployed in the North Atlantic measuring subtle changes in the oceans circulation. Their measurements can help us understand rapid climate change which could alter the climate around the USA and Europe.

RAPID Landers operate in the deepest parts of the ocean and have been designed to withstand the crushing pressures of depths up to 5km, the equivalent of 500 elephants.

The lander sits on the sea bed accurately measuring and recording changes in water depth (as small as 1mm), every 15 minutes. It is recovered by transmitting an acoustic signal from a ship to release it from its ballast weight. It then floats to the surface where it is recovered and its data retrieved.

RAPID Landers have been in use since 2004, deployed for periods of 2 to 4.5 years!