APEX Profiling Floats
APEX floats autonomously profile the water column, collect sensor data, and surface to transmit measurements and receive mission updates. The range includes configurations for physical oceanography, biogeochemistry, passive acoustic monitoring, current profiling, and deep-ocean measurements.
- APEX Standard: General-purpose profiling float with an APF-11 controller, configurable mission sequencing and sampling, and in-situ mission updates. It is rated to 2,000 m and is supplied with an aluminum hull, Iridium RUDICS telemetry, and lithium primary batteries. Carbon-fiber and Iridium SBD options are available. A glass-sphere configuration supports deployments to 6,000 m.
- APEX BioGeoChem (BGC): Profiling float configured for biogeochemical measurements, with sensor options for conductivity, temperature, depth, dissolved oxygen, nitrate, irradiance, chlorophyll, and backscatter. Available instruments include the SBE-41CP CTD, Aanderaa 4330 dissolved-oxygen optode, and WET Labs FLbb. Sensor combinations vary by configuration.
- APEX PAM Float: Float for long-term passive acoustic monitoring alongside environmental measurements. Its acoustic system uses an HTI-90U hydrophone over 20 Hz to 20 kHz, records sound pressure level in 31 frequency bands, and supports 0, 20, or 40 dB gain. Telemetry options include Iridium RUDICS and encrypted Iridium SBD, with configurable sampling depths, durations, and triggers.
- APEX Current Profiling Float (APEX-EM): Profiling float that uses electromagnetic induction to measure water motion and current structure through the water column. Its air-deployable design supports rapid deployment.
- APEX Deep: Deep-ocean profiling float rated to 6,000 m for deep-ocean measurement programs.
