Platform Types

Table 7. Controlled vocabularies for platform types. NVS is short for NERC Vocabulary Server (NVS) (link: https://vocab.nerc.ac.uk/). SDN is short for SeaDataNet.

No.	Platform type	NVS term [ID] and link	Description
1	Research vessel	Research vessel [SDN:L06::31] http://vocab.nerc.ac.uk/collection/L06/current/31/	A research vessel is a specialized type of ship or boat that is designed and equipped for oceanographic research. It often has autonomous sen- sors onboard and laboratories with scientific equipment for analyzing samples, and various other facilities to support research operations at sea.
2	Ship of opportunity (SOOP)	Vessel of opportunity [SDN:L06::32] http://vocab.nerc.ac.uk/collection/L06/current/32/	Ships of opportunity (SOOP) are not specifically designed for oceano- graphic research but are used to collect scientific data from autonomous sensors opportunistically. They can be cargo vessels, container ships, or other types of vessels that travel predetermined routes across the ocean.
3	Mooring	Mooring [SDN:L06::48] http://vocab.nerc.ac.uk/collection/L06/current/48/	A mooring is a collection of instruments used to measure oceanographic variables over an extended period of time at a fixed station. These moor- ing systems typically comprise a surface or subsurface buoy, to which the instruments are affixed, and a weighted anchor connected by a line.
4	Drifting buoy	Drifting surface float [SDN:L06::42] http://vocab.nerc.ac.uk/collection/L06/current/42/	Drifting buoys are devices that float on the ocean surface, allowing them to follow the current. Typically, these buoys are equipped with a “drogue” - a device like a parachute or sheet - which enables them to be dragged along by the current.
5	Argo float	Drifting subsurface profiling float [SDN:L06::46] http://vocab.nerc.ac.uk/collection/L06/current/46/	Argo floats are a type of profiling float, consists of a cylindrical body that contains sensors for measuring ocean properties and inflatable blad- ders that allow the float to change its buoyancy and move up and down through the water column. Argo floats drift with ocean currents and sur- face periodically to transmit data via satellite.
6	Surface glider	Surface gliders [SDN:L06::3C] https://vocab.nerc.ac.uk/collection/L06/current/3C/	A surface glider is an autonomous, uncrewed surface vehicle (USV). Example: wave gliders.
7	Sub-surface glider	Sub-surface gliders [SDN:L06::27] https://vocab.nerc.ac.uk/collection/L06/current/27/	Sub-surface gliders are a type of autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) that moves through the water using changes in buoyancy and wings to control its movement.
8	Salindrone	Autonomous surface water vehicle [SDN:L06::3B] http://vocab.nerc.ac.uk/collection/L06/current/3B/	Saildrones are a type of autonomous surface vessels (ASVs) that can travel long distances over extended periods of time. These environmen- tally friendly ocean drones are powered exclusively by the wind (for propulsion) and solar (for the onboard instruments).

Citation:
Jiang, L.-Q., Subhas, A., Basso, D., Fennel, K., and Gattuso, J.-P. (2023). Data reporting and sharing for ocean alkalinity enhancement research, in: Guide to Best Practices in Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement Research (OAE Guide 23), edited by: Oschlies, A., Stevenson, A., Bach, L., Fennel, K., Rickaby, R., Satterfield, T., Webb, R., and Gattuso, J.-P., Copernicus Publications, State Planet, https://doi.org/10.5194/sp-2-oae2023-13-2023.