ZHUHAI, CHINA — A team of Chinese researchers has developed an 11-meter submersible unmanned vessel named the “Blue Whale” designed to collect crucial in situ data directly from typhoons and hurricanes, aiming to significantly improve storm modeling and prediction. This innovation directly addresses the high risk to human life and the instability of conventional vessels during extreme weather events.
The Blue Whale is a core component of the new Intelligent Swift Ocean Observing System and its development was published in the Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Research journal.
Overcoming Data Collection Challenges
Typhoons and hurricanes are challenging to study in real time, with researchers citing three main barriers to obtaining direct storm data: real-time alignment with the cyclone’s path, acquiring upper-ocean data, and integrating satellite and buoy observations.
The key to the Blue Whale’s success lies in its use of fully submersible vehicle technology to maximize stability. Unlike conventional surface vessels, the Blue Whale’s hull remains predominantly or entirely submerged during operation, a feature that “significantly attenuates wave-induced motions” and enhances operational resilience in adverse sea conditions, according to first author Chao Dong.
Dual-Mode Operation and Capabilities
The Blue Whale combines the advantages of both unmanned surface and submersible vehicles, allowing it to collect comprehensive data without risking human life:
• Surface Operations: It uses a conventional propulsion system for high-speed navigation, boasting a maximum surface velocity of 23 knots and a range of over 200 kilometers.
• Submerged Operations: It employs a vector propulsion system for low-speed maneuvering, achieving a maximum submerged speed of 3 knots for up to four hours, with a standby submerged capability of up to 72 hours.
• Data Collection: Submerged, its sensors collect comprehensive water column data on currents, temperature, depth, pH, chlorophyll, and turbidity. On the surface, the can launch research rockets to gather atmospheric profile data, with stability algorithms boosting the rockets’ success rate in adverse conditions.
Researchers report this is the first published account of an unmanned, fully submersible vehicle tailored specifically for cyclone data collection. Following testing and trials, the Blue Whale is scheduled for operational deployment in typhoon observation by 2026, promising a significant advancement in marine meteorological observation and disaster preparedness.