Schematic scetch of an <b>oceanographic mooring</b>, used by marine biologists, geologists and oceanographers to investigate the flux of sediment particles and organic matter to the ocean floor (<i>sediment trap</i>) and to measure direction and velocity of ocean currents (<i>current meter</i>). The mooring is anchored at the ocean floor by a weight which was lowered slowly with a parachute to avoid destruction of the mooring during its release. Floaters keep the wire in upright position. When the releaser is contacted with a signal after a year (or more), it opens up the connection between weight and mooring and the drifters will bring up the mooring to the surface where it is recovered by the ship.
<a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Hgrobe" title="User:Hgrobe">Hannes Grobe</a> 08:32, 21 January 2007 (UTC)
CC BY-SA 2.5
<span class="int-own-work" lang="en">Own work</span>