A cost-efficient low-weight autonomous profiler for measurements in polar coastal waters and other regions with strong density gradients.

The rapid warming of our planet has resulted in accelerated melting of ice in polar regions. Currently we have limited knowledge on how, where and when the surface meltwater layer is mixed with the underlying ocean due to lack of observations in these remote areas. We present a lightweight (17 kg) and low-cost (6000€) instrument for autonomous profiling across the strongly stratified upper layer in Arctic coastal waters, freshened by the riverine input and meltwater from glaciers, icebergs, and sea ice.