Computational fluid dynamic techniques have been applied to the determination of drag on oceanographic devices (expendable\r\nbathythermographs). Such devices, which are used to monitor changes in ocean heat content, provide information that is\r\ndependent on their drag coefficient. Inaccuracies in drag calculations can impact the estimation of ocean heating associated with\r\nglobal warming. Traditionally, ocean-heating information was based on experimental correlations which related the depth of the\r\ndevice to the fall time. The relation of time-depth is provided by a fall-rate equation (FRE). It is known that FRE depths are\r\nreasonably accurate for ocean environments that match the experiments from which the correlations were developed. For other\r\nsituations, use of the FRE may lead to depth errors that preclude XBTs as accurate oceanographic devices. Here, a CFD approach\r\nhas been taken which provides drag coefficients that are used to predict depths independent of an FRE.
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