Configuration optimization of underwater glider observation array for reconstruction of Mesoscale Eddy 3D structure

To address the issue that current underwater glider deployments for in situ observation of the 3D structure of mesoscale eddies are largely guided by empirical knowledge rather than a systematic quantitative evaluation framework, this paper, based on a synthesized anticyclonic eddy field in the northern South China Sea, systematically evaluates the reconstruction performance of three array topologies (parallel, grid, and radial) through numerical simulations, and proposes a comprehensive metric integrating coverage, error, and correlation coefficient to assess the reconstruction performance. Results show that the full-depth optimal configuration requires at least 7 units for the parallel and grid arrays, and 8 units for the radial array; further stratified simulations quantitatively reveal configuration discrepancies between the shallow layer (above 200 m) and the deep layer (below 200 m), and determine the optimal glider number and array configuration. A field experiment conducted by Tianjin University in August 2017, involving 12 gliders in the northern South China Sea, verifies the above simulation results. These results aid in designing glider arrays for in situ observation of the 3D structure of mesoscale eddies.