Ocean exploration apparatus and ocean exploration method

An ocean exploration apparatus comprising:

• a probe body;
• a buoyancy adjusting section that adjusts buoyancy generated in the probe body;
• a posture adjusting section that adjusts a posture of the probe body;
• a position information acquiring section that acquires position information of the probe body;
• a wing section that moves the probe body using a lifting force applied from seawater;
• a sensor section that is provided in the probe body and measures an electromagnetic field;
• and
• a control section that controls operations of the buoyancy adjusting section, the posture adjusting section, the position information acquiring section, and the sensor section according to predetermined conditions, wherein
• the wing section is formed by a membrane and covers the probe body from above,
• the wing section has a main wing that is curved upward to form a convex spherical shape,
• an accommodating space, in which at least one part of the probe body is accommodated, is formed under the main wing,
• the sensor section detects the electromagnetic field through an electrode provided at an endpoint of an arm that protrudes from the probe body in a horizontal direction,
• at least a part of the arm overlaps the wing section in a vertical direction, and
• the arm is disposed along a lower surface of the wing section and is fixed to the lower surface.