The infrastructure needed for a cabled underwater observatory system is complex and requires the cooperation of various institutes who have so far deployed cabled and autonomous stations successfully and their technology, already proven to be a success and the ones in the making. The use of such technology that has been under consideration and use in providing valuable data of physical, chemical and biological parameters along with the newer technologies would provide the much needed platform in the progress of such a huge and complex project like ESONET.

 

Links

 

» Bathysnap and Bathysnack » The DOBO lander (Deep Ocean Benthic Observatory) » The BOBO lander (Benthic Boundary Observatory) » Göteburg University landers » IFM-GEOMAR – Modular Lander Systems » Acoustic Linked Observatory » Satellite Linked Observatory » Cabled Observatory » Cabled multidisciplinary observatory

 

 

Definitions

 

SEAFLOOR OBSERVATORY

Unmanned station, capable to operate for long-term at seafloor, supporting the operation of a number of instrumented packages related to various disciplines.

 

INFRASTRUCTURE

Any system providing power and/or communication capacity to an observatory (e.g. a submarine cable,

a moored buoy, another observatory). An infrastructure may also serve as support for other instrumented packages.

 

INSTRUMENTED PACKAGE

Sensor or instrument devoted to a specific observation task. May be hosted inside the observatory, operated autonomously, directly connected to an infrastructure or placed in the vicinity of an observatory and interfaced to it (so having the observatory as its infrastructure).

 

AUTONOMOUS OBSERVATORY

Observatory not provided with any infrastructure for power/data connection, but featuring some other basic features characterizing a seafloor observatory.

 

ACOUSTIC LINKED OBSERVATORY

Observatory having as infrastructure an acoustic modem allowing data to be transmitted to a ship of opportunity, and adjacent observatory or a mooring equipped with a surface buoy providing a radio link to the shore or via a satellite.

 

SATELLITE LINKED OBSERVATORY

Observatory having an infrastructure of a cable to a surface buoys providing direct satellite telemetry to the shore.

 

CABLED OBSERVATORY

Observatory having a submarine cable as infrastructure, providing power and data links

 • Use retired cables

 • Use dedicated cables

 • Share cables devoted to other scientific activities (like Neutrino Experiments)

 

AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS can be deployed in the following ways:

 

1. Free-fall landers. - Negatively buoyant on deployment and free-fall to the sea floor. Recovered by release of ballast and buoyant ascent to the surface (e.g. Bathysnap, BOBO)

 

2. Passive Video Launcher - In this case the lander is lowered to the sea floor by a launcher on a cable. Real-time video telemetry up the cable to the ship allows the placing of the lander to be controlled by movement of the ship and timing of release. Recovery is as for free-fall landers (e.g. IFM-GEOMAR).

 

3. Video docking launcher with thrusters – The launcher in this instance has powered thrusters and can be manoeuvred over the sea floor for precise positioning and docking for recovery. (e.g. GEOSTAR).

 

4. Remotely Operated Vehicle. ROVs can deploy and recover instruments within the limits of their power and lifting capacity.