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This study describes the research-to-operations process leading to a recent change in tropical cyclone (TC) reconnaissance sampling patterns as well as observing-system experiments that evaluated the impact of that change on numerical weather prediction model forecasts of TCs. A valuable part of this effort was having close, multipronged connections between the TC research and operational TC prediction communities at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Related to this work, NOAA's Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) and National Hurricane Center (NHC) have a long history of close collaboration to improve TC reconnaissance. Similar connections between AOML and NOAA's Environmental Modeling Center (EMC) also laid a foundation for the observing-system experiments conducted here. More specifically, AOML and NHC collaborated in 2018 to change how NHC uses NOAA's Gulfstream-IV (G-IV) jet during TC synoptic surveillance missions. That change added a second circumnavigation at approximately 1.5° from TC centers, when possible. Preliminary experiments suggest that the change improved track forecasts, though the intensity results are more mixed. Despite the somewhat small sample size over a 3-yr period, the track improvement does agree with prior work. This effort has led to additional work to more fully examine G-IV sampling strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemistry of the global ocean is rapidly changing due to the uptake of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2). This process, commonly referred to as ocean acidification (OA), is negatively impacting many marine species and ecosystems. In this study, we combine observations in the global surface ocean collected by NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory and Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory scientists and their national and international colleagues over the last several decades, along with model outputs, to provide a high-resolution, regionally varying view of global surface ocean carbon dioxide fugacity, carbonate ion content, total hydrogen ion content, pH on total scale, and aragonite and calcite saturation states on selected time intervals from 1961 to 2020. We discuss the major roles played by air-sea anthropogenic CO2 uptake, warming, local upwelling processes, and declining buffer capacity in controlling the spatial and temporal variability of these parameters. These changes are occurring rapidly in regions that would normally be considered OA refugia, thus threatening the protection that these regions provide for stocks of sensitive species and increasing the potential for expanding biological impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2017, NTNU's Applied Underwater Robotics Laboratory has been developing an infrastructure for remote marine/subsea operations in Trondheim Fjord. The infrastructure, named the OceanLab subsea node, allows remote experimentation for three groups of assets: seabed infrastructure, surface or subsea vehicles/robots, and assets at remote experimentation sites. To achieve this task, a shoreside control room serves as a hub that enables efficient and diverse communication with assets in the field as well as with remote participants/operators. Remote experimentation has become more popular in recent years due to technological developments and convenience, the COVID-19 pandemic, and travel restrictions that were imposed. This situation has shown us that physical presence at the experimentation site is not necessarily the only option. Sharing of the infrastructure among different experts, which are geographically distributed, but participating in a single, local, real-time experiment, increases the level of expertise available and the efficiency of the operations. This paper also elaborates on the development of a virtual experimentation environment that includes simulators and digital twins of various marine vehicles, infrastructures, and the operational marine environment. By leveraging remote and virtual experimentation technologies, users and experts can achieve relevant results in a shorter time frame and at a reduced cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internal solitary waves are commonly present in global oceans, and these waves encounter submarine ridges during their propagation, resulting in breaking. In this study, a two-layer fluid model and the gravity collapsing method were used to simulate the breaking process of internal solitary waves encountering submarine ridges in the laboratory, and particle image velocimetry was used to monitor the flow field. Based on the different roles of motion mechanisms in the wave-breaking process, the breaking types were classified. Moreover, the relationship between the topography, the initial parameters of internal solitary waves, and the breaking types was studied, and the movement parameters during the wave-breaking process were analyzed. The experiments showed that the Iribarren number and Bisw parameter proposed based on the gentle slope breaking process could not effectively classify the breaking types when internal solitary waves encountered submarine ridges because the permeability of the submarine ridges was different from that of gentle slopes, which significantly affected the motion mechanism during the breaking process. The movement parameter γ clearly reflected the roles of different motion mechanisms during the wave-breaking process. Another parameter δ established the relationship between the motion mechanisms and the topography and initial wave parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of BSGF: Earth Sciences Bulletin is the property of EDP Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This review of French research on fisheries in the Northwest Atlantic first summarizes the history of the access rights of the French fleets to the fishing grounds of this area, then the evolution of the fisheries management systems. The focus then shifts toward French fishery research from the beginning of the 20th century. Four major periods are described to characterize the objectives of this research, its implementation, and its results. The first French scientific studies of fisheries in the Davis Strait, Newfoundland, and Nova Scotia banks by fishery support vessels date back to the 19th century. These studies intensified from the middle of the 20th century with the deployment of dedicated research vessels, especially from 1970 with the establishment of a research laboratory and an oceanographic vessel in Saint-Pierre and Miquelon (SPM). These assets, a close collaboration with laboratories in Canada and the United States, and participation in the work of the regional fisheries commission (ICNAF/NAFO) enabled the teams in SPM to develop and perform innovative research. However, the delimitation in 1992 of the EEZ in Canada and around SPM and the depletion of the main fish stocks dealt a severe blow to the French fisheries in this region, causing France to review its research strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Complexities of acoustic propagation in ducts have long been known, e.g., shallow water environments and deep waters off Gibraltar. The "Beaufort Lens" (Lens) is a duct north of Alaska with nominal depths between 60 and 200 m and is reachable by oceanographic instruments and underwater unmanned vehicles and submarines. Propagation within the ducts is governed by waveguide physics. The frequencies must be high enough to support the modes within them such that there is a "critical frequency" (CF) where modes start to "detach" from surface loss mechanisms. Therefore, transmission losses (TLs) can abruptly decrease once a mode "fits" within a duct. This paper describes an experimental part of Ice Exercise 2018 supported by the U.S. Navy's Arctic Submarine Laboratory. The signals were transmitted from Camp Sargo north of Prudhoe Bay to the submarines SSN Hartford, SSN Connecticut, and HMS Trenchant. The data indicate low TLs near 100 Hz and an abrupt 10 dB decrease in TLs 244–280 Hz, both suggesting CFs. Modeling suggests CFs for modes 1 near 100 Hz and a higher CF when modes 3–6 "cascade" into the Lens starting near 250 Hz. There are also abrupt increases in TLs at other frequencies, which are explained by nulls in the product of the mode functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Processing of three different kinds of drifters to extract the geostrophic component. • The use of drifters leads to a higher improvement than an additional altimeter. • Improvement is of 1% in SLA and 10% in meridional velocities. • Both components of the velocity vector have similar accuracy. Knowledge of ocean surface geostrophic circulation has been greatly improved due to satellite observations. However, it is essential to use different observation sources (satellites and in situ data) in order to improve accuracy and resolution. This study combines along-track Sea Level Anomalies (SLA) with geostrophic velocity estimated from surface drifters to map SLA and associated geostrophic current anomalies in the Gulf of Mexico. Firstly, substantial pre-processing is needed on the drifter data to extract the geostrophic component of the signal in order to be consistent with the physical content provided by altimetry. This step includes estimating and removing the Ekman current, Stokes drift and wind slippage. Three kinds of drifters are used: – Drifters belonging to Woods Hole Group, a CLS Group company that launches their own drifters in the Gulf of Mexico. – Drifters launched in the framework of the Lagrangian Submesoscale ExpeRiment (LASER) campaign (January-April 2016). – Drifters from Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML). Secondly, drifters and along-track SLA from Jason2, HY2, SARAL and Cryosat-2 are combined through multivariate objective analysis to map a daily time series of SLA and associated geostrophic current anomalies from 01/09/2015 to 30/04/2016. Finally, comparisons with independent data reveal the improved agreement of maps combining both altimetry and drifter data, especially for the meridional component of geostrophic current. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A region of exceptionally high macrofaunal benthic biomass exists in Barrow Canyon, implying a carbon export process that is locally concentrated. Here we offer an explanation for this benthic "hotspot" using shipboard data together with a set of dynamical equations. Repeat occupations of the Distributed Biological Observatory transect in Barrow Canyon reveal that when the northward flow is strong and the density front in the canyon is sharp, plumes of fluorescence and oxygen extend from the pycnocline to the seafloor in the vicinity of the hotspot. By solving the quasi‐geostrophic omega equation with an analytical flow field fashioned after the observations, we diagnose the vertical velocity in the canyon. This reveals that, as the along stream flow converges into the canyon, it drives a secondary circulation cell with strong downwelling on the cyclonic side of the northward flow. The downwelling quickly advects material from the pycnocline to the seafloor in a vertical plume analogous to those seen in the observations. The plume occurs only when the phytoplankton reside in the pycnocline, since the near‐surface vertical velocity is weak, also consistent with the observations. Using a wind‐based proxy to represent the strength of the northward flow and hence the pumping, in conjunction with a satellite‐derived phytoplankton source function, we construct a time series of carbon supply to the bottom of Barrow Canyon. Plain Language Summary: In this study, we use shipboard occupations of a transect across Barrow Canyon in the northeast Chukchi Sea, together with a set of dynamical equations, to explain why exceptionally large concentrations of macrofauna are found on the seafloor there. The observations reveal that when the northward flow through the canyon is strong and a sharp cross‐canyon density contrast is present, plumes of phytoplankton extend from the middle of the water column to the seafloor in the vicinity of this benthic "hotspot." Using an idealized representation of the canyon flow, we solve the equations for the vertical velocity. This reveals that, as the northward flow accelerates through the canyon, strong downward velocities quickly transfer the phytoplankton to the bottom—in line with the observations. Since the strength of the current depends on the wind, we develop a proxy for the pumping using a nearby wind record. Using satellite data, we also construct a record of the amount of phytoplankton entering the canyon. Together, this provides an estimate of the food supply to the bottom of Barrow Canyon. Key Points: Shipboard transects across Barrow Canyon reveal vertical plumes of fluorescence and oxygen extending to the bottom when the flow is strongSolution of the quasi‐geostrophic omega equation reveals that downwelling on the cyclonic side of the current drives the plumesThis source of carbon to the seafloor can explain the enhanced levels of macrofaunal benthic biomass in the center of Barrow Canyon [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study describes biweekly (defined as periods between 10 and 15 days) ocean variability in relation to equatorial wave theory using a comprehensive set of moored ocean current velocities as well as satellite‐retrieved oceanic and atmospheric parameters in the Indian Ocean. Moored biweekly current velocities exhibit the meridional structure of mixed Rossby‐gravity waves: Symmetric for meridional velocity and antisymmetric for zonal velocity around the equator with a decay scale of 228–309 km. The biweekly meridional velocity along the equator has average zonal and vertical wavelengths of 3,430 ± 550 km and 0.76 ± 0.15 km, respectively, with phase propagating westward at speeds of 2.8–3.1 m s−1 and upward at 54–56 m day−1. Conversely, wave energy is inferred to propagate eastward and downward. The range of best fit constants (1.4–2.0 m s−1) that result from the linear separation of horizontal and vertical wave structures suggests the second baroclinic wave mode is dominant over other low baroclinic modes in accounting for the velocity variability. The biweekly waves are forced by surface winds; satellite‐derived wind stress, sea level, and surface current anomalies, regressed against the first principal component of the biweekly moored velocities, illustrate the basin‐scale structure and temporal evolution of the waves. Plain Language Summary: An extensive set of moored ocean current velocities permits evaluation of the three‐dimensional flow field properties, dynamics, and energetics of biweekly waves in the Indian Ocean. We determine, for the first time, the meridional structure of the biweekly flow field from the multiyear in situ measurements and demonstrate that it is dynamically consistent with that of Rossby‐gravity waves, with zonal velocity being antisymmetric and meridional velocity being symmetric about the equator. Our analysis finds that the waves have a decay scale of 228–309 km away from the equator in the meridional direction, a zonal wavelength of 3,430 ± 550 km, and vertical wavelength of 0.76 ± 0.15 km. Phase propagates westward at speeds of 2.8–3.1 m s−1 and upward at 54–56 m day−1, while wave energy flux is eastward and downward. A combination of moored velocities and satellite‐derived data illustrates the basin‐scale structure and temporal evolution of the waves in the Indian Ocean. Key Points: Biweekly variations are prominent in moored buoy velocity and satellite sea level measurements in the equatorial Indian OceanThe properties of these biweekly oscillations are consistent with wind‐forced mixed Rossby‐gravity wavesPhase propagation of the biweekly Rossby‐gravity waves is westward and upward while energy propagation is eastward and downward [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The article presents the results of new underwater and laboratory investigations carried out on a cargo of columns and blocks of Roman age from a shipwreck sunk off Capo Taormina (Sicily). The archaeometric analyses (powder XRD and OM with thin sections) indicate the use of marmor luculleum (africano) from the ancient Ionian town of Teos for the columns. The authors compare their results with the data obtained from the other two shipwrecks carrying the same marble sunk off the southern coast of France (Dramont I and Chrétienne M) together with abrasive materials (pumice and corundite [emery]), applying the relevant archaeometric analyses. A maritime traffic of the prestigious stone from Teos into the Central Mediterranean, combined with pumice (from Lipari?) and Naxian corundite – both used in the working of marble ‐ is here reconstructed for the first time. We also propose a date for the Taormina cargo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information on temporary rainfall history in the southeast of the Peninsula from September 11 to 15, 2019. It notes that the extraordinary rainfall registers, which exceeded 300 mm, arrived to be an absolute record of precipitation in a day at observatories with long series like Alcantarilla, Murcia, Cartagena, Orihuela and Ontinyent, among others with shorter series of data. It adds that the zones most affected were large areas of the Valencian Community.

Regular biological observations of the deep sea bottom fauna are very important for understanding the role benthic biota plays in ocean ecosystems. Temporal variability in macrobenthos structure is usually studied in terms of general community characteristics including density, biomass and diversity. In this investigation, we also focused on the species composition and their individual characteristics in terms of temporal dynamics. The deep-sea macrofauna was studied based on the material collected in the Eastern Fram Strait during two expeditions in July-August 2003 and July 2012. Stations were taken at depths of about 2500 m at the deep-sea observatory using the USNEL box corer (0.25 m2). Three stations at varying distances were sampled in 2003 (three cores per station). In 2012, the same stations were resampled with an additional station taken close to the central HAUSGARTEN permanent sampling site (one core per station). No significant changes in the total density and biomass were found between the two sampling events. However, the density of several common species has changed significantly (e.g. densities of Mendicula ockelmanni and Chaetozone cf. jubata have increased). Four species out of total 64 were unique for the 2003 samples, while six species out of 52 were unique for 2012 samples. The absence of several particular species in the samples from the different years is estimated to be not random: the number of samples required to find these species was less than the number of samples collected. The differences in time between the very same stations exceeded the inner spatial heterogeneity of each of the three stations. However, the spatial heterogeneity within the scale of 20-25 km exceeded the temporal differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sea level anomalies (SLAs) derived from satellite observations (over a period of 22 years) and tide gauge data compiled from 66 stations from the eastern Indian Ocean and South China Sea (SCS) and western Pacific Ocean have been analyzed to study the interannual to long term variation of SLAs in the eastern Indian Ocean and SCS. Spatial patterns of sea level variability on the eastern boundary of the Indian Ocean exhibit non-coherent variability with SCS but show coherent variability with western Pacific Ocean. We find coherent variability in interannual SLAs in the Bay of Bengal, Andaman Sea, Malacca Strait and Java Strait. A large fraction of interannual SLA variations in the eastern SCS and interior SCS is linked to El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and rest of the region is characterized by small scale interannual variations. The interannual SLAs in the SCS show seasonality with pronounced variation during winter and fall seasons. Interannual surface wind anomalies associated with Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) and ENSO explain sea level interannual variability in the eastern Indian Ocean and SCS. The decadal sea level variability associated with Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) and decadal ENSO are observed in the SCS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utö Atmospheric and Marine Research Station is located on Utö Island (59°46'50 N, 21°22'23 E) at the outer edge of the Archipelago Sea, Baltic Sea towards the Baltic Sea Proper. Meteorological observations at the island started in 1881 and vertical profiling of sea water temperature and salinity in 1900. In this study, we analyze long-term changes of atmospheric temperature, cloudiness and sea salinity, temperature and ice cover. Our main dataset consists of 248 367 atmospheric temperature observations, 1632 quality assured vertical seawater temperature and salinity profiles and 8565 ice maps, partly digitized for this project. We also use North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and Major Baltic Inflow (MBI) data from the literature as reference variables to our data. Our analysis is based on statistical method utilizing dynamic linear model. The results show an increase in the atmospheric temperature at Utö, but the increase is significantly smaller than on land areas and takes place only since early 1980's, with a rate of 0.4 °C/decade during the last 35 years. We also see an increase on sea water temperatures, especially on the surface, with an increase of 0.3 °C/decade for the last 100 years. In deeper water layers the increase is smaller and influenced by vertical mixing, which is modulated by inflow of saline water from the North Sea and fresh water inflow. Date when air temperature in the spring exceeds +5 °C has become 5 days earlier from the period 1951-1980 to period 1981-2010 and date when sea surface water temperature exceed +4 °C has changed 9 days earlier. Sea ice cover duration at Utö shows a decrease of approximately 50 % during the last 35 years. Based on the combined results, it is possible that the climate at Utö may have changed into a new phase, in which ice do not reduce the local effects of global temperature increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Hydrographic Surveying & Charting / Haiyang Cehui is the property of Hydrographic Surveying & Charting Editorial Board and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In the late 19th century, there was a bloom of public aquariums throughout Europe. Some of them were built for entertainment purposes, whereas others were connected to marine science stations. This article explores the origins and development of the aquarium/marine research station Vasco da Gama (Portugal) as an example of this duality. Initially, the aquarium was created in 1898 by the Portuguese Society of Geography, in a political context of national affirmation. In the first years, a deficient establishment, lack of financial resources, and scarce technical knowledge contributed for its degradation. Therefore, the Navy took over the aquarium in the early 1900s, delivering its management some years later to the Portuguese Society of Natural Sciences. After improvements and modifications, it became one of the first marine biological stations in 1919. This was important for the development of national marine science research at a time of scarce resources. Despite many years of a symbiotic relation between science research and dissemination, the demolition of part of the aquarium/marine station due to a road construction in 1940 brought issues of disequilibrium between both functions. This eventually led to the separation of aquarium and marine station in 1950. Other themes such as connections to national and international institutions are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four cruises were conducted in Jiaozhou Bay from January to November in 2008 to study carbon monoxide (CO) distribution, diurnal variation, seasonal variation, and sea-to-air flux. Surface water CO concentration exhibited strong diurnal variations at an anchor station in both April and November, with highest CO concentration 3–5 times higher than minimum values. Diurnal variation (sampling time) exerts an overall pattern on CO distribution, spatially distributed factors impose extra influence. High CO concentrations and fluxes were observed in the eastern, northern, and western parts of the bay, which are close to areas of estuaries, dense population, and high industrialization, reflecting the impact of human activities on CO distribution. Both surface water CO concentrations and sea-to-air fluxes showed seasonal variations, with the highest values in summer and the lowest values in winter. Sea-to-air CO flux in Jiaozhou Bay ranged from 0 to 34.66 μmol m − 2 d − 1 with a mean flux of 4.96 μmol m − 2 d − 1 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This compilation presents a historical synthesis of the studies carried out (publications, thesis, monogrphs) on the zooplankton in the Bay of Mochima, Sucre State, Venezuela. The Plankton Laboratory of the Institute of Zoology and Tropical Ecology (IZET) and the Zooplankton Laboratory of the Venezuelan Oceanographic Institute (IOV) have carried out numerous studies of the zooplankton community, in which they emphasize taxonomic and ecological aspects including the effects of upwelling events. Among these, the level of information is very uneven. A list of zooplankton composition and richness is presented. The holoplankton components include jellyfish (19 species), siphonophores (5 species), copepods (75 species), cladocerans (4 species), chaetognatha (3 species), holoplanktonic mollusks (2 species), mysidacea (2 species), appendicularians (16 species). Within the meroplankton are larvae of decapod crustaceans, cirripedes and ichthyoplankton. In general, copepods were the most abundant group, with differences in upwelling events and represented the highest proportion of biomass. Temporal and spatial biomass fluctuations, zooplankton abundance and related physical and chemical variables were analyzed. However, the variables needed to estimate production, such as annual cycles and trophic relationships, have been poorly studied. Depending on the lack of information, the main problems were identified and recommendations for future research are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hull–propeller interaction of autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) in straight and oblique flow is numerically studied. The study is performed based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and the general commercial software ANSYS Workbench. The multiple reference frames (MRF) method and the shear stress transport (SST) k − ω turbulence model are adopted. Firstly, the drag of Suboff AUV and the open water performance of the Wageningen B-3-50 propeller are simulated numerically. The errors are all within 5%, validating the reliability of the method in this paper. Then, the Sailfish AUV and B-3-35 propeller developed by the Underwater Vehicle Laboratory (UVL) of Ocean University of China are simulated. The maximum incremental drag produced by the appendages reaches even more than 1.5 times the hull drag. Propeller rotation causes an additional hull drag increment of over 25%. With an inlet velocity of 1.5 m/s, the thrust and torque behind the bare hull increase by 16.7% and 6.4%, respectively. The effect of angle of attack on drag is more significant at high velocity. Finally, the numerical simulation result 1.825 m/s and experimental result 1.75 m/s are compared. This study has implications for guidance on AUV integration analysis. • The hull–propeller interaction of autonomous underwater vehicle in straight and oblique flow is numerically studied. • The wake changes the propulsion performance of the propeller while the propeller modifies the pressure distribution. • The self-propulsion point is predicted, and the wake fraction and thrust deduction factor are calculated. • The appendages seriously affect the flow distribution around the hull, and quantitative conclusions are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water transparency is a primary indicator of optical water quality that is driven by suspended particulate and dissolved material. A data set from the operational Time Series Station Spiekeroog located at a tidal inlet of the Wadden Sea was used to perform (i) an inter-comparison of observations related to water transparency, (ii) correlation tests among these measured parameters, and (iii) to explore the utility of both acoustic and optical tools in monitoring water transparency. An Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler was used to derive the backscatter signal in the water column. Optical observations were collected using above-water hyperspectral radiometers and a submerged turbidity metre. Bio-fouling on the turbidity sensors optical windows resulted in measurement drift and abnormal values during quality control steps. We observed significant correlations between turbidity collected by the submerged metre and that derived from abovewater radiometer observations. Turbidity from these sensors was also associated with the backscatter signal derived from the acoustic measurements. These findings suggest that both optical and acoustic measurements can be reasonable proxies of water transparency with the potential to mitigate gaps and increase data quality in long-time observation of marine environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intercomparison of trace metal data is a key aspect of the International GEOTRACES program, allowing data from multiple laboratories and countries to be combined to produce high-resolution datasets for the oceans. The use of crossover stations by the GEOTRACES program provides the opportunity both for comparison of analytical techniques and assessment of temporal variability in the cycling of trace metals such as iron (Fe). Here, we present the first comparison of dissolved Fe stable isotope ratio (δ 56 Fe; relative to IRMM-014) profiles in the oceans, from reoccupations of three locations in the Atlantic Ocean; (1) the Bermuda Atlantic Time Series station (31.75°N 64.17°W) during the US GEOTRACES IC1 cruise (June 2008) and the US GEOTRACES GA03 cruise (Nov. 2011); (2) the Tenatso Time Series station near Cape Verde (17.4°N 24.5°W) during the U.S GEOTRACES GA03 cruises (2010; 2011), and (3) a station in the Cape Basin close to South West Africa (31.1–31.4°S 36.5°W) during the French GEOTRACES GIPY4 Bonus Good Hope Cruise (Feb. 2008) and the UK GEOTRACES GA10 D357 cruise (Oct. 2010). These datasets provided us with the opportunity not only to compare sampling and analysis techniques by two different laboratories (USC and LEGOS), but also the temporal variability of δ 56 Fe at these locations on a 1–3 year timescale. We found that a good agreement between data and profiles generated by different laboratories does allow assessment of temporal variation of δ 56 Fe in the water column, as well as spatial variability and synthesis of datasets from different regions of the ocean. In fact, comparison of δ 56 Fe at the three locations in this study demonstrates a remarkable consistency between the shapes of ocean δ 56 Fe profiles measured 1–3 years apart, pointing to the overall stability of Fe cycling at all three locations on these timescales, despite the expected dynamic nature of the Fe cycle. This consistency is highlighted by strong agreement in δ 56 Fe throughout the whole water-column at Bermuda, and in waters deeper than 500 m in the Cape Basin, which suggests that different water masses may carry distinct δ 56 Fe signatures. In contrast to these stable δ 56 Fe, we did observe apparent temporal variability in δ 56 Fe between cruises at other locations and in surface waters, both throughout the water column at Cape Verde, and in Agulhas-leakage influenced surface waters in the Cape Basin. Such temporal variability may thus provide information about changes in internal Fe cycling or external Fe sources on these timescales. Overall, this study highlights the usefulness of repeat δ 56 Fe measurements to provide information on the variability of Fe cycling throughout the oceans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most oceanographic instruments on the seafloor have no connections with the surface and therefore have to run on batteries and store data until recovery. To demonstrate a developing technology, sensors and acoustic modems were powered with energy harvested from the seafloor, and data were relayed acoustically in near-real time to the Monterey Accelerated Research System (MARS) observatory in Monterey Bay, California, and to surface research vessels. MARS is a cabled observatory in deep water (~890 m) at the edge of Monterey Canyon. An acoustic modem was attached to the MARS node and configured to send out commands to, and relay data received from, remote modems. Two benthic microbial fuel cells (BMFCs) positioned approximately 0.5 km away from MARS supplied power to the remote modems and sensors. At their peak performance, these BMFCs produced continuous power densities of ~35 mW m−2 (footprint area). The modems utilized in this study contained an integrated power management platform (PMP) designed to manage and store the electrical energy generated by each BMFC and to record BMFC performance parameters and sensor data on an hourly basis. Temperature and either oxygen or conductivity sensors were chosen because of their common use and environmental relevance. Acoustically transmitted data records show that the BMFCs renewed energy stores and that the oceanographic sensors measured dissolved oxygen, temperature, and conductivity reliably throughout the operational life of each BMFC system (~6 months). These systems remained in place for more than 12 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was measured weekly in five coastal upwelling Galician rías (Ría de Vigo, Ría de Pontevedra, Ría de Arousa, Ría de Muros and Ría de Ares–Betanzos) and the first decadal DOC series was examined in these rías. The temporal variability of DOC was assessed by considering biweekly values at 10 oceanographic stations for the decade 2002–2011. Seasonal variability in surface DOC concentrations was observed, with higher values (101 ± 8 μmol L − 1 ; average ± STD) during the accumulation period (DOC b ; May–October) in all inner and outer stations. During the rest of the year (DOC c ; November–April) surface DOC concentrations decreased to 88 ± 6 μmol L − 1 . The temporal distribution of DOC and temperature were comparable, with a marked seasonal variability, suggesting that the temperature was the main proxy for DOC. The average decadal seasonal increase in surface DOC (ΔDOCs = DOC b − DOC c ) was between 7 and 18 μmol L − 1 for all stations. The interannual variability of surface DOC ranged between 0 and 18 μmol L − 1 ; 0 and 11% of the average DOC of each station. Decadal DOC trends were slightly positive in middle-inner areas of the Rías Baixas (Ría de Vigo, Ría de Pontevedra, Ría de Arousa and Ría de Muros) in agreement with positive temperature trends. The outer area of the Rías Baixas showed positive DOC trends in the stations of Ría de Vigo and Ría de Arousa and negative DOC trends in the stations of Ría de Pontevedra and Ría de Muros, although temperature presented positive trends in these four stations. The Ría de Ares–Betanzos exhibited negative trends in DOC and temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides analysis and substantiation of scientific efficiency of diving and laboratory hyperbaric methods and technologies for oceanologic research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inclusion of behavioral components in the analysis of a community can be of paramount importance in marine ecology. Diel (i.e., 24-h based), seasonal activity rhythms, or longer durational in behavioral responses can result in shifts in populations, and therefore on measurable abundances. Here, we review the value of developing cabled video observatory technology for the remote, long-term, and high-frequency monitoring of fish and their environments in coastal temperate areas. We provide details on the methodological requirements and constraints for the appropriate measurement of fish behavior over various seasonal scales (24 h, seasonal, annual) with camera systems mounted at fixed observatory locations. We highlight the importance of using marine sensors to simultaneously collect relevant environmental data in parallel to image data acquisition. Here we present multiparametric video, oceanographic, and meteorological data collected from the Mediterranean observatory platform, OBSEA (; 20 m water depth). These data are reviewed in relation to ongoing and future developments of cabled observatory science. Two key approaches for the future improvement of cabled observatory technology are: (1) the application of Artificial Intelligence to aid in the analysis of increasingly large, complex, and highly interrelated biological and environmental data sets, and (2) the development of geographical observational networks to enable the reliable spatial analysis of observed populations over extended distances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author highlights the lesser-known legacy of Project Sealab II, the experimental underwater habitat developed by the U.S. Navy that was launched in 1965. Topics discussed include the viability of saturation diving, the capability of humans to live on and to explore the continental shelves as a free-ranging agent, and the key personalities who contributed to the success of the project such as Captain George F. Bond, Captain Wlater F. Mazzone, and aquanaut Scott Carpenter.

Seafloor observatories enable long term, continuous and multidisciplinary observations, promising major breakthroughs in marine environment research. The effort to remotely control in situ multidisciplinary equipment performing individual and cooperative tasks is both a challenge and a guarantee for the stable operations of functional observatories. With China starting to establish ocean observatory sensor networks, in this study we describe a monitoring system for cabled observatories in the East China Sea (ESOMS) that enables this effort in a plug and play way. An information oriented monitoring architecture for ESOMS was first introduced, derived from a layered control model for ocean observatory sensor network. The architecture contained three components and enabled bidirectional information flow of observation data and commands, based on which architecture components were designed to enable plug-and-play control within related model layers. A control method enabled by general junction box (GJB) and ocean sensor markup language (OSML) was thus proposed as the plug-and-play solution for implementing ESOMS. The GJB-OSML enabled control method (GOE Control Method) mainly actualized two processes, one of which was that the in situ GJB interfaced and represented every attached sensor as a Sensing Endpoint in the cabled observatory network. The other process was that the remote ESOMS utilized the same IP/Port related information modeled by OSML to create/operate a Function Node acted as agent of the in situ sensor. A case study for using ESOMS in the Xiaoqushan Seafloor Observatory was finally presented to prove its performance and applicability. Given this successful engineering trial, the ESOMS design and implementation could be applicable and beneficial for similar efforts in future construction of seafloor observatory network both at home and abroad. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distribution of hydrogen peroxide was determined at 28 stations in four transects across the No rthern So uth C hina Sea S helf-sea (NoSoCS) in June 2010. The average concentration in the top 10 m ranged between 0.063 and 0.231 µM. Among the hydrographic regimes: the inner shelf outside the influence of upwelling, the inner shelf under the influence of upwelling, the middle shelf, the outer shelf and the open South China Sea, the highest concentration was found in the day-time in the inner shelf outside of the influence of upwelling and the lowest concentration was found in the night-time in the inner shelf under the influence of upwelling. The average concentration at the day-time stations in each hydrographic regime was invariably higher than the corresponding concentration at the night-time stations. Across the shelf, the concentration was the highest in the inner shelf. The variations in the concentrations of hydrogen peroxide and total organic carbon (TOC) in the different hydrographic regimes followed a similar pattern. All these behaviors are consistent with the photochemical production of hydrogen peroxide, using dissolved organic matter as the chromophore, as a primary control on its occurrence in the surface waters. Moreover, at day-time stations at different locations in the NoSoCS and at a single location sampled through the day, the relationship between the concentration of hydrogen peroxide and the product of the concentration of TOC and the time-integrated irradiance at the time of sample collection fell on two distinct linear lines with different slopes and intercepts: one for mostly the inner and middle shelf waters and the other for mostly the water in the open northern SCS. These relationships suggest that the light history, the pre-existing concentration of hydrogen peroxide, and, the concentration and the photochemical efficiency of the dissolved organic matter in the production of hydrogen peroxide play major roles in determining the temporal and spatial variations in the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the surface waters in the day-time. In the sub-surface, a notably large fraction, about one-third, of the profiles of hydrogen peroxide did not follow the typical distribution of a quasi-exponential decrease in concentration with depth. Almost all the profiles at the stations in the slope where the internal waves were most active were atypical. At these stations, the concentration of hydrogen peroxide was generally elevated down to about 100 m, well beyond the depths where solar irradiance was plentiful. Superimposed on these elevated concentrations was a persistent sub-surface maximum, with concentrations reaching about 0.5 µM, at 80 m. While the origin of these atypical distributions is not yet clear, dark biological production and the action of internal waves conceivably could have contributed to their occurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rigorous and comprehensive verification of communication-based software is an important engineering challenge in distributed systems. Drawn from our industrial collaborations (Ocean Observatories Initative, , JBoss Savara Project, ) on Scribble, a choreography description language based on multiparty session types, and its theoretical foundations (Honda et al., in POPL, pp 273-284, ), this article proposes a dynamic verification framework for structured interruptible conversation programming. We first present our extension of Scribble to support the specification of asynchronously interruptible conversations. We then implement a concise API for conversation programming with interrupts in Python that enables session types properties to be dynamically verified for distributed processes. Finally, we expose the underlying theory of our interrupt mechanism, studying its syntax and semantics, its integration in MPST theory and proving the correctness of our design. Our framework ensures the global safety of a system in the presence of asynchronous interrupts through independent runtime monitoring of each endpoint, checking the conformance of the local execution trace to the specified protocol. The usability of our framework for describing and verifying choreographic communications has been tested by integration into the large scientific cyberinfrastructure developed by the Ocean Observatories Initiative. Asynchronous interrupts have proven expressive enough to represent and verify their main classes of communication patterns, including asynchronous streaming and various timeout-based protocols, without introducing any implicit synchronisations. Benchmarks show conversation programming and monitoring can be realised with little overhead. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies reporting processes that may shape marine benthic communities under the seasonal scale are rare at depths >50 m. In this study, the use of the VENUS multidisciplinary cabled observatory provided 2-month high-resolution data combining quantitative biology and environmental data in Saanich Inlet, a seasonally hypoxic fjord located on Vancouver Island (British Columbia, Canada). An ecological module equipped with a camera acquired a 3 min video clip every half hour during 2 months at 97 m depth in the oxygen fluctuation zone of the fjord. Results highlighted the role of the tidal cycle on species activity rhythms and confirmed the influence of oxygen fluctuations on benthic assemblage structure and species behaviour. However, environmental variables considered only explained a small proportion of the total variance in species data. This study demonstrates how seafloor observatories can be used to study species behaviour and community dynamics in relation to abiotic conditions by providing continuous access to multidisciplinary data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canada's ocean science community which includes the federal government, academia, small businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and other research partners, collect and synthesize physical, chemical and biological ocean observations. This information is used for discovery research purposes, to model ocean changes and provide environmental assessment advice, support resource management decision-making, and establish baseline data for long-term monitoring. Canada's ocean community collects large amounts of data but, aside from building comprehensive ocean observatories (Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) et al. 2010), there is no easy mechanism to integrate data from various sources to allow the exploration of interrelationships among variables, and no coordination and collaboration mechanism for the ocean community as a whole to generate an efficient system (Ocean Science and Technology Partnership (OSTP) and for Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) 2011). Consequently, we observe fragmented and isolated data -- which may never be used outside of a specific project because it is not discoverable by other potential end users. Canada's ocean science community (Wallace et al. 2014), led and supported by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), is advancing the development of a Canadian Integrated Ocean Observation System (CIOOS) that brings together and leverages existing Canadian and international ocean observation data into a federated data system which will generate value for users. This integrated ocean observing system (Wilson et al. 2016) will improve coordination and collaboration among diverse data producers, improve access to information for decision making, and enable discovery and access to data to support a wide variety of applied and theoretical research efforts to better understand, monitor, and manage activities in Canada's oceans. Conceptual discussions on CIOOS have taken place with Environment and Climate Change Canada, Natural Resources Canada, the Department of National Defence, DFO, and the academic and NGO sector. Work is underway on four closely-linked projects to move CIOOS from the concept stage to the design stage, covering key areas required to develop a robust and integrated observing system: 1. Governance; 2. Data and observations; 3. Cyber Infrastructure; and, 4. Visualization tools. The project teams are evaluating the current ocean observing landscape in Canada (what exists, who has it, and what state is it in), the standards followed, and the gaps, limits or barriers to setting up an integrated ocean observing system. From this they will develop a list of recommendations to support the implementation of CIOOS, which will include which standards to use, the resources required (FTE, capital investment, capabilities), and the best practices to follow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the locating capability for offshore earthquakes and tsunamis monitored off northeastern Taiwan, a cable-based ocean bottom seismographic observatory named 'Marine Cable Hosted Observatory' (MACHO) was constructed and began operation at the end of 2011. The installed instruments of the observatory include a broadband seismometer, a strong-motion seismometer and a pressure gauge. In addition, various scientific instruments could be deployed for other purposes as well. At present, the seismic data are transmitted in real-time via a fiber cable, and integrated into the current inland seismographic network in Taiwan. The ocean bottom station has contributed to provide high quality seismic data already. According to observations from January 2012 to June 2013, there were a total of 15,168 earthquakes recorded by the system. By using the data from the ocean bottom station, the number of relocated earthquakes with an azimuth gap less than 180 degrees substantially increase about 34 %. Meanwhile, the root-mean-square of the time residual, the error in epicenter, and the error in depth of the earthquake locations decrease. Therefore, the implementation of MACHO has the advantage of extending the coverage of existing the Taiwan seismic network to the offshore, providing more accurate and real-time seismic data for offshore earthquakes monitoring. The results show that MACHO is crucial and necessary for monitoring seismic activities in northeastern Taiwan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines political and legal debates about the economic exploitation and strategic significance of the international seabed in the mid-twentieth century. The author particularly focuses on the development of underwater laboratories in the context of the overall policies of the United States and West Germany with regard to international waters. Issues discussed include proposals for the internationalization of the sea and the seabed in the context of the Cold War, the history of oceanography and government aid to it, and the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea.

Abstract: In this study we have performed a baseline characterisation of sediment properties in four depositional areas of the Ingøydjupet trough in order to investigate the sediment transport and deposition by ocean currents in the SW Barents Sea. Sedimentation rates, by the 210Pb method, were 1.0–2.4mm/yr and decreasing with distance offshore. Stronger and more variable bottom currents associated with the Norwegian coastal current operate nearshore based on the down-core distribution of sortable silt ( ) and sediment fractions (clay and silt). These nearshore stations exhibit a trend of decreasing fine sediment supplies and increasing sand content toward present day. The most stable bottom currents are associated with the farthest offshore station which is under the influence of the North Atlantic Current as indicated by the distribution of ( ) and also higher TOC contents (0.6–0.9%) compared to nearshore stations (0.4–0.8%). These baseline findings are of relevance for the petroleum industry in planning environmental assessment and monitoring programs connected to the future expansion of industry activities in this region. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Macrofouling is a common problem when deploying underwater instrumentation for long periods of time. It is a problem which can effect scientific experiments and monitoring missions though the creation of artificial reefs (thus increasing local biological activity) and reduce the quality of scientific data. Macrofouling is an issue typically considered to be restricted to the photic zones and is absent or negligible in the deep sea. To the contrary, the recovery of an accidentally lost deep-sea lander after 3 years submergence at 3960m on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (North Atlantic) revealed dense colonisation of macrofouling organisms. These organisms were found attached to all surfaces of the lander regardless of orientation and materials. The occurrence of such deep-sea macrofouling should be carefully investigated given the recent developments in long-term deep-sea observatory networks. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

ABSTRACT A 10-km long extension using power-over-fiber technology and dedicated to sea floor observatories is presented with a particular focus on the electrical both ends units. We propose a solution using a serial peripheral interface 3 wires protocol for large range of low-power sensors like hydrophones. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 55:2562-2568, 2013 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Natural Ocean Engineering Laboratory (NOEL) of the Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria, Italy, is the first ocean engineering laboratory working in the field. A peculiarity of the lab is that a local wind from NNW often generates sea states consisting of pure wind waves that represent a small scale model, in Froude similarity, of ocean storms. Significant wave height ranges between 0.20 m and 0.80 m, with peak periods between 2.0 s and 3.6 s. This local wind is very stable and sometimes stays steady from morning to evening. The tidal amplitude is very small (typically within 0.10 m). The physical structure was built after the successful experience of some initial small-scale field experiments directed by Professor Paolo Boccotti since 1989. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a need to explore ocean basin in order to support the Earth's life support system. The topics discussed include the concept of long term remotely operated ocean observatories, difficulty of mapping ocean basins with the help of electromagnetic radiation and four-dimensional telepresence over entire volume of ocean. Also discussed is the requirement of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV) to explore sea floor.

Abstract: Hyperspectral remote-sensing reflectance (Rrs) from above-surface (ir)radiance measurements is derived using a new, automated method that is suitable for use on moving platforms. The sensors are mounted on a rotating platform that compensates for changing solar and ship azimuth angles, optimizing the sensor azimuth for minimal contribution of sky radiance to measured water-leaving radiance. This sea-surface reflectance (ρs ) lies in the order of 2.5–8% of sky radiance, and is determined through spectral optimization, minimizing the propagation of atmospheric absorption features to Rrs. Up to 15 of these gas absorption features are frequently recognized in (ir)radiance spectra under clear and overcast skies. Rrs was satisfactorily reproduced for a wide range of simulated Case 2 waters and clear sky conditions. A set of 13,784 in situ measurements collected with optimized viewing angles on the high-absorption, low-scattering Baltic Sea was collected in April and July 2010–2011. The processing procedure yielded a 22% retrieval rate of ρs for the field data. The shape of the subsurface irradiance reflectance measurements (R(0−)) measured at anchor stations was well reproduced in above-surface Rrs in those cases where the algorithm converged on a solution for ρs , except under unstable or weak illumination conditions. Clear-sky conditions resulted in the best correspondence of Rrs and R(0−) and gave the highest (>50%) retrieval rates of ρs . Two indices, derived from the available sensor data, are given to describe illumination conditions, and are shown to predict the ability of the algorithm to retrieve Rrs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The deployment of coastal observatories motivates the development of acoustic inversion schemes able to characterize rapidly time-varying range-dependent environments. This paper develops feature models as parameterization schemes for the range-dependent temperature field, when the latter is mainly influenced by an identified oceanic feature, here thermal fronts. The feasibility of feature-oriented acoustic tomography (FOAT) is demonstrated in two cases of coastal thermal front known to occur regularly: the Ushant tidal front, France (48.5^\circ N, 5^\circ E), and the Cabo Frio coastal upwelling, Brazil (23^\circ S, 42^\circ W). Realistic scenarios simulated with regional circulation models provide typical environmental variations for testing the validity of the FOAT approach, with both global optimization and sequential filtering of the (synthetic) full-field acoustic data. Matched-field processing at multiple frequencies is used to reduce ambiguities between parameters and to achieve a good tradeoff between robustness and sensitivity. The proposed feature-model parameterization is shown to provide robust estimates of the 2-D temperature field even when the simulated environment presents smaller scale inhomogeneities. Moreover, the sequential filtering based on a random walk model of the thermal front parameters enables a stable tracking of typical temperature field variations along several days. This sequential approach is particularly convenient for continuous, long-term monitoring operated with bottom-moored ocean observatories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses some innovative approaches to ocean research as of 2013. The approach to ocean monitoring by the SmartBay observatory in Placentia Bay in Newfoundland, Canada is explained. The use of autonomous surface vehicles in ocean research is tackled. Another ocean data collection approach cited is the use of the so-called vessels of opportunity such as the Ship of Opportunity Programme by the International Oceanographic Commission and the World Meteorological Organization.

Abstract: Port Blair is the capital city of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, the union territory of India. More than 50% of the population of these islands lives around Port Blair Bay. Therefore the anthropogenic effects in the bay water were studied for monitoring purpose from seven stations. Physico-chemical parameters of seawater were analyzed in samples collected once in every 3months for 2years from seven sampling stations located in Port Blair Bay, South Andaman Island to evaluate the spatial and tidal variation. Cluster analysis and factor analysis were applied to the experimental data in an attempt to understand the sources of variation of physico-chemical parameters. In cluster analysis, the stations Junglighat Bay and Phoenix Bay having high anthropogenic influence formed a separate group. The factors obtained from factor analysis indicated that the parameters responsible for physico-chemical variations are mainly related to land run-off, sewage outfall and tidal flow. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A suite of physical–biological models was used to explore the importance of mortality and fluid dynamics in controlling concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) at Huntington Beach, CA. An advection–diffusion (AD) model provided a baseline to assess improvements in model skill with the inclusion of mortality. Six forms of mortality were modeled. All mortality models performed better than the AD model, especially at offshore sampling stations, where model skill increased from <0.18 to >0.50 (Escherichia coli) or <−0.14 to >0.30 (Enterococcus). Models including cross-shore variable mortality rates reproduced FIB decay accurately (p <0.05) at more stations than models without. This finding is consistent with analyses that revealed cross-shore variability in Enterococcus species composition and solar dose response. No best model was identified for Enterococcus, as all models including cross-shore variable mortality performed similarly. The best model for E. coli included solar-dependent and cross-shore variable mortality. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The distribution and abundance of dinoflagellate cysts in recent sediments from Visakhapatnam harbour, east coast of India was investigated and compared with sediment characteristics and physico-chemical variables of the overlying water column. The cyst abundance varied from 11 to 1218cystsg–1 dry sediment. Changes in the cyst assemblages from phototrophic to heterotrophic forms were observed from inner to outer harbour stations, and related to changes in environmental characteristics. Enhanced cyst production of potentially harmful dinoflagellate Protoceratium reticulatum was recorded in the inner harbour stations with higher nutrient concentrations. Protoperidinium cysts were the most diversified group, and were dominant in the outer harbour stations having improved water conditions and circulation. This study points out the potential use of dinoflagellate cyst populations in providing information on environmental conditions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The first cabled ocean observatories demonstrate the challenges, benefits, and opportunities for ocean science and commercial applications. NEPTUNE Canada's 800-km subsea infrastructure and 130 diverse instruments established the world's first regional cabled ocean observatory, northeast Pacific Ocean, off Canada's coast. Introducing abundant power and high bandwidth communications into coastal to abyssal environments allows discrimination between short- and long-term events, interactive experiments, real-time data and imagery, and multidisciplinary teams interrogating a vast database over 25 years. The principal scientific themes addressed through the NEPTUNE Canada infrastructure are: plate tectonic processes and earthquake dynamics; dynamic processes of seabed fluid fluxes and gas hydrates; regional ocean/climate dynamics and effects on marine biota; deep-sea ecosystem dynamics; and engineering and computational research. Resulting data can be applied to important science issues such as ocean/climate change, ocean acidification, natural hazards, and nonrenewable and renewable natural resources. Socioeconomic benefits include many applications in sovereignty, security, transportation, data services, and public policy. The Data Management and Archive System has largely been developed internally. It controls the observatory network and gives transparent access using interoperability techniques within a Web 2.0 environment. The principal challenges encountered during design, installation, and operations involve technical innovations, enlarging the user base, management, securing funding, maximizing educational/outreach, and commercialization opportunities. Cabled ocean observatories are progressively wiring the oceans. Expandable in footprint, nodes, instruments, and scientific questions, they provide testing technology facilities and generate new research opportunities and socioeconomic benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]