Search

Describes the oceanographic community's response to the recovery of the bio-optical multifrequency acoustical and physical environmental recovery (BIOMAPER), an oceanographic instrument lost at sea. Events leading to the loss of the BIOMAPER; Assistance from other oceanographic institutions.

Reports on the discussion of the British House of Common's Public Accounts Committee demands for answers, pertaining to the cost of Southampton Oceanography Centre in England. Background information on the Oceanography Centre; When Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) was given permission to merge with Institute of Oceanographic Sciences; Comments from John Krebs, chief executive of NERC.

Reports on the first round of research projects carried out by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Underwater Laboratory System-1. Interior description of the underwater laboratories; Reference to the other projects to be conducted by NOAA.

Reports on the activation of a scientific station named 'Amundsen-Scott South Pole' built by the United States as a replacement for the station built in 1956. Call for a rededication to the ideals of Antarctic Treaty by the U.S. President; Architectural structure and composition of the station; Geographic location of the station with regard to ice cap flow; Source of funding and maintenance.

The article offers news briefs related to marine monitoring worldwide. The Northeast Pacific Time-Series Undersea Networked Experiments (NEPTUNE) Canada installation team has completed the world's largest and most advanced cabled ocean observatory in October 2010. According to a research in an online edition of "Geophysical Research Letters," researchers looking at corals in the western tropical Pacific Ocean have found records showing thermocline rise in recent global warming.

The article offers updates related to environmental monitoring. It states that scientists from the Columbia University confirm the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico as the largest marine oil accident in the history of the U.S. The National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) launched the Community Earth System Model (CESM) for scientists to study climate change. It also states that an international team of scientists resurfaced after installing two observatories in the ocean floor.

The article offers news briefs related to hydrography in the U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Gary Locke cited 40 million dollars for hydrographic survey and chart projects. Commercial fisherman, mariners and coastal communities asked government officials to protect jobs and fisheries from ocean acidification. The National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Consortium for Ocean Leadership agreed to support the construction and operation of the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI).

The article reports on the completion of the first phase of installation of the new Northeast Pacific Time-series Undersea Networked Experiments (NEPTUNE) Canada ocean observatory in the western coast of Vancouver Island, Canada. NEPTUNE is the world's first regional cabled ocean observatory led by the University of Victoria. It will transmit data to shore, where they will be relayed to researchers, educational institutions and the public via the Internet.

The article reports on the arrival of scientists and first responders at the U.S. Coast Guard Station in Maui, Hawaii in November 2012 for the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The article looks at a research project launched by the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Mid-Atlantic Ridge Microbiology Expedition to use Circulation Obviation Retrofit Kit (CORK) undersea observatories for the study of microbes located in the sub-seafloor ocean crust.

The article looks at Sensorbots, the robotic deep-sea geochemical monitoring platforms designed by researchers at Arizona State University's Biodesign Institute, with particular focus on their use in research including the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute's undersea observation project.

The article offers news briefs in the U.S. related to contract. Teledyne Webb Research contract to offer Open Ocean Slocum G2 gliders to assist the Ocean Observatories Initiatives. Cargotec Corp. contract to provide more than 20 million dollars worth of MacGregor RoRo equipment. AXYS Technologies Inc. contract to render a WatchMate data bouy.

The article reports on the start of the construction of the Monterey Accelerated Research System, first deep-sea ocean observatory offshore the continental U.S. It states that the observatory will allow marine scientists to monitor deep sea. It adds that it will also serve as a research center for the study regarding the effects of ocean acidification on seafloor animals.

The article offers information related to the history in the sea technology in the U.S. In the year 1983, scientists at Lockheed Engineering and Management Services Co. Inc. experimented a technology to use a narrow band of infrared frequencies as a means of communication on seagoing vessel. A long-term climate research station was dedicated by the U.S. Department of Energy in 1998 in the Pacific Ocean.

The author focuses on the promotion of the concept of ocean observatories. He states that the concept of ocean observatories are still under discussion and the notion of it confused with long term stations. He emphasizes that though ocean observatory is still in the planning stage, people have already gain from it. Moreover, he suggests that one should hope that the development in ocean observatories would continue to serve the needs of society in a more direct way.

The article reports that the designs for the new Spanish Antarctic Research Station created by consultant Faber Maunsell Ltd. and Hugh Broughton Architects was already revealed. It states that the new design will supposed to replace the Spanish Science and Innovation ministry in Livingstone Island, West Antarctica. It also mentions that the new base will be made stronger for extreme weather conditions in the area.

The author reflects on the expectation to have a reliable and sustainable ocean observing system in the future. He suggests that ocean observatories will have to design and build reliably suited for the harshest environments on Earth. He suggests obtaining long-term data on the detrimental effects to the system so that a replacement schedule is effective, and assuring that equipment replacement is done so that sustainability is not compromised by component failures.

The article reports that the Joint Oceanographic Institutions have awarded an agreement to an academic collaboration headed by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI). The contract will support the design, construction and initial operation of the global and coastal parts of the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) of the U.S. National Science Foundation.

The author comments on the hurdles to the development, deployment and use of modern ocean observing networks. These include systematic under-investment in oceans and stakeholders who are passive users. He also discusses the need to develop and foster mechanisms to allow for the effective transfer of technologies and collaboration between the numerous international networks, as well as to train the new generation of operational oceanographers if the ocean observatories are deployed.

Presents information on the NEPTUNE project, a joint U.S./Canada venture to create the world's first large-scale long-term deepwater scientific observatory in Juan de Fuca Plate in British Columbia. Use of a multipurpose robotic underwater vehicle in the project that will reside at depth, recharge at cable nodes and respond to events such as submarine volcanic eruption; Details of the project; Implications on the petroleum industry.