Future Needs in Deep Submergence Science Occupied and Unoccupied Vehicles in Basic Ocean Research (2004) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
3 Overview of Existing and Planned Assets
3 Overview of Existing and Planned Assets
Pages 43-76
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From page 43... ...
· Describes the number, suitability, and distribution of existing assets (to support calls for expansion of available assets by improving access to non-NDSF assets and adding new assets) Research efforts to gather data from the undersea world have their origins in surface ship techniques for obtaining samples from beneath the ocean's surface.
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From page 44... ...
Although often augmented by video systems, they also allow direct observation with the human eye through viewports or a transparent acrylic sphere. The duration of a dive is limited by battery life, human endurance, and safety protocols (e.g., operation only during daylight hours)
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Alvin National Deep Submergence Facility (NDSF) , Woods 4,500 Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI)
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Alvin The Alvin is the only NDSF HOV and is operated by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI)
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47 to US Cut o — Cut U)
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The seafloor off the Japanese coast is a collection of subducting lithospheric plates, an 8,000m trench, and an abyssal ocean bed with accumulated sediments, all of which provide a multitude of scientific research possibilities close to Shinkai 6500'S home port. Specifications for the submersible include a titanium pressure hull, a weight of 25.8 tons in air, a maximum operating depth of 6,500m, a maximum speed of 2.5 knots, and two three-chip CCD (charge-crupled device)
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do occur, they are not the norm. For these reasons, use of the Shinkai's is not considered a feasible option when NDSF assets cannot be used.
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To increase the budget of the fleet, Nautile has been leased occasionally for commercial purposes. IFREMER has stated that the operational year of Nautile could be extended to other non-IFREMER scientists if adequate funding is provided, along with an appropriately equipped mother ship staffed by an IFREMER-GENAVIR team.
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From page 51... ...
The Mirs, therefore, represent a possible alternative for scientists that cannot make use of NDSF vehicles. REMOTELY OPERATED VEHICLES Remotely operated vehicles have improved significantly over the last decade, which has given them wider acceptance in the deep submergence research community.
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6,000 ATV Scripps Institution of Oceanography 6,000 Ropos Tiburon Canadian Scientific Submersible Facility, Sidney, B.C., 5,000 Canada Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) , 4,000 United States Hyper Dolphin JAMSTEC, Japan HYSUB 75-3000 Ventana MBARI, United States 3,000 1,850 aThe vehicle subunit of the ROV Kaiko system was lost on a cruise In May 2003.
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From page 53... ...
It is currently operated chiefly on day cruises out of Moss Landing Harbor. The surface support ship employs a line-of-sight microwave link to shore through which it transmits a live video feed from the ROV to the home laboratory and to the Monterey Bay Aquarium for interactive feedback and outreach.
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From page 54... ...
tube and a regular CCD camera on the starboard swinging boom arm. There are five 400-W metal halide lamps, two situated on the port swinging boom arm and one on the starboard swinging boom arm.
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ATV ATV is a large conventional ROV capable of operating at depths approaching 6,000m. ATV has hydraulic-powered vertical and horizontal thrusters, two manipulators, lights, video cameras, and the capability to mount additional tools.
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Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution's ABE (Autonomous Benthic Explorer) (Figure 3-2)
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FIXED OCEAN OBSERVATORIES Ocean Observatories Initiative In the last decade, significant elements of the oceanographic research community have embraced a strategy for sustained time-series investigations, primarily to understand temporal variability and causality in Earth and ocean processes. In deep submergence science, this trend is repre
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The second report, entitled Enabling Ocean Research in the 21st Century: Implementation of a Network of Ocean Observatories (NRC, 2003a) , addressed in more detail the implementation of a seafloor observatory network for multidisciplinary ocean research in the context of the pending NSF OOI and specifically examined the impact on both the UNOLS fleet and the pool of deep submergence assets in the research community.
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From page 59... ...
For a variety of reasons, including vehicle support and the nature of current funding schemes for DSV use, NDSF vehicles are the most often used assets for deep submergence research in the United States. The accessibility of these vehicles can therefore be a limiting factor in the growth of deep ocean research.
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Pittenger, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, written communication, 2003.
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The statistics for 2004 are based on ship time requests and ship scheduling information. They represent total operating days corresponding to each funded request.
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Originally envisioned as a complement to Alvin, Jason has demonstrated the unique value of ROV platforms for deep ocean research. The mother ship of both the Nautile and the Victor is presently the R/V Atalante, and a new submersible carrier the Pourquoi pas?
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As discussed earlier, this study draws on two recent NRC reports Enabling Ocean Research in the 21st Century: Implementation of a Network of Ocean Observatories (2003a) and Exploration of the Seas: Voyage into the Unknown (2003b)
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Use of the Lokomo steel sphere If the new titanium sphere is not judged practical due to either excessive costs or failure to confirm fabrication contracts, the existing steel sphere at Lokomo in Finland should be considered. This sphere provides the enhanced depth capacity and the larger 65
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In other words, recommendations made in this current study for the mix of deep submergence assets required for future scientific needs, exclusive of the OOI, are independent of, and in addition to, those made in the NRC (2003a) study on implementing an ocean observatory network.
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From page 67... ...
HOVs, ROVs, and AUVs each have their own advantages depending on the scientific problem that is to be addressed and the appropriate research protocol. While ROVs and AUVs will undoubtedly become more sophisticated, which may supplant the need for human scientists to carry out deep ocean research directly in many instances, the added value of human perspectives will remain significant.
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External cameras on pan-tilt mechanisms can follow moving organisms, but the movement is not instantaneous and focusing is also not as rapid as with the human eye. Several experts commented at open sessions of the Committee on Future Needs in Deep Submergence Science that some of the discoveries made while diving might never have happened using an ROV.
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The quantity of data collected tends to increase drastically and consequently raises the question of storage, archiving, and accessibility. Database systems for the storage of nonnumerical data have been developed at institutes such as the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute.
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In acceptable sea states however, the elevators can be recovered by a zodiac or similar small boat. If necessary, an elevator can also be used with an HOV, although no such system currently exists for recovery of samples from within the water column.
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Near-perfect trim to neutral buoyancy, especially with HOVs and AUVs that are completely decoupled from the surface, also permits implementation of sensitive optical experiments such as low-light-level measurements, which otherwise would be compromised by unwanted stimulation of bioluminescence, and holographic particle velocimetry, which would be compromised by unwanted platform movement and disturbance of natural flow fields. With the notable exception of the Tiburon, the current suite of scientific ROVs lacks a sufficiently robust variable ballast system to allow the ROV to become truly neutrally buoyant.
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This capability is essential to follow structures such as active faults or plumes in the water column. The ROV is linked to the ship however, and therefore the ship time is completely devoted to the survey.
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The means for sharing images and data and for real-time participation in deep-sea research activities are readily available. A microwave link from surface vessels to the shore allows visitors at the Monterey Bay Aquarium each day to interact with research scientists via live video broadcast from deep-working ROVs.
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The best approach to deep submergence science involves a nested survey strategy that utilizes a combination of tools in sequence (possibly over multiple expeditions) for investigations at increasingly finer scales.
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Pursuit of many of the high-priority science goals discussed in Chapter 2 will be limited by both the current capabilities and the current capacity of NDSF assets. Continued expansion and diversification of the pool of potential users can be accommodated only by providing expanded access to needed assets.
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Moreover, ~ The submersibles used to support deep ocean research are singular to those discussed in two recent NRC reports, Enabling Ocean Research in the 215t Century. Implententatio,~ of a Network of Ocean Observatories and Exploration of the Seas.
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