Future Needs in Deep Submergence Science Occupied and Unoccupied Vehicles in Basic Ocean Research (2004) / Chapter Skim
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Executive Summary
Executive Summary
Pages 1-8
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Yet when compared to the vast distances involved in space, the deep ocean lies essentially at "our back door." The remoteness and isolation of deep ocean environments makes this region of inner space a particularly fertile field for scientific inquiry. Fundamental contributions to the understanding of processes responsible for plate tectonics and ocean chemistry, as well as the origins of life and mechanisms for speciation, have been made by scientists working at depth in the ocean.
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As a consequence, NSF, NOAA, and the Navy asked the National Academies' Ocean Studies Board to undertake an examination of current and future needs in support of deep ocean research and to develop recommendations about the nature and number of assets necessary to maintain the health of this field. The statement of task required the committee to evaluate the future directions and facility requirements for deep submergence science and to examine the range of potentially applicable technologies that can support basic research in deep-sea and seafloor areas.
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From page 3... ...
There appear to be situations in which deep submergence scientific goals cannot be met by NDSF assets, but can be met by non-NDSF assets. For example, limitations on the viewing capability of Alvin and on its capability to achieve neutral buoyancy at multiple times during a single dive make it less suited for certain types of midwater research than some vehicles that are not part of the NDSF asset pool.
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From page 4... ...
The pressure that this geographic restriction has led to can only be expected to increase as ongoing efforts to address a more scientifically diverse set of problems increase the demand for deep-diving vehicles to work in diverse settings. Recommendation: NSF/OCE should construct an additional scientific ROV system dedicated to expeditionary research,3 to broaden the use of deep submergence tools in terms of the number of users, the diversity of research areas, and the geographical range of research activities.
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Some of the most significant attributes include standardized tooling suites, open software and hardware architectures, electronic thruster systems, tether management systems, improved handling systems, camera and lighting systems, and a variable ballast system. The total cost of this system would be approximately $5 million, and it could be built and ready for service within one year of authorization.
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From page 6... ...
For this reason alone, providing access to an HOV with a greater depth capability would allow its use over a broader geographical range, improving its utility for a portion of the potential user community. As discussed at length in Chapter 4 however, it is not clear at present that a suitable sphere can be obtained to allow the fabrication of the main body of a deeper-diving HOV, especially given the limited funds available to NSF/OCE in the next two fiscal years.
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From page 7... ...
The statement of task was, however, specifically crafted to ensure that advice provided in this report was appropriate given the current fiscal and programmatic realities facing federal science agencies. If, in the future, these requirements were to change significantly, then the appropriate mix of assets needed to support deep submergence effort should be revisited.4 4The purpose of this study is to provide NSF with recommendations for consideration regarding activities to provide infrastructure support for basic research at depth in the oceans through NDSF or other means.
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