Illuminating the Hidden Planet The Future of Seafloor Observatory Science (2000) / Chapter Skim
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Findings and Recommendations
Findings and Recommendations
Pages 102-111
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From page 102... ...
This report provides the broad technical requirements for a seafloor observatory network based on invited talks, discussions, posters, and working group reports from the "Symposium on Seafloor Observatories." If an observatory infrastructure is put in place, technical requirements will need to be continually refined to address engineering issues that may arise and to allow for enhancement of established capabilities.
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From page 103... ...
Simple mooring and cabled seafloor observatory configurations presently exist, and more complex systems will be feasible in the future if sufficient engineering development resources are devoted to the following major infrastructure elements: · Cabled systems Depending on the size and complexity of specific networks, significant technical developments are required, especially in the physical design of observatory nodes and power and network management (Chapters 3 and 4~. · Moored buoys Depending on the specific application, significant technical developments are required, especially in satellite telemetry systems, and in the construction of reliable buoy riser systems (Chapters 3 and 4~.
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From page 104... ...
POTENTIAL BENEFITS The potential benefits associated with the establishment of a seafloor observatory program include the following: · establishment of a foundation for new discoveries and major advances in the ocean sciences by providing a means to carry out fundamental research on natural and human-induced change on timescales ranging from seconds to decades; · advances in societally relevant areas of oceanographic research, such as marine biotechnology, the ocean's role in climate change, the evaluation of mineral and fishery resources, and the assessment and mitigation of natural hazards, such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and harmful algal blooms; · improved access to oceanographic and geophysical data, enabling researchers anywhere in the world to study the oceans and earth in real-time or near real-time by providing basic observatory infrastructure with a wide variety of sensors; establishment of permanent observation sites over the 70 percent of Earth's surface covered by oceans to provide truly global geophysical and oceanographic coverage not possible with observations limited to continental or island stations; . · development of new experimental approaches and observational strategies for studying the deep sea; · enhancement of interdisciplinary research for improving the understanding of interactions between physical, biological, and chemical processes in the oceans; · establishment of observational resources as fully funded facilities, with the use and access to these facilities being determined by peerreviewed proposals; and · increased public awareness of the oceans by providing new educational opportunities for students at all levels using seafloor observatories as a platform for public participation in real-time experiments.
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From page 105... ...
~ · potential for interference between experiments resulting from inadequate design, coordination, and/or testing of scientific instrumentation; inefficient use of resources if important technological questions are not adequately resolved before major investments in observatory infrastructure are made: possible compromise in system performance if critical technologies (e.g., satellite telemetry systems and development of some sensor types) driven by market forces outside the scientific community are not available when needed; potential for a growing concentration of technical groups and expertise at a smaller number of institutions involved in supporting the observatories, with the result that many students and scientists may become further removed from understanding how observations are made; unreasonable constraints on the freedom of individual investigators to choose the location and timing of their experiments; · potential for severe impacts on observatory science funding, and funding for other kinds of research and expeditionary science, if the cost of building, maintaining, and operating an observatory infrastructure is higher than initially estimated, and/or if there is a catastrophic loss of observatory components; · underuse of observatory infrastructure if insufficient funds are budgeted for supporting observatory-related science and the development ~ .
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From page 106... ...
This report, which is based on symposium working reports and discussions, documents some of the significant opportunities for new discoveries and major scientific advancements that could result from the establishment of a seafloor observatory network. The establishment of a major seafloor observatory program will require some philosophical and intellectual reorientation within the oceanographic community, building on and complementing the more traditional focus on ship-based mapping and sampling programs.
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From page 107... ...
Program management should strive to incorporate the best features of previous and current large programs in the earth, ocean, and planetary sciences. The development of a program and project implementation plan must begin early in the planning process and should include a comprehensive definition of the management and science advisory structure for an observatory program, an implementation timeline and task list with specific milestones, a funding profile for the program, and a schedule for periodic review of program planning and implementation efforts by knowledgeable, independent experts.
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From page 108... ...
This will prevent delays in the establishment of initial pilot observatory needs. A seafloor observatory program should include funding for three essential elements: basic observatory infrastructure, development of new sensor and AUV technology, and scientific research using seafloor observatory data.
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From page 109... ...
The development of mechanisms to support and encourage the transition of new instrumentation and technology from successful prototype to supported elements of the observatory infrastructure provides a major challenge both for funding agencies and the scientific community. NSF has an excellent track record of funding individual investigators to develop new instrumentation, but turning this instrumentation into a community asset has not been easy.
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From page 110... ...
should be a high-priority component of a seafloor observatory program, with a specified percentage of program funding dedicated to this effort. Seafloor observatories with real-time communications capabilities should offer an excellent opportunity for public outreach and innovative education initiatives at all levels.
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From page 111... ...
The goals of a seafloor observatory program in the United States are closely linked to a number of ongoing international initiatives, such as GEOSCOPE and the International Ocean Network. Where practical, coordination of these efforts at the international level will be beneficial and, in some cases, essential.
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