Projects Supported by ESF

Continued

H2O:
The Hawaii-2 Observatory is a joint project between IRIS, WHOI (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute) and SOEST, funded through IRIS by the NSF. The SOEST Engineering Support Facility developed the power supply, seismic system, and a Small Experiment Module for H2O. These packages were installed in 1998. A leak in a current meter forced recovery of the seismic package in 1999, and the replacement package operated continuously until May, 2003, when the Junction box was recovered for modification and repairs. The seismic system again operated for three days in October, 2003, until a power connector in the Junction Box developed a short to sea water.

Seismic sensors buried in hole at H2O. (Image from Jason II)

SEM:
PI: Fred Duennebier
The SEM (Small Experiment Module) was originally developed as a sub-multiplexer for the H2O (Hawaii-2 Observatory). It plugs into the H2O Observatory via a single underwater mateable connector and is easily retrievable. The SEM provides a platform for mounting "small experiments" and formats as well as time stamps the data. Experiments can be connected with dry-mate connectors, saving the considerable expense of wet-mateable connectors and ROV time to connect the experiment. The SEM accepts instruments that utilize RS232, or RS422 serial data communications. Analog experiments can also be accommodated by digitizing data from an analog sensor. time stamping it and sending the data back to shore. In theory, a high school science class can assemble a simple sensor experiment and receive digitized data in the classroom via the Internet.


SEM before deployment.	Launch of SEM at H2O from R/V Thompson

HUGO:
PI: Fred Duennebier
In 1997 ESF deployed the Hawaii Undersea Geo Observatory (HUGO) on Loihi submarine volcano. HUGO was the precursor to the next generation of Deep Ocean Observatories. HUGO used a 47 km SL fiber optic cable donated by AT&T and an all-digital multiplexer designed by SOEST/ESF. It featured underwater mateable electro-fiber optic connectors that were also developed and fabricated by SOEST/ESF. (At the time, there were no commercially available optical wet-mate connectors).

Hugo Junction Box on Loihi prior to recovery. (Image from JASON II)

Ocean Sub-bottom Seismometer:
PI Fred Duennebier
In 1979 a permanent borehole seismometer was installed during Leg 65 (OSS) of the Deep Drilling Project. Similar instruments were installed on Leg 67 (OSS-2) and Leg 88 (OSS-4, Site 581) south of the Kamchatka peninsula. OSS-4 was serviced in May, 1982, and recorded the large May 26, 2002 , Sea of Japan earthquake during servicing. OSS was the first permanent borehole cabled seismic system installed on the ocean floor.


Fred Duennebier and Dave Harris with OSS package before deployment in a drill hole on Leg 88.	Recovery of the OSS-4 recording package. May 1983 from the stern of the R/V Moana Wave.

ULF:
PI: Fred Duennebier
From1988 -1991, we developed a two-package buried ocean bottom ULF (Ultra-Low Frequency) seismic system for the US Navy installed in 600 m of water using an ROV. The packages were powered by a 26 km fiber optic cable that also sent commands to the packages and data to the monitoring ship. One of these seismic packages was installed at the Hawaii-2 Observatory (H2O) in 1999 and has been in operation since that time as part of the Global Seismic Network.


ULF (Ultra Low Frequency) Module	Internal sub-systems of the ULF seismic package

OBS:
PI: Fred Duennebier
In the 1970’s and 80’s we developed and deployed internally recording Ocean Bottom Seismometers or OBS. These efforts led to many technical changes to improve the quality of seismic data obtained from the ocean floor, such as buried sensor packages, and separation of sensors from floatation

Page last Modified 09/24/2008

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