Development of the Hawaii-2 Observatory: Deployment and Installation

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This collaborative effort between IRIS, University of Hawaii, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and a private corporation will result in a multi-purpose seafloor observatory for geophysical research. The Hawaii-2 undersea telephone cable between Hawaii and California has been retired by AT&T and transferred for scientific re-use by the geoscience community. The initiation of a deep-ocean facility-the Hawaii-2 Observatory (H20)-will provide the capability for long-term geoscientific research at the sea floor using the Hawaii-2 cable for power and two-way, real-time communications. A site midway between Hawaii and California optimizes coverage for the IRIS Global Seismographic Network, and will potentially contribute to geomagnetism, tsunami studies, and physical oceanography. A junction box with eight independent underwater-mateable connectors will be connected to the Hawaii-2 cable. A broadband seismometer and hydrophone package will be deployed (plugged in). Ample power availability to the observatory opens up the types of instrumentation that can be added (or changed) later using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) or a manned submersible. The data from H20 will be available in real time on a disk buffer via Internet or telephone dial-up. Data will be archived and distributed by the IRIS Data Management Center in Seattle. The seismic station at H20 will become a part of the IRIS Global Seismographic Network.