SGER: High Resolution Seafloor Water Column Mapping With an AUV: ABE Surveys to Define Cable Route Selection and Science Node Access Routes on the Northern Juan de Fuca Ridge

2003年10月，加拿大创新基金会（CFI）宣布向由维多利亚大学（U Vic）领导的NEPTUNE-Canada Consortium （NCC）提供6240万加元的奖励。该合同要求Juan De Fuca板块的北部配备海底光电电缆网络，为一系列科学主要和次要节点提供服务。这些节点将为开放的海洋环境（海底、海底和上覆海洋）提供独特的电力和带宽基础设施，以追求下一代科学探究所有感兴趣的系统的动态行为。PIs建议完成铺设海王星电缆的路线调查。这条电缆的铺设将特别具有挑战性，因为科学节点就位的主要目标区域之一是火山活跃的海底扩散中心，该中心将成为电缆观测节点授权的研究重点。这将是有史以来第一次部署这样一个系统，至关重要的是，尽可能获得最好的信息，以便自信地将主电缆铺设到主节点站点，并将次级电缆铺设到像地震仪这样的异常仪器。机遇与问题2005年9月，华盛顿大学热液研究小组（Delaney和Kelley， PI）将在由加拿大海王星选定的火山活跃地区进行一次为期34天的研究巡航，作为第一阶段区域电缆观测站（RCO）实施工作的高优先节点位置。Juan de Fuca Ridge的奋进号部分是许多科学团体相当感兴趣的地方，包括NSF RIDGE2K计划，UW集团的Keck基金会研究工作和加拿大海王星计划工作。但有源脊峰对电缆铺设来说是一个独特的危险环境。作为今年9月研究工作的一部分，R/V t.g. Thompson将被部署到该地区一个多月，ROV Jason将作为主要的深潜设备。在适当的支持下，自主底栖勘探器（ABE），一种经过验证的、可编程的、无缆的深海测绘工具，可以与Jason一起在船上并行操作，这样两个设备就可以在几乎同时的模式下运行，完成预定的科学活动和必要的电缆调查。更广泛的影响：这项工作利用了一个独特的机会，在铺设海王星电缆之前完成海底测绘。这个海底观测点将使实时数据流和互动实验能够在海洋中最重要的生物和地质地点之一进行。绘制地图的游轮将成为公众宣传的目标，因此，数据收集和ABE本身将使许多人能够看到这一重要海底部分的细节。

(Yoerger Proposal 0549580)The Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI) announced an award of Can$ 62.4 M to the NEPTUNE-Canada Consortium (NCC) led by University of Victoria (U Vic) in October 2003. The award called for the northern portion of the Juan De Fuca Plate to be outfitted with a network of submarine electro-optical cables to serve a set of scientific primary and secondary nodes. These nodes will provide a unique electrical power and bandwidth infrastructure to the open ocean environment (seafloor, sub seafloor and overlying ocean) for the pursuit of next generation science inquiries into the dynamic behavior of all systems of interest. The PIs propose to complete the route surveys for laying of the Neptune cable. The laying of this cable will be especially challenging because one of the primary target areas for science node emplacement is a volcanically active submarine spreading center that will be the focus of the research empowered by the cabled observatory node. This will be the first ever deployment of such a system and it is crucial that the best possible information be obtained to confidently lay the main cable to the primary node site and secondary cables to outlier instruments like seismometers.Opportunities and IssuesIn September of 2005, the UW Hydrothermal Research Group (Delaney and Kelley, PI's) will be conducting a multiply-funded, 34-day research cruise in the volcanically active area selected by NEPTUNE Canada as a high priority node location of the Stage 1 Regional Cable Observatory (RCO) Implementation effort. The Endeavour Segment of the Juan de Fuca Ridge is the locus of considerable interest for many scientific groups including the NSF RIDGE2K Program, the Keck Foundation Research effort of the UW Group, and the Canadian NEPTUNE Planning efforts. But the active ridge-crest represents a uniquely hazardous environment for cable laying. As part of the research effort this September, the R/V T. G. Thompson will be deployed to the area for more than a month with the ROV Jason on board as the principal deep submergence asset. With the appropriate support, the Autonomous Benthic Explorer (ABE), a proven, programmable, untethered deep-sea mapping vehicle could be used on board in parallel operations with Jason so that the two assets operate in a mostly simultaneous mode to accomplish both the scheduled science activities and the requisite cable survey.Broader Impacts:This work is taking advantage of a unique opportunity to complete the seafloor mapping required prior to the laying of the NEPTUNE cable at Endeavour Ridge. This seafloor observing site will enable real-time data streams and interactive experiments to be placed in one of the most biologically and geologically important sites in the ocean. The cruise on which this mapping will occur is the target of intense public outreach and as such, the data collection and ABE itself will enable the details of this important section of ocean floor to be seen by many.