A Second Generation Multi-Beam Echo-Sounding System for the Research Vessel BERNIER

该项目将为正在改装成由哥伦比亚大学拉蒙特-多尔蒂地质观测站运营并专门用于支持海洋科学研究的考察船的伯尼耶号提供船上科学支持设备。船上科学支持设备方案为被认为对适当和安全地进行海洋科学研究至关重要的船舶设备提供资金。该方案为以下项目提供支助：甲板设备，包括用于部署和取回科学仪器的绞车系统，导航设备，如雷达、陀螺仪和地球卫星接收器，以确定研究地点的位置，通信设备，包括用于语音和科学数据通信的无线电收发机和卫星收发机，以及用于询问海底的回声探测仪等其他设备。项目主任Jeffrey K.Weissel博士、Dennis E.Hayes博士和William B.F.Ryan博士完全有资格指导这一项目，他们在监督舰载设备的采购和安装方面拥有丰富的经验。该项目将允许该机构获得并安装第二代多波束回声测深系统，以绘制海底地图，其空间分辨率几乎是安装在美国学术研究船上的现有系统的两倍。这个第二代系统还可以绘制几乎2.5倍宽的条带。宽条带测绘能力的更高效率为科考船的运营节省了大量成本。

This project will provide shipboard scientific support equipment for the BERNIER undergoing conversion to a research vessel to be operated by Columbia University Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory and dedicated to use in support of ocean science research. The Shipboard Scientific Support Equipment Program provides funds for ship equipment deemed essential to the proper and safe conduct of ocean science research. This Program provides support for such items as deck equipment including winch systems for the deployment and retrieval of scientific instruments, navigational equipment such as radars, gyroscopes and earth satellite receivers to pin point the location of research sites, communication equipment including radio transceivers and satellite transceivers for voice and scientific data communications and other equipment such as echo-sounders to interrogate the sea bottom. The Project Directors, Dr. Jeffrey K. Weissel, Dr. Dennis E. Hayes and Dr. William B. F. Ryan are fully qualified to direct this project having had considerable experience in overseeing the acquisition and installation of shipboard equipment. This project will allow the institution to acquire and install a second generation multi-beam echo-sounding system to map the ocean floor with nearly twice the spacial resolution of existing systems installed on U.S academic research ships. This second generation system can furthermore map a swath almost two and a half times as wide. the greater efficiency of the broad swath mapping capability translates into substantial cost savings for research vessel operations.