Advancing the Ocean Observatory Spar Buoy Design

已确定两种基本类型的远洋平台可用于猎户座方案的全球组成部分--铁饼和SPAR浮标。候选铁饼浮标的设计已经发展到在太平洋西北部和蒙特利湾附近部署原型的阶段，而Spar的设计并没有超过6年的DEOS。私人投资促进机构要求提供经费，以提供最新的支柱浮标设计和成本研究。拟议的研究将基于1)通过美国国家科学基金会的援助请求程序和随后的公共科学论坛建立的特定的SPAR地点；2)最近安装几个带有聚酯系泊设备的SPAR的经验；3)SPAR的新制造方法，特别是单元SPAR；4)SPAR上浮式甲板的经验；5)锚泊拖船和平台供应船的成本在过去一年中的巨大增长；以及6)被确定为部署SPAR的主要候选地点的气象和波浪数据(后播)。他们将为高纬度Spar开发设计概念-在如此恶劣的环境中，这是一个特别的挑战，但对于海洋科学来说，这是一个高度优先的地点。拟议的设计更新还将侧重于浮标的安装和维修方法。特别是，我们将研究湿拖和干运SPAR到其部署地点之间的权衡。更广泛的影响这项建议的结果将是猎户座计划和其他海洋界关于SPAR浮标设计的最新水平的极其宝贵的资源和参考。随着人们对海洋观测系统不仅用于研究而且用于业务应用的兴趣与日俱增，评估SPAR浮标设计在偏远和/或恶劣环境中满足动力、结构、部署、系泊和服务要求的能力，将对全世界海洋界具有非常重要的价值。拟议的活动将推进猎户座的目标，预计将大大促进与海洋观测、数据和对海洋及其一般社会经济应用的更好了解有关的教学、培训和学习。

Two basic types of open-ocean platforms have been identified for use in the Global component of the ORION Program - the discus and spar buoys. The designs of candidate discus buoys have advanced to the point of deployment of prototypes off the Pacific Northwest and Monterey Bay whereas the spar design has not progressed beyond the 6- year old DEOS. The PIs request funding to provide an updated design and cost study of the spar buoy. The proposed study will be based on 1) specific spar locations established through the NSF's Request For Assistance (RFA) process and subsequent public scientific forum 2) recent experience with the installation of several spars with polyester moorings; 3) new fabrication methods for spars, especially the cell spar; 4) experience with float-over decks on spars; 5) the huge increase in costs for anchor handling tugs and platform supply vessels in the past year; and 6) meteorological and wave data (hindcast) for the three sites identified as prime candidates for spar deployments. They will develop design concepts for a high latitude spar - a particular challenge in such a harsh environment, but a high priority site for Ocean science. The proposed design update will also focus on methods for installation and servicing of the buoys. In particular, we will examine the tradeoffs between wet-towing and dry-transporting the spar to its deployments site. Broader ImpactsThe results of this proposal will be an extremely valuable resource and reference on the state-of-the-art of spar buoy designs for the ORION Program and rest of the ocean community. With the increased interest in ocean observing systems for not only research but for operational applications, an evaluation of the ability of the spar buoy design to meet power, structural, deployment, mooring and servicing requirements in remote and/or harsh environments will be of very great value to the ocean community world-wide. The proposed activity will advance the objectives of ORION which is expected to significantly promote teaching, training and learning as related to ocean observations, data and a greater understanding of the ocean and its socio-economic applications in general.