User:Jmarsh36/Cabled observatory

Article Evaluation Notes

Content

Description of cabled observatories is concise in the lead paragraph and I think it could use expansion and clarification, particularly on characterizing research platforms. Further expansion should detail the functions of a typical cabled observatory, what research platforms can be used, and what innovations could be developing from this technology. The description of the cables themselves is good, and I think a section detailing recent development in the cables could be relevant. Cable design and key functions could be good to summarize and include. Also featured is a list of cabled observatories, with some entries leading to informative articles, a few leading to stubs, a few leading to articles that are inaccessible, don’t exist, or are not linked to articles.the list could perhaps include summaries of teach entry. A history of cabled observatories and recent developments made by cabled observatories would be good to find and include. Finally, pictures or visuals would help the reader quickly understand the subject.

Tone

The tone is professional, educational, and not suggestive of bias or distraction. The sentences are clear, concise, and informative. I will attempt to preserve the professional tone in my contributions and add clarifications to make the information more consistent and less jumpy from topic to topic.

Sources

Many of the sources listed lead to pages that don’t exist anymore or lead to basic pages created by companies operating cable observatories. There is a peer reviewed article listed that appears to be relevant source of information for this page and could be explored more. There are many sections of the article that are missing citations, such as the discussion of limitations on the quality of data from cabled observatories, and discussion of characteristics that prevent usage or installation of cables from observatories.

Talk Page

Activity on the talk page in minimal. The article has been rated as a stub and has been recommended by the author to be included in the ocean and telecommunications wikiprojects. The article has not been rated for importance. There has not been any discussion by users so far on the talk page. Additional articles for potential use:

Additional articles for potential use:

Time series of hydrothermal vent fluid chemistry at Main Endeavour Field, Juan de Fuca Ridge: Remote sampling using the NEPTUNE cabled observatory - ScienceDirect https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0967063722001224

Development, deployment, and operation of Kilo Nalu nearshore cabled observatory | IEEE Conference Publication | IEEE Xplore https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/5278149

Multiparametric monitoring of fish activity rhythms in an Atlantic coastal cabled observatory - ScienceDirect https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0924796320301202

Layout of a cabled observatory system. OOI's Regional Cabled and Endurance Arrays in the Northern Pacific Ocean. Credit: Center for Environmental Visualization, University of Washington

A cabled observatory is an oceanographic research platform connected to land by cables that provide power and communication. Observatories are outfitted with a multitude of scientific instruments that can collect many kinds of data from the seafloor and water column. Data from these instruments is relayed to a land station and data networks, such as Ocean Networks Canada, in real time.

On-board sensors

Cabled observatories have the benefit of high-power cable connections that can support a variety of instrumentation at any time. Such instrumentation can include cameras and microphones that can take high-definition audio and video, standard sensors that measure pressure, temperature, oxygen content, conductivity, turbidity, and chlorophyll-a fluorescence, and custom sensors for specialized purposes. Over 200 instruments can be installed on a cabled observatory at a time, as seen on the NEPTUNE and VENUS observatories.

Example of submarine cable. Cross section view of a 150 kV 3-phase submarine power cable. Image captured at Deutsches Museum Munich.

Comparison with other data collection methods

Cabled observatories are ideal for use in complex regions of the ocean where continuous data sampling is required for understanding the area of interest. Such areas include the complex biospheres of the temperate coasts and polar regions, which are sensitive to climate change. Conventional methods for oceanographic data collection, such as by ship, are often limited by the harsh typical weather conditions and cannot sample data continuously. Mooring systems have also been a common method for long-term ocean data sampling, however they require scientific cruises for scientists to receive data or to discover damage to the mooring system and carry out repairs. Data collection by ship and by mooring system in complex or harsh environments has historically led to data losses and inaccurate conclusions. By eliminating the need for regular ship use and bolstered with extensive sensor sets, enabled by direct power connections, cabled observatories have the capability to provide continuous and detailed data sampling for regions of the ocean that are otherwise inaccessible.

Usage locations

Cabled observatories are permanently fixed in one area and cannot take measurements beyond that area, however they can support sensors and apparatuses that can travel vertically in the water column and observatory data can be combined with ship data to create a more complete understanding of the area as well. An observatory can be placed as far as 300 km from shore if the conditions permit. Observatories can be placed in waters as deep as 2500 meters and as shallow as 10 meters, even when the wave height is greater than the water depth.

Operation Limitations

Many issues involving data reliability and loss have arisen and been investigated by teams running cabled observatories. Such issues include data loss, sensor failure, and data reliability issues. The sources of these issues are diverse, with common causes being improper operation, biofouling, cable connection issues, and leakages. Additionally, data loss can occur from improper installation or operations of sensors and data management, which are more likely to occur if those responsibilities are taken on by research groups external to the observatory team. This issue prompted the usage of streaming of final probe data to communicate data to partner research groups for the COSYNA observatory team, and streaming is now a common method for data communication for other observatory teams.

Examples of cabled observatories

Deep sea observatories:

• MARS (Monterey Accelerated Research System)
• VENUS (Victoria Experimental Network Under the Sea)
• NEPTUNE (North-East Pacific Time-series Undersea Networked Experiments), 2,660 m

Shallow water observatories:

• “SmartBay” in Galway Bay, Ireland, at 22 m water depth
• EMSO-Molène cabled observatory3 in the Atlantic at 18 m water depth
• EMSO Mediterranean Sea observatories at 20–30 m depth
• OBSEA Observatory at 20 m water depth
• LEO-15 observatory on the East coast of New Jersey, United States
• COSYNA-Helgoland, southern North Sea, 9.7 m depth
• COSYNA-AWIPEV, Kongsfjorden Arctic fjord system, 10 m depth