Science experiments currently proposed for the MARS observatory
After the undersea cable and science node are installed, the first science experiments will be connected to the MARS observatory. These may include some or all of the following:
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Eye in the Sea - This low-light camera will sit quietly and look for shy creatures by the eerie glow of their bioluminescence - a feature shared by 90 percent of deep-sea life. So far, we've studied the deep using loud subs with bright lights. Eye in the Sea will use a stealthier approach. |
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Benthic Rover - This small, unmanned vehicle will creep across the seafloor studying sediment and the animals that live within it. The data will give us clues to an old scientific puzzle: How does seafloor life survive with no plants around and a limited food supply? |
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Seafloor Seismometer - This sensor is already in place, running on batteries that must be replaced every four months. By connecting it to MARS, scientists will get reports on tremors in real time instead of only every few months. |
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Deep-Sea Environmental Sample Processor - MBARI's robotic biology lab already filters microbes from surface water and identifies them on its own. To study deep-sea life, this new ESP must be able to do its careful lab work in 90 times the pressure we feel on land. |
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ALOHA Mooring - Monterey Bay's famous upwelling currents stir up nutrients and feed everything from anchovies to whales. The ALOHA mooring will help understand those currents by constantly measuring water conditions from surface waters to ocean floor. |