Mooring improvements

1999 Projects

	Benthic processes
	Midwater research
	Upper ocean biogeochemistry
	New research platforms
	ROV improvements
	Mooring improvements
	*New in-situ* Instruments**
	Information management and archiving
	Education and outreach
	1998 Projects
	1997 Projects

1999 Projects: Mooring improvements

In the past, the MBARI moorings have been considered more or less a part of the upper ocean biogeochemical processes project. In 1999 the moorings program will change in status to an institute-wide operational platform, similar to the way the ROVs are treated. A committee of researchers with interests in the moorings research program (including an external user of MBARI mooring data) will be responsible for providing guidance on upgrades and management of the mooring platforms. We hope that this change will encourage broader use of the moorings as research platforms and of data collected from them and facilitate the transfer of mooring technology to other research groups.

Projects in 1999 that will help with this transition are:

MBARI Ocean Observing System—Staff will assess the moorings system and evaluate needs and potentials for further development of MBARI’s ocean-observing capabilities

MBARI vertical profiler—For making multiple measurements of ocean properties at various depths, staff will design an instrument that will be stationed in deep water, and will automatically move up to the surface and back, on a periodic basis.

New mooring controller—Engineers will design a new system, based on the cutting-edge standard for embedded computers, for controlling multiple instruments on moorings.

Regulation of biofouling on moored optical sensors—Devices will be developed to minimize the biofouling that impedes effective operation of instruments on moorings.

Last updated: 10 November 2003