Why do we need MOISE?
Due to the limited distribution of continents and ocean islands around the world, the coverage in land-based seismic and other geophysical observatories has many gaps. Because of these gaps, many important scientific issues related to plate tectonics and the deep structure and dynamics of the earth cannot be answered.
Designed in the spirit advocated by the International Ocean Network (ION) program and the U.S. Ocean Seismic Network (OSN) program, MOISE is one of several pilot experiments aimed at defining the technology and optimal deployment procedures appropriate for the installation of future long-term/permanent ocean bottom geophysical observatories.
MOISE is also the centerpiece of a series of proof of concept experiments to be conducted in Monterey Bay in the summer of 1997 in order to test and refine the ROV methodology required in support of such installations. Although the instrumentation will be deployed only for 3 months, most of the work is identical to that required for a permanent deployment.