Sensor Needs and Readiness Levels for Ocean Observing: An Example from the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI)
L. Brasseur, L. Brasseur, L. Brasseur · 2010
The National Science Foundation's (NSF) Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) will implement the construction and operation of an interactive, integrated ocean observing network.The OOI will afford observations at coastal, regional, and global scales on timeframes of milliseconds to decades in support of investigations into climate variability, ocean ecosystems, biogeochemical processes, coastal ocean dynamics, circulation and mixing dynamics, fluid-rock interactions, and the sub-seafloor biosphere.The elements of the OOI include arrays of fixed and relocatable moorings, autonomous underwater vehicles, and cabled seafloor nodes.All assets combined, the OOI network will provide data from over 45 distinct types of sensors, comprising over 800 total sensors distributed in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.The success of the OOI is based in part on identifying and adopting effective and reliable in situ instrumentation.We present the results of an OOI and Alliance for Coastal Technologies (ACT) workshop to engage members of the technology development and manufacturing communities with scientific, engineering, and agency ocean observing communities in a discussion of OOI requirements and supplier capabilities.Consensus at this workshop was reached on: (a) technology readiness levels of various ocean observing sensor types, (b) maintenance requirements, operational logistics, packaging needs for various sensor applications (platform types and deployment locations), (c) sensor interfacing relative to cyberinfrastructure, and (d) future plans for sensor innovations and refinements.