2010 · 16 citations · 0 references
Natural SciencesEarth SciencesOceanographyOcean InstrumentationPhysical OceanographyTectonicsContinental ShelfMarine TectonicsPlate TectonicsRegional TectonicsSubmarine TectonicsOcean Observing SystemsSubsea Cable OperationsTectonic PlatesTelecommunication Infrastructure
Scientists first proposed repurposing decommissioned submarine cables for ocean science in the mid‑1990s, but commercial lines were not always at ideal sites, so researchers pushed for new, highly instrumented electro‑optical cables at key locations, giving rise to regional cabled observatories like NEPTUNE on the Juan de Fuca plate and prompting similar projects elsewhere. Through workshops and scientific discussions, a regional cabled ocean observatory was selected to cover most of the Juan de Fuca tectonic plate off the coasts of Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia, including the adjoining continental slope and shelf.
In the mid-1990s, scientists at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) first conceived of using decommissioned submarine telecommunications for scientific purposes, by severing the cables at suitable locations and connecting some instruments. However,commercial telecommunication cables were not necessarily located at preferred scientific sites. The concept of a cabled ocean observatory was advanced by scientists, in particular John Delaney (University of Washington) and Alan Chave (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution), by arguing for the use of new electro-optic cables, highly instrumented, and located at key locations. Through discussions and scientific workshops, a regional scale cabled ocean observatory was selected to cover much of the Juan de Fuca tectonic plate off the coast of Oregon, Washington and British Columbia and the adjoining continental slope and shelf. This is the smallest of the world’s 12 main tectonic plates. Other cabled ocean observatories are now being planned in Japan, Taiwan, China, and several in the European Union