Marine Technical Team
The Oceanographic Data Facility (ODF) plays a pivotal role in a research organization, serving as the central hub for the acquisition, management, processing, and distribution of oceanographic data collected during shipboard and field campaigns. This includes data from a wide array of instrumentation, such as physical, chemical, biological, and geophysical sensors, shipboard sonars, and specialized sampling systems like the Multiple Opening/Closing Net Environmental Sensing System (MOCNESS).
One of the key instruments supported by the ODF is the Portable Multi-Channel Seismic (MCS) System. This geophysical instrument is used primarily for subsurface imaging beneath the seafloor, providing detailed mapping of sedimentary layers, faults, and other subsurface features.
Another essential tool is shipboard sonar, which includes multi-beam, single-beam, and side-scan systems. These systems map the seafloor bathymetry, backscatter, and submerged features in high resolution, aiding in habitat mapping, geological surveys, and navigation hazard identification.
Geophysical instrumentation on research vessels often includes seismic systems (like the MCS), magnetometers, gravimeters, and sub-bottom profilers. These tools provide comprehensive data on the physical properties of the seafloor and subsurface, supporting research in tectonics, sedimentation, and natural resource exploration.
The MOCNESS is a sophisticated plankton sampling system that can open and close multiple nets at different depths, allowing for discrete, depth-stratified sampling of zooplankton and micronekton. This system is widely used in biological oceanography to study trophic dynamics, biodiversity, and ecosystem responses to environmental change.
The ODF ensures that data from these instruments, along with others, are quality-controlled, archived, and made available to support science and operational needs. This integration of diverse oceanographic data streams—physical, chemical, biological, and geophysical—enables comprehensive oceanographic research, monitoring, and operational applications, similar to the services described by entities like the Gulf of America Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS).
The ODF also provides maintenance for multibeam sonar, shipboard engineering group support, and support for specialized and portable shipboard instrumentation, such as the Plankton Net Interface (PKI). Furthermore, the organization supports the wider oceanographic community, contributing to the advancement of knowledge and understanding of our oceans.
In summary, the ODF and its associated services support a wide range of oceanographic research and applications, from subsurface imaging to plankton sampling, and from geophysics to environmental monitoring. This integrated approach to oceanographic data management and distribution is essential for advancing our understanding of the world's oceans and their role in our planet's health and wellbeing.
- The Portable Multi-Channel Seismic (MCS) System, though primarily used for subsurface imaging, can be considered a technological advancement in the field of science, contributing to a better understanding of the Earth's medical-conditions, such as earthquakes and volcanic activity.
- In addition to the vast array of oceanographic data, the Oceanographic Data Facility (ODF) also manages data from lifestyle-focused instruments like the Plankton Net Interface (PKI), which help researchers study the impact of human activities on marine ecosystems and promote sustainable practices.
