Expedition to Research Disappearance Pilot Amelia Earhart

UNH's Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping has developed an autonomous surface vehicle (ASV) that can explore the seafloor in waters that may be too deep for divers. Researchers from the University of New Hampshire's Marine School are part of the crew, led by National Geographic Explorer-at-Large Robert Ballard, that is setting out to hopefully find answers to questions around the disappearance of famed pilot Amelia Earhart. Amelia Mary Earhart was an American aviation pioneer and author and the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She set many other records, wrote best-selling books about her flying experiences,... (read more)

2019-08-15 09:19:51

Research Vessel Polarstern Departs for the Arctic MOSAiC Expedition

Video Included

On the evening of 10 August 2019, the German research vessel Polarstern left her homeport in Bremerhaven, Germany and set course for the Arctic. The purpose of the expedition is to conduct studies at a major long-term monitoring station, the AWI’s Hausgarten observatory in the Fram Strait. Experts from various disciplines are investigating all aspects of the ecosystem, from the water’s surface to the ocean depths, in order to determine the impacts of climate change on biodiversity in the Arctic. After roughly a month underway, Polarstern will reach the Norwegian port of Tromsø in mid-September, where she’ll receive her final... (read more)

2019-08-13 08:50:16

Is the Arctic Ice Really Growing?

Completely contrary to the messages that we see every day, the ice on the North Pole would be thicker than the computer models predict. That is if we have to believe some stories. For example, this message on www.electroverse.net in which it was reported that the Kronprins Haakon, a Norwegian ice breaker, got stuck in more than three meters of ice and had to break off an expedition. his news appeared on social media and was shared worldwide. Completely contrary to the messages that we see every day, the ice on the North Pole would be thicker than the computer models predict. That is if we have to believe some stories. For example, this message on www.electroverse.net in which it was reported that the Kronprins Haakon, a Norwegian ice breaker, got stuck in more than three meters of ice and had to break off an expedition. This news appeared on social media and was shared worldwide. Klassekampen, a Norwegian newspaper, added: “Polar bears were seen on Bjørnøya last winter - located in the middle of the Barents Sea -... (read more)

2019-07-26 04:42:51

Five Ages Old Shipwreck in the Baltic Remains a Mystery

A team of scientists has revealed the remains of an intact and astonishingly preserved 500-year-old shipwreck in the Baltic, using state-of-the-art underwater robots. But the ship’s identity remains a mystery. The pristine but unknown ship (okänt skepp in Swedish) is probably 'the best-preserved shipwreck of its period to be discovered in recent times', according to archaeologists from the University of Southampton. It is believed to be from the Early Modern Period (late 15th – early 16th Century). The vessel has been located by archaeologists at a depth of around more than 120 metres some 100 miles South East of Stockholm. The shipwreck was explored by... (read more)

2019-07-23 09:10:44

Acoustics Specialist RTSYS Unveils Latest Versatile Micro-AUV

After years of development, French Acoustics specialist RTSYS has unveiled its latest versatile micro-AUV named NemoSens. Less than 1 metre long, and easy to carry and launch (less than 20 pounds including payload), NemoSens can host any kind of payload, be it a CTD probe, side-scan sonar or any other sensors. Thanks to an open LINUX architecture, it can be programmed from a ROS or MOOS interface to complete various kind of missions. Acoustic Beacons Its battery provides wide autonomy (up to 8 hours at 4 knots) with a speed range from 2 to 8 knots, and its robustness allows it... (read more)

2019-07-09 02:58:45

Intruder Sonar to Protect Eastern European Waterside Energy Facility

Underwater intruder detection technology from maritime security specialist Sonardyne International has been chosen to secure the coastal perimeter of a critical national energy infrastructure (CNI) facility in Eastern Europe. Sonardyne's Sentinel Intruder Detection Sonar (IDS) will be deployed to detect unauthorised divers and subsurface vehicles approaching the facility from the water. The installation, at an undisclosed location, is the first phase of a site-wide project led by MARSS Group to enhance security at the facility with their NiDAR long-range air, land and underwater situational awareness system. Reliably detecting underwater intruders or vehicles in real-time at long range is essential to provide... (read more)

2019-07-02 02:32:03

Royal Navy Developing AI Mine-hunting Submersible

The Royal Navy is using artificial intelligence (AI) to task autonomous submersibles with hunting underwater mines. British geospatial and data company Envitia, along with its partner BAE Systems Applied Intelligence, has been selected to deliver this - one of the first AI projects for the Royal Navy. Mine-hunting is currently carried out by a fleet of mine-hunter ships using sonar to survey seabeds looking for anomalies. But these new AI-enabled submersibles will be much quicker in being able to scan an object, identify the threat, and make decisions about what to do with it. Routine Mine Countermeasure Tasks The Royal... (read more)

2019-06-27 12:00:16

iXblue Conducts toFuture Groix & Belle-Île Pilot Wind Farm Geophysical Survey

iXblue’s Sea Operations division has been selected by EOLFI, the “Ferme Eolienne Flottante de Groix & Belle-Île” delegated project contractor, to conduct the geophysical survey of the future Groix & Belle-Île pilot wind farm located in the South of Brittany, off the West coast of France. The survey, that began earlier this week, will last for about five days and will be conducted by a dedicated crew of 5 iXblue hydrographic surveyors and geophysicist engineers onboard the company’s own Marine Renewable Energy (MRE) hydrographic research vessel, FeliX. "Our vessel has been designed and manufactured by our own shipyard and survey... (read more)

2019-06-25 01:54:29

Underwater Noise Monitoring in the North Sea

Jomopans Project to Monitor Continuous Sound

Sound is of vital importance for marine animals. Eleven institutes from the countries bordering the North Sea have joined forces in the Jomopans project to implement a novel monitoring strategy for underwater sound. Due to the growth of human activities in the sea, sound pollution is a growing concern for marine environmental managers. High levels of anthropogenic noise disturb animals, but the integrated impact of noise on the marine ecosystem is largely unknown. In the Joint Monitoring Programme of Ambient Noise in the North Sea (Jomopans) project, measurements at sea are combined with noise maps from numerical modeling to assess the quantitative levels of sound at sea. Sound is of vital importance for marine animals. Eleven institutes from the countries bordering the North Sea have joined forces in the Jomopans project to implement a novel monitoring strategy for underwater sound. Due to the growth of human activities in the sea, sound pollution is a growing concern for marine environmental managers. High levels of anthropogenic noise disturb animals, but the integrated impact of noise on the marine ecosystem is largely unknown. In the Joint Monitoring Programme of Ambient Noise in the North Sea (Jomopans) project, measurements at sea are combined with noise maps from numerical modeling to assess... (read more)

2019-06-18 04:01:43

Definitive Global Map of Ocean Floor Doubles Data

The data available to produce the definitive map of the world’s ocean floor has more than doubled, just two years after the launch of an international effort to produce a complete map by the year 2030. Following the efforts of The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project, coverage of the world’s ocean floor has now increased from 6% to 15%. This is equivalent to around 32,000,000 square kilometres of bathymetric data, an area greater than the landmass of African. Heeding the call from Seabed 2030, the industry is now making significant contributions to the mission with around 570,000 square kilometres of... (read more)

2019-06-17 09:54:15