This page was last updated on 15 November 2007
Scientific cables are those submarine cables that have are being used for various scientific research purposes. These cables can be ones that are currently carrying traffic or that have been retired from service. However protection of these cables is just as important as for the commercial cables since important research and data collection relies on them. You can find more information about these cables in the Submarine Cable Database section.
A map of research cables around the world (NOAA/PMEL):
The following information is provided by Dr. Alan Chave of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute:
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Cables in Powered Scientific Use: |
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ATOC-Pioneer (Pillar Point,CA to Pioneer Seamount) |
This has
been used to connect an acoustic transmitter to shore in support of the ATOC
project (Acoustic Thermometry of Ocean Climate; see http://atoc.ucsd.edu/).
Transmissions to receivers around the Pacific were used to demonstrate
the ability to measure large-scale ocean temperature acoustically.
The acoustic transmitter is scheduled to be removed in October 2000 and
will likely be replaced in the next year or so with a general-purpose junction
box. This 100 km long cable is SD
List 1 coaxial submarine cable (1.25-inch outside diameter, 17,000-lb breaking
strength). The portion of the cable
inshore of 5 km is armored. Two
sections of the same type of cable (unarmored) are in wet storage off San
Simeon. |
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ATOC-Kauai (Barking Sands, Kauai, Hawaii to offshore) |
This cable runs
from the US Navy Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) at Barking Sands
clockwise around the island, ending at a point 800 m deep on the north slope.
The cable is used to connect an acoustic transmitter to shore in support
of the ATOC project (Acoustic Thermometry of Ocean Climate; see http://atoc.ucsd.edu/).
Transmissions to receivers around the Pacific were used to demonstrate
the ability to measure large-scale ocean temperature acoustically.
This work is continuing as part of the Office of Naval Research funded
North Pacific Acoustic Laboratory (NPAL; http://npal.ucsd.edu). |
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Cables in Unpowered Scientific Use: |
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NPS Pt Sur
(Point Sur to Sur Ridge, 50 km) |
A retired US Navy acoustic cable with a
bottom mounted acoustic receiver on the seaward end. It is operated by the Naval Post-graduate School (NPS; see http://www.oc.nps.navy.mil/~icon/frames/acoustic_frame.html).
The acoustic receiver is used for ATOC (receiving signals from an
acoustic transmitter off Kauai), local acoustic tomography experiments, and
ambient sound studies. This is an armored submarine cable, 3.2-inch outside diameter
and 50 km long. |
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CAM-1 (Madeira to Portugal) |
Contacts: Dr. Fernando Santos and Dr. Agusta Flosadottir |
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PENCAN2-EXT (Gran Canaria to Tenerife) |
Contact: Dr. Pablo Sangrá |
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Key West - Havana 5 |
Contact: Dr. Agusta Flosadottir |
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Florida - Bahamas (Bahama 1) |
Contact: Dr. Agusta Flosadottir |
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HAW-1 |
Contact: Dr. Agusta Flosadottir |
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TPC-2 (Makaha to Guam) |
Contact: Dr. Agusta Flosadottir |
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TPC-1 (Makaha to Midway) |
Contact: Dr. Agusta Flosadottir |
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COMPAC (Hawaii to Fiji) |
Contact: Dr. Agusta Flosadottir |
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JASC |
Contact: Dr. Hisashi Utada |
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TPC-1 (Guam to Midway, cross connected at Wake) |
Contact: Dr. Hisashi Utada |
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TPC-1 (Guam to Phillipines) |
Contact: Dr. Hisashi Utada |
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TPC-1 (Guam to Ninomiya) |
Contact: Dr. Hisashi Utada |
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HAW-4 (Makaha to 23oN) |
In use for ALOHA Cabled Observatory Contact: Dr. Fred Duennebier |
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