Scientific Cables

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:

Cables in Powered Scientific Use:

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. 

Contact:  Dr. Bruce Howe, University of Washington

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). The 50 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 10 km is armored. 

Contact:  Dr. Bruce Howe, University of Washington

Cables in Unpowered Scientific Use:

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.

Contact: Dr. Chris Miller, Naval Postgraduate School

CAM-1

(Madeira to Portugal)

Contacts: Dr. Fernando Santos and Dr. Agusta Flosadottir

PENCAN2-EXT

(Gran Canaria to Tenerife)

Contact: Dr. Pablo Sangrá

Key West - Havana 5

Contact: Dr. Agusta Flosadottir

Florida - Bahamas

(Bahama 1)

Contact: Dr. Agusta Flosadottir

HAW-1

Contact: Dr. Agusta Flosadottir

TPC-2

(Makaha to Guam)

Contact: Dr. Agusta Flosadottir

TPC-1

(Makaha to Midway)

Contact: Dr. Agusta Flosadottir

COMPAC

(Hawaii to Fiji)

Contact: Dr. Agusta Flosadottir

JASC

Contact: Dr. Hisashi Utada

TPC-1

(Guam to Midway, cross connected at Wake)

Contact: Dr. Hisashi Utada

TPC-1

(Guam to Phillipines)

Contact: Dr. Hisashi Utada

TPC-1

(Guam to Ninomiya)

Contact: Dr. Hisashi Utada

HAW-4

(Makaha to 23oN)

In use for ALOHA Cabled Observatory

Contact: Dr. Fred Duennebier

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