National Geographic Society

P.O. Box 98199

Washington, DC 20090-8199 USA

38.90531943278526, -77.0376992225647

800-647-5463

Inspiring people to care about the planet since 1888

Learn More »

Connect With Us

Main Navigation

National Geographic Daily News

Most High-Tech Ocean Observatory Opens

This video requires the latest version of Flash Player. Click here to download.

December 11, 2009

Nearly 500 miles of data-transmitting cable will make NEPTUNE Canada's new Pacific Ocean observatory the largest of its kind. Underwater cameras will also capture seafloor wildlife.

Unedited Transcript

This week, scientists in Canadas British Columbia began collecting data from hundreds of scientific instruments on the seafloor of the Pacific Ocean using the largest and most advanced cabled ocean observatory in the world.

While data collection is its primary goal, underwater cameras add to the allure of this project, so scientists can see the animals living on and near the ocean floor.

Nearly 500 miles of looped cable carries both electricity and fiber optic lines for data transmission in both directions for the project known as NEPTUNE Canada. NEPTUNE is an acronym for North-East Pacific Time-series Underwater Networked Experiments.

The observatory, with 6 sites for data collection, stretches from Vancouver Island, over the Pacifics continental shelf, and into deep ocean.

The projects data collection is available to the public- scientists and students can log onto the internet to see the information.

NEPTUNE Canada, and its sister program VENUS, is coordinated by the University of Victoria with funding from the Canadian and British Columbia governments. Its intended to enhance scientists abilities to gather ocean data allowing 24/7 collection, rather than data from infrequent voyages and dives.

One oceanographer using NEPTUNE Canada is 3,000 miles away on the countrys east coast in St. Johns, Newfoundland.

SOUNDBITE: Paul Snelgrove, Memorial University of Newfoundland Ship costs are quite extensive, and were also very lucky if were able to get out there for even a week or two per year. So for the rest of the year, we have to try and guess whats going on. This is problematic because we think that unpredictable events like storms and underwater landslides can be very important. /With VENUS and NEPTUNE, our team can be there any time, to see whats happening on the sea floor and making decisions on how to sample, even though our group is scattered between Victoria and St. Johns.

Part of NEPTUNE Canadas aims include applications in the areas of climate change, earthquake and tsunami research, ocean productivity, non-renewable marine resources, and marine animal studies.

NEPTUNE Canada has been in the making for a decade, and its expected to provide information about the ocean floor for the next 25 years.

From the Web

From Huffington Post: Wolf Fosters Kitten

Adorable footage shows a pet wolf looking after a tiny kitty.
From Huffington Post: Rare Albino Hummingbird Spotted

The tiny bird was seen visiting a backyard in Virginia.

News Blogs

Texas Moves to Save Critical Groundwater

Ogallala Aquifer has dropped as much as 150 feet.
Good News, Bad News on U.S. Energy Outlook

The "all of the above" energy approach Obama championed in his State of the Union speech is at odds with U.S. climate goals.
Uranus Easy to Find This Week

Thanks to a close encounter with Venus, sky-watchers will have the chance the next few nights to easily glimpse the "green giant" Uranus.

ScienceBlogs Picks

Connect With Nat Geo

Got Something to Share?

Special Ad Section

Shop National Geographic

SHOP NOW »

Great Energy Challenge Blog

Green Living Hot Topics

Organic Air Fresheners

Avoid toxic chemicals and create a calming space.
Surprising Recyclable Household Items

With a little know-how, you can recycle more than you think.
Side Effects of Vegetarianism

Find out how to stay healthy and eat lower on the food chain.