Volcanic eruptions on spreading ridges provide an example of an episodic event of interest to science. Such events are important in terms of the geophysics and geology of the seafloor, the biological communities of the seafloor, hydrothermal vents, and the lower water column, and the heat and chemical balance of the ocean. This combination of technologies should allow scientists to detect and respond in an economic manner to eruptions in progress at active spreading centers. The abyssal observatory provides an emerging class of facilities for making measurements in the deep ocean. While existing observatories have not incorporated AUVs, efforts to do so are in progress.
Observatories take many forms.
A characteristic in common to these approaches is the communication link with shore. Described more fully below, ABE is intended to operate from a near-bottom mooring from which it will detach itself periodically and fly preprogrammed surveys. At the end of a survey, ABE will reattach to the mooring and shut down for power conservation until the next survey. The data so obtained is stored on ABE until the vehicle is recovered at the end of its deployment period. The objective is to provide an economically feasible capability for repeated synoptic characterization of large scale oceanographic phenomena.