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This map shows
the location
of the submarine
cable off the
central California
coast that was
being used for
the Sound in
the Sea Project.
This cable stretched
from Pillar Point
Air Force Station
to an underwater
seamount (Pioneer
Seamount) and
was approximately
100 km long.
A passive underwater
hydrophone was
installed on
the seaward end
of the cable.
Data on recorded
sounds was sent
along the cable
to a station
on land for processing,
then made available
over the Internet.
Click image for larger view.
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August 27 to September
4, 2001
Update:
A Cable connecting the hydrophone array on Pioneer
Seamount to
the
shoreline was severed and it was decided not
to repair the cable due to
costs and the risk of disturbing the benthic
environment. However NOAA
does continue to pursue underwater acoustic experiments.
For more information, please visit:
NOAA's
Acoustics Program
and
 Listen
to Chief Scientist Chris Fox discuss the mysteries of sound in the
sea during an interview broadcast on BBC. (Select programme
three. Requires Real Player.)
In late August, scientists sailed from San
Francisco to Pioneer Seamount, off the coast of central California,
and installed underwater hydrophones (known as an array). The hydrophones
allow researchers to remotely monitor and record ocean sound to further
their understanding of the sources and effects of ocean noise. The
ocean sound data is now being transmitted live over the Internet.
Passive underwater
acoustic monitoring allows the detection of a variety of deep-ocean
processes at long distances. Some of the sound sources to be studied
include earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, marine mammal
and fish vocalizations, weather, and manmade noises. The experience
gained from this effort may enable scientists to expand the hydrophone
arrays to other underwater cables, that can be retrofitted. Ultimately,
this could lead to a monitoring network capable of acoustic exploration
throughout much of the global ocean.
Background information for this exploration
can be found on the left side of the page. Daily updates are included
below. More detailed logs of exploration activities can be found on
the right.
DAILY UPDATES
Apr 24, 2002 After a short period of inactivity, the hydrophone array is delivering data again. Read about the repair effort.
Sep 2 Chief Scientist Chris Fox shares his summary observations in today's log entry. Read about the last few days and the team's successful deployment of the first civilian cabled hydrophone array. You can also listen to live audio or  view a video of the installation (9.4 Mb) . Requires QuickTime.
Sep 1 Success! Last night the science and engineering teams concluded a full day of recovery, testing, and redeployment of the array. The new location of the hydrophone array was determined early this morning. The NOAA Ship Ronald H. Brown is now in transit to San Diego. Along the way, a mapping team will gather data on the seafloor.
Aug 31 The science team has arrived at the location of the submerged cable and will spend the day attempting to raise it so testing can begin. If all goes well, the team should install the hydrophone array by nightfall.
Aug 30 The NOAA Ship Ronald H. Brown has been mobilized in Seattle, WA, and is in transit to San Francisco, CA, to pick up the science party. The team will then transit to the cable site to install the hydrophone array.
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