SBP29 R/V Armstrong
Abstract
ABSTRACT The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) proposes the procurement, installation, calibration, and operation of a low-frequency, narrow-beam acoustic subbottom profiling system (Kongsberg SBP29) in support of the Navy-owned Ocean Class Research Vessel Neil Armstrong (AGOR-27). The proposed system will bring capabilities already available on ONR sponsored Research Vessels in the Pacific to another ONR sponsored vessel that dominantly operates in Atlantic and sub-Arctic basins.The use of underwater sound is fundamental to many disciplines in oceanography, including geology, geophysics, ocean acoustics, ocean physics, fisheries, undersea communications, and marine mammal studies. Improving our ability to transmit and receive acoustic energy from oceanographic research vessels therefore has the potential to advance our sensing capabilities across a broad range of scientific inquiry.The proposed subbottom system has a unique and immediate application to ONR-relevant research.The source and receiver array characteristics will allowquantitative sediment mapping whereby seafloor and subseafloor sediment acoustic properties are extracted from the time- frequency-angle characteristics of the data. Initial efforts have focused on obtaining velocity versus depth as well as statistical spectral parameters of layer roughness. While some progress has been made to date, progress has been limited by the lack of access to sonar raw data and the inability to transmit a wide beamwidth. The proposed system will substantially improve the ability to capture quantitative seabed properties of interest to the Navy.More broadly, the proposed sensing system will strongly benefit every existing and anticipated ONR research program aboard Neil Armstrong. ONR experiments occur in areas where detailed seafloor information significantly informs real-time operations, improves the probability of success, and adds to the overall utility of the data obtained. Recently completed and ongoing examples include SBCEXP, NESBA, NESMA, and NESCAFE missions, with similar needs anticipated for future DRIs.It will also support work conducted by NSF funded programs, like OOI, OSNAP & BADEX, and polar programs, like the Arctic Observing Network.The installation of major acoustic systems such as this is a major effort, because the large transmit transducer array (seven meters long by one meter wide) must be installed on the bottom of the ship#s hull. The system also requires installation of cables, conduit and control electronics in the ship#s transducer room and server room. These activities require a drydocking of the vesseland engineering and labor by a shipyard, all of which involve engineering, labor, and regulatory oversight, and inspection. We propose to conduct this work during a routine regulatory drydock and shipyard period scheduled for early 2025 to take advantage of production efficiencies and yield better overall project economy.We will conduct sea trials to perform acceptance tests, calibrate the system, train our operators, verify system products, and commission the system for routine scientific use. After installation, the system will be operated and maintained by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution#s Shipboard Scientific Services Group as a shared-use instrument for routine use by all ship users, supported as part of our standard suite of shipboard instrumentation paid by all ships users as part of the vessel day rate.Approved for Public Release
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- May 15, 2023
- Source ID
- N000142312370
Entities
People
- Sarah Fuller
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution