Oceanographic Tools

Alvin pilot BLee Williams explains the dangers of using electricity in the ocean.

I’d like you to meet ABE. ABE is a robot. You’’ll notice that its name is spelled with capital letters. The “E” stands for “Explorer.” The “B” stands for “Benthic,” which means the “bottom of the ocean”—that’s where ABE explores. The “A” is for “Autonomous,” which means “by itself” or “without any help.”

ICLs (Inductively Coupled Links) transmit data through water without a cable.

Fiber optic technology uses light to transmit information.

MAPRs (Miniature Autonomous Plume Recorders) are small instruments that measure ocean pressure and how warm and clear the ocean water is.

CTD (Conductivity-Temperature-Depth) sensors are used to detect hydrothermal plumes in the deep ocean.

The MR1 side-scan sonar is a special type of seafloor imaging system that creates maps of seafloor terrain over wide swaths.

Looking for new volcanic eruptions on the global mid-ocean ridge and understanding when and where eruptions take place is one of the most exciting developments in marine geology and geophysics.