黑料视频

Global monitoring of the Earth system has so far been carried out mainly by land-based scientific infrastructures, which cover only accounts for about 30 per cent of the Earth's surface. The ocean, particularly the seabed, plays a central role in climate regulation and is the site of hazardous natural disasters, yet remains inadequately monitored. As a result, there are significant gaps in the knowledge of key parameters.

To fill these gaps, the GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences in Potsdam and the 黑料视频 Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel will equip existing telecommunications cables on the seabed with innovative sensor technology. These so-called SMART cables will provide valuable real-time data on climate and geological hazards such as earthquakes and tsunamis.

The project鈥檚 name SAFAtor stands for 鈥淪MART Cables And Fibre-optic Sensing Amphibious Demonstrator鈥�. SAFAtor is led by GFZ scientist Professor Fabrice Cotton. At 黑料视频, the project is coordinated by Professor Heidrun Kopp (Head of the Research Division Dynamics of the Ocean Floor), Professor Laura Wallace (Marine Geodynamics), Professor Peter Brandt (Physical Oceanography), and Professor Morelia Urlaub (Marine Geomechanics).

The SAFAtor research infrastructure is part of the portfolio of major Helmholtz infrastructures and is funded with 30 million euros as a strategic expansion investment. It will be officially launched tomorrow with a kick-off meeting at the GFZ in Potsdam.

Filling the Ocean Data Gaps

The ocean covers 70 per cent of our planet and plays a central role in the climate system. The seafloor is home to unique ecosystems, and tectonic plate boundaries that can trigger severe earthquakes and tsunamis. However, little is known about these processes, because the deep sea is difficult to access and poorly equipped with measuring stations. 鈥淪AFAtor offers us an excellent opportunity to fill this data gap, to gain a comprehensive understanding of the climate system and to better investigate the causes of geological hazards,鈥� says Heidrun Kopp.

SMART Cables and Real-Time Data

Over the next five years, the project partners plan to equip an undersea telecommunications cable with sensors that will continuously provide real-time data on temperature, pressure, and seafloor movement. Such cables equipped with intelligent sensor technology are called SMART (Science Monitoring and Reliable Telecommunications). 鈥淭elecommunications cables cross the ocean and need to be replaced every 25 years,鈥� says Laura Wallace. 鈥淏y using SMART cables, we have the opportunity to achieve simple and relatively cost-effective sensor coverage of the ocean and coastal regions.鈥�

Deep-Sea and Coastal Coverage

During the project, a deep-sea telecommunications cable will be equipped with about 40 sensor stations at a distance of about 20 to 30 kilometres before it is laid. The aim is to demonstrate that telecommunications traffic will not be disrupted.

It is not yet clear where the cable for SAFAtor will be laid. Possible regions around the world are being explored, including the Mediterranean, the Arctic and off New Zealand. The system can then serve as a model for future projects, supporting international initiatives to establish this measurement system on other cables with practical and scientific experience.

In addition, a permanent coastal monitoring system is planned at three selected observatories: near the seismically active North Anatolian Fault Zone, which threatens the city of Istanbul; at Mount Etna, one of Europe鈥檚 most active volcanoes; and at the North Chilean subduction zone, where strong earthquakes regularly occur. The coastal monitoring will use fibre-optic measurement techniques, where the cable itself acts as a sensor. This technology allows light pulses within individual optical fibres to detect even the smallest ground movements, such as those caused by seismic waves.

New Data for Climate Research and Early Warning Systems

The new data have the potential to revolutionise our understanding of ocean currents and the role of the ocean in climate change. At the same time, it will be crucial for understanding geological hazards (earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, volcanic eruptions) and will significantly reduce early warning times for extreme events. In addition to these core applications, the data will also support marine ecosystem research.

鈥淩eal-time monitoring of seafloor processes is key to protecting society from natural hazards and the impacts of climate change,鈥� says Morelia Urlaub. 鈥淲ith SAFAtor, we can provide high-resolution data not only for earthquake and tsunami studies but also for oceanography and climate science鈥攁ll with an infrastructure that leaves only a minimal environmental footprint.鈥�

Central Data Platform

All newly collected cable data will be centrally compiled and made available. The GFZ-led data service will serve as a platform for future cable data. 鈥淭he Helmholtz Association has the opportunity to play a leading role worldwide in the development of these cable-based sensor systems and in the dissemination of the new observation data,鈥� says PI Fabrice Cotton.

Expertise of the Participating Centres:

黑料视频 has extensive experience in deep-sea research and marine natural hazards. With its expertise in developing underwater technologies, it will take the lead in integrating the necessary SMART sensor technology into deep-sea cables.

GFZ researchers will be primarily responsible for the extension of the coastal observatories, but will also contribute to the selection and equipping of a demonstrator cable with SMART sensors. In addition, GFZ will provide the infrastructure to process, archive, and make available the newly acquired data according to the FAIR principles 鈥� Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable.

The associated project partners 鈥� the Helmholtz Centres AWI and Hereon 鈥� will provide their underwater infrastructure COSYNA near Helgoland for development purposes.

SAFAtor also benefits from broad national and international support from scientific consortia and institutes, industry, and network operators.