A5018823783- Underwater Vehicles and Communication Systems
- Atmospheric and Environmental Gas Dynamics
- Methane Hydrates and Related Phenomena
- Oil Spill Detection and Mitigation
- Underwater Acoustics Research
- Maritime Navigation and Safety
- Marine and coastal ecosystems
- Robotics and Sensor-Based Localization
- Water Quality Monitoring Technologies
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Maritime and Coastal Archaeology
- Target Tracking and Data Fusion in Sensor Networks
- Toxic Organic Pollutants Impact
- Ocean Acidification Effects and Responses
- Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
- Modular Robots and Swarm Intelligence
- Scientific Research and Discoveries
- Arctic and Antarctic ice dynamics
- Environmental Monitoring and Data Management
- Hydrocarbon exploration and reservoir analysis
- Advanced Image and Video Retrieval Techniques
- Mass Spectrometry Techniques and Applications
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research
- Law, logistics, and international trade
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
2015-2025
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2002-2004
Parsons (United States)
2004
The Deepwater Horizon blowout is the largest offshore oil spill in history. We present results from a subsurface hydrocarbon survey using an autonomous underwater vehicle and ship-cabled sampler. Our findings indicate presence of continuous plume oil, more than 35 kilometers length, at approximately 1100 meters depth that persisted for months without substantial biodegradation. Samples collected within reveal monoaromatic petroleum concentrations excess 50 micrograms per liter. These data...
Quantitative information regarding the endmember composition of gas and oil that flowed from Macondo well during Deepwater Horizon spill is essential for determining flow rate, total volume released, trajectories fates hydrocarbon components in marine environment. Using isobaric gas-tight samplers, we collected discrete samples directly above on June 21, 2010, analyzed oil. We found fluids flowing had a gas-to-oil ratio 1,600 standard cubic feet per petroleum barrel. Based measured Federally...
To assess the potential impact of Deepwater Horizon oil spill on offshore ecosystems, 11 sites hosting deep-water coral communities were examined 3 to 4 mo after well was capped. Healthy observed at all >20 km from Macondo well, including seven previously visited in September 2009, where corals and appeared unchanged. However, one site southwest colonies presented widespread signs stress, varying degrees tissue loss, sclerite enlargement, excess mucous production, bleached commensal...
Detailed airborne, surface, and subsurface chemical measurements, primarily obtained in May June 2010, are used to quantify initial hydrocarbon compositions along different transport pathways (i.e., deep plumes, the surface slick, atmosphere) during Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Atmospheric measurements consistent with a limited area of surfacing oil, implications for leaked mass drop size distributions. The data further suggest relatively little variation leaking composition over time....
Abstract The goals of this article are twofold. First, we detail the operations and discuss results 2005 Chios ancient shipwreck survey. This survey was conducted by an international team engineers, archaeologists, natural scientists off Greek island in northeastern Aegean Sea using autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) built specifically for high‐resolution site inspection characterization. Second, as context, identify specific challenges adapting AUV technology deep water archaeology...
On May 31, 2010, a direct acoustic measurement method was used to quantify fluid leakage rate from the Deepwater Horizon Macondo well prior removal of its broken riser. This utilized an imaging sonar and Doppler operating onboard remotely operated vehicle for noncontact flow cross-section velocity well’s two leak sites. Over 2,500 cross-sections over 85,000 measurements were recorded during acquisition process. These data then applied turbulent jet plume models account entrained water...
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill was one of the largest spills in history, and fate this within Gulf Mexico ecosystem remains to be fully understood. goal study—conducted mid-June 2010, approximately two months after began—was understand key role that microbes would play degradation offshore oligotrophic surface waters near site. As utilization organic carbon by bacteria had been previously shown phosphorus limited, we hypothesized unable rapidly utilize released from Macondo well. Although...
In this field note, we detail the operations and discuss results of an experiment conducted in unstructured environment underwater cave complex using autonomous vehicle (AUV). For experiment, AUV was equipped with two acoustic sonar sensors to simultaneously map caves' horizontal vertical surfaces. Although spatial complexity required guidance by a diver, deployment successfully demonstrates scan-matching algorithm simultaneous localization mapping framework that significantly reduces bounds...
A new, in situ sensing system, Channelized Optical System (CHANOS), was recently developed to make high-resolution, simultaneous measurements of total dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and pH seawater. Measurements made by this single, compact sensor can fully characterize the marine carbonate system. The system has a modular design accommodate two independent, but similar measurement channels for DIC pH. Both are based on spectrophotometric detection hydrogen ion concentrations. channel uses...
Large quantities of natural gas are emitted from the seafloor into stratified coastal ocean near Coal Oil Point, Santa Barbara Channel, California. Methane was quantified in down current surface water at 79 stations a 280 km 2 study area. The methane plume spread over an area ∼70 and on order 5 × 10 4 mol d −1 to atmosphere. A monthly time series 14 showed variable concentrations which were correlated with changing sub‐mesoscale currents. Air‐sea fluxes estimated indicate that air‐sea flux...
The Arctic seafloor remains one of the last unexplored areas on Earth.Exploration this unique environment using standard remotely operated oceanographic tools has been obstructed by dense ice cover.In summer 2007 Gakkel Vents Expedition (AGAVE) was conducted with express intention understanding aspects marine biology, chemistry and geology associated hydrothermal venting section mid-ocean ridge known as Ridge.Unlike previous research expeditions to focus high resolution imaging sampling deep...
Voltage-dependent ion channels are crucial for generation and propagation of electrical activity in biological systems. The primary mechanism voltage transduction these proteins involves the movement a voltage-sensing domain (D), which opens gate located on cytoplasmic side. A distinct conformational change selectivity filter near extracellular side has been implicated slow inactivation gating, is important spike frequency adaptation neural circuits. However, it remains an open question...
Abstract Submarine mud volcanoes are important sources of methane to the water column. However, temporal variability their and emissions is unknown. Methane were previously proposed result from a dynamic equilibrium between upward migration consumption at seabed by methane-consuming microbes. Here we show non-steady-state situations vigorous movement that revealed through variations in fluid flow, temperature seafloor bathymetry. Time series data for pressure, temperature, pH photography...
Abstract This paper describes the design and use of two new autonomous underwater vehicles, Jaguar Puma, which were deployed in summer 2007 at sites 85°N latitude ice‐covered Arctic Ocean to search for hydrothermal vents. These robots are first be recovered through ice deep ocean (>3,500 m) scientific research. We examine mechanical design, software architecture, navigation considerations, sensor suite, issues with deployment recovery based on missions they carried out. Successful...
In 2005 a Greek and American interdisciplinary team investigated two shipwrecks off the coast of Chios dating to 4th-century B.C. 2nd/1st century. The project pioneered archaeological methods precision acoustic, digital image, chemical survey using an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) in-situ sensors, increasing speed data acquisition while decreasing costs. AUV recorded revealing physical dimensions, age, cargo, preservation wrecks. earlier wreck contained more than 350 amphoras,...
This paper reports the Sentry autonomous underwater vehicle and its deployment on two cruises in response to Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The first cruise, June 2010, coupled with TETHYS mass spectrometer track localize a subsea hydrocarbon plume at depth of approximately 1100m going least 30km from spill site. In December mapped photographed deep-sea biological communities for follow-up observations sampling Alvin manned submersible. These demonstrate how robots novel sensing technologies...
The TETHYS mass spectrometer is intended for long-term in situ observation of dissolved gases and volatile organic compounds aquatic environments. Its design maintains excellent low range sensitivity stability during operations, enabling characterization low-frequency variability many trace gases. Results are presented from laboratory trials a 300-h trial shallow marine embayment Massachusetts, U.S.A. This time series consists over 15 000 sample measurements represents the longest continuous...
Abstract. An uncontrolled gas leak from 25 March to 16 May 2012 led evacuation of the Total Elgin wellhead and neighbouring drilling production platforms in UK North Sea. Initially atmospheric flow rate leaking condensate was very poorly known, hampering environmental assessment well control efforts. Six flights by FAAM chemically instrumented BAe-146 research aircraft were used quantify rate. The calculated assuming plume may be modelled a Gaussian distribution with two different solution...