Deep-sea Observatory Goes Live

摘要

Off the coast of Central California, in the inky darkness of the deep sea, a bright orange metal pyramid about the size of two small cars sits quietly on the seafloor. Nestled within the metal pyramid is the heart of the Monterey Accelerated Research System (MARS) - the first deep-sea ocean observatory offshore the continental United States. Six years and US$13.5 million (GB￡9.3 million) in the making, the MARS Observatory went "live" on 10 November 2008, returning the first scientific data from 900 metres (3000 feet) below the ocean surface.