At the end of 1997 the DOMEST projects started. The aim was thedevelopment of a moored sensor network in the deep ocean near the CanaryIslands. With the implementation of a bi-directional satellite link andunderwater acoustic modems, a data-link from land into the deep seashould be established on a daily basis. With DOMEST, remotely controlledmeasurement of element and particle transport in the deep sea will bepossible. Remote control includes access to a variety of data withoutrecovering sensors from the deep ocean. Data access will be possible atany time via the Internet and satellite communication. Samplingintervals can be changed interactively from land, status data from theinstruments can be checked and it is possible to download the datasubsequently. These possibilities allows an advanced sampling andprobing of parameters depending on various environmental parameters,such as satellite derived ocean colour or particle input during duststorms. Communication underwater is based on 4 independent acousticmodem clients, combined with different sensors. Bi-directional datatransmission between these modems is possible up to 2,400 baud. Eachsensor package and acoustic modem is controlled by an integrated digitalcontroller, responsible for hand-shaking and data-management. At the seasurface, a permanent surface buoy is moored in 3,600 m water depth.Above water, the OrbComm based satellite network establishes datatransport between the moored systems and the land based ground stationin Italy. At the ground station, messages are routed via SMTP into theInternet. During a scientific cruise of RV METEOR in May 1999, the firstclose-loop test-with a data request from a ship via satellite into thedeep sea and back via satellite to the ship-has been performedsuccessfully, within less than 8 minutes. The final configuration of thecomplete DOMEST mooring will be deployed at 3,600 m water depth over amaximum duration of one year. New sensors will provide high-resolutiondata on particle fluxes and element concentrations in the deep ocean
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