Real-Time Environmental Artic Monitoring (R-TEAM)

摘要

The R-TEAM mooring is designed to collect oceanic environmental data in Arctic regions and to transmit these data to shore on a daily basis via ARGOS satellite telemetry. An ascent module comes to the surface once a day and transmits directly to ARGOS (ice free surface). When not transmitting the module remains in its rest position most of the time, well away from the surface, thus diminishing the risks of damage at the ice interface. The R-TEAM's design life is one year in situ. The mooring must be capable of deployment in depths of up to 4500 and must be able to withstand a maximum current speed of 2 knots at the surface. At an early stage two different transit options were considered. The variable ballast elevator seemed more directly compatible with our existing capabilities. UHF and MF transmitters, antennae, and associated electronic were designed and built to system specifications. The prototype mooring was deployed in 2700 at 39 deg N, 30 deg W on June 2, 1987 and entirely recovered 62 days later. By and large this experimental deployment was very successful but the test also revealed two deficiencies which need to be corrected.