Real-time data transmission between research vessel and shore command center

A distributed network of real-time coupled physical/bio-optical observation systems that span scales from the deep ocean to the near-shore is being used to define the physical forcing of biological productivity for the mid-continental shelf and near-shore coastal waters of the Middle Atlantic Bight. A critical component of the network is the ability to gather real-time subsurface data below the spatially extensive remote sensing surface data. The subsurface data will be collected by remotely operated nodes (LEO-15), autonomous nodes (REMUS navigation buoys), survey ships and autonomous underwater vehicles (Coastal Electric Glider). Data from the remotely operated nodes, which consist of physical and bio-optical profilers, have been transmitted to the shore operations center real-time, via fiber optic cable, since August 1996. During the summer 1999 field season thermistor data from the REMUS navigation buoys, survey ship data including towed ADCP and CTD data, and data from the Coastal Electric Glider was transmitted to shore in real-time using RF links. For ship to shore data communication, each vessel had its own local area network which communicated with the shore command center via FreeWave Spread Spectrum Data Transceiver/Ethernet bridge. As data came into the shore station from the research platforms it was processed and put on the Internet. The data was also immediately viewed by scientists, on shore and at sea, to determine if adjustments to the sampling protocol were necessary and to coordinate the sampling of high frequency episodic events