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Woods Hole Group Helps ONC Transmit BIG Ideas in Antarctica
Southern Ocean, Antarctica – CLS and Woods Hole Group’s Oceanographic Telemetry teams meet with Ruchie Custan, the Marine Equipment Specialist for Ocean Networks Canada (ONC), a University of Victoria initiative, working in one of the world’s most remote areas; Antarctica.
A scientific partnership between Canada and Spain doubles data capture capabilities in the Southern (Antarctic) Ocean as the ONC and the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) saw deployment of two new subsea observatories offshore of the Spanish Antarctic Base (BAE) Juan Carlos I, necessitating an innovative solution.
The RockREMOTE Mini, developed by Ground Control, a CLS Company, and distributed in collaboration with Woods Hole Group, provides Custan with a rugged device, built for the harsh region.
A technological solution addressing the challenges of monitoring the planet’s remote oceans.
In 2024, CLS and Woods Hole Group’s Oceanographic Telemetry teams met with Ruchie Custan, the Marine Equipment Specialist for Ocean Networks Canada (ONC), a University of Victoria initiative, working in one of the world’s most remote areas; Antarctica.
Thanks to a scientific partnership between Canada and Spain, ongoing monitoring of the Southern (Antarctic) Ocean has grown, doubling data capture capabilities as the ONC and the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) saw deployment of two new subsea observatories offshore of the Spanish Antarctic Base (BAE) Juan Carlos I.
Ruchie Custan equipped the Antarctic Subsea Observatory stations with Iridium satellite telemetry to transmit real-time measurements of conductivity (salinity), temperature, depth (pressure), and dissolved oxygen data to better inform scientists of environmental changes in one of the most remote regions of the world.
As the teams from the ONC Marine Technology Centre and the Unit of Marine Technology of the CSIC (UTM-CSIC) worked together to replace the existing observatory and install a second unit, they were met with environmental challenges causing interruptions in data flow, deliverability, and reliability.
Due to the remote nature of the site, lack of connectivity, and volatility of large ice movements, Custan and the team needed a device to store and transmit data via the existing Iridium satellite connection without drawing large amounts of power. Woods Hole Group’s Oceanographer and Telemetry Specialist, Jimmy Spore, worked with Custan to find a solution. Connecting with Ground Control (a recent addition to CLS Group), the teams deployed the RockREMOTE Mini, a compact, Iridium capable, data transfer device with a rugged, waterproof case, in the harsh Antarctic region.
Small Package, HUGE Impact
The RockREMOTE Mini, developed by Ground Control and distributed in collaboration with Woods Hole Gorup, provides researchers like Custan with networking and data transfer in a small, but mighty unit.
With versatile interface options, and underpinned by Iridium’s Certus 100 and IMT services, the RockREMOTE Mini has everything needed for global, midband data connectivity. Custan cites the importance of operating on absolute minimum power in the isolated region. Jimmy Spore noted that the RockREMOTE Mini allows Custan to “wake up” his system every 8 hours to transmit data and then turn it off when the transmission is over, conserving precious power. In fact, the RockREMOTE Mini is the lowest power consumption Iridium modem in its class, and Custan finds it easier to work with when compared to other terminals.
Important Collaborations Fueling Our Understanding, Building a Pathway for Our Future
Each of the observatories are located in an adjoining bay to BAE Juan Carlos I, known as Johnsons Dock, an extremely important area where glacier melt meets ocean waters, allowing scientists to study the impacts of glacier and seawater mixing.
Kate Moran, ONC President and Chief Executive Officer stated in an interview about the project, “Sea ice that surrounds the continent has seen large decreases over the past five years making it most important that we understand the changing ocean environments that are impacted by this loss of ice.”
Professor of Marine Geophysics at the CSIC, and one of the first innovators behind the project, Juanjo Dañobeitia noted the importance of international collaboration in Antarctica as we navigate Earth’s rapidly changing climate.
“Understanding the Southern Ocean is essential for regulating the Earth’s climate. The new underwater observatories, located at two sites, monitor some Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs) and transmits real-time data year-round, providing invaluable information on glacial melt and the health of marine ecosystems,” Dañobeitia says.
