Ocean Technology Development Tank
The Ocean Technology Development Tank, located in the La Jolla Laboratory of the Southwest Fisheries Science Center, is a 2-million-liter seawater tank that allows scientists to test new survey technologies in a controlled environment.
The Ocean Technology Development Tank, located in the La Jolla Laboratory of the Southwest Fisheries Science Center, is a 2-million-liter seawater tank that allows scientists to test new survey technologies in a controlled environment. The tank is of sufficient size (10 meters wide by 10 meters long by 20 meters deep) to calibrate and test a wide variety of instruments with minimal boundary effects. Water conditions can be controlled over a broad range of temperatures and salinities and the tank can accommodate living marine animals. Examples of experiments performed in the tank include:
- Calibration and performance testing of transducer and hydrophone arrays
- Testing of underwater cameras, strobe and laser systems
- Testing of gliders, autonomous underwater vehicles, floats, drifters, tags and sampling nets
- Characterization of the behavior of marine animals and their response to remote sensors
Supporting NOAA’s Investment in New Observing Systems and Advanced Survey Technologies
NOAA is experiencing an unprecedented demand for observational data to support resource and ecosystem assessments. There is a need for more surveys, addressing more species and more aspects of their ecosystems, on finer spatial and temporal scales than ever before. The supply of available survey vessel time has not increased in proportion, while the cost of using these vessels has increased dramatically. Reliance on traditional sampling methods is no longer viable and new technologies must be incorporated into our observation systems in order to meet the demand for data. In addition to improved shipboard sensors, alternative platforms such as instrumented buoys, autonomous vehicles and smart tags need to be tested and deployed. Development of these technologies will ultimately lead to more efficient use of available ship time.
In order to advance its marine ecosystem surveys over the next decades, NOAA has invested in several promising technologies: active acoustics, passive acoustics, optical technology and deployment platforms. These advanced technologies will allow NOAA to conduct its mission more efficiently in terms of time and cost, less invasively to marine animals and their habitat, and in a non-lethal manner for fisheries and protected species surveys. The development and application of these technologies is rapidly escalating as electronic and optic components become smaller, more capable and less expensive.
The Ocean Technology Development Tank fulfills an essential role by allowing agency scientists, instrument developers from other government agencies, academic institutions, and industry the ability to test and calibrate these new technologies in controlled environments
Pioneering Work at the Southwest Fisheries Science Center in Advanced Survey Technologies
Our scientists have developed and used advanced survey technologies in diverse locations using a variety of advanced technologies. Examples of current applications of advanced technologies by our scientists include:
- Passive acoustic surveys of marine mammals using towed arrays and drifter buoys
- Estimating abundances of over 20+ species of rockfishes over high-relief habitats without capturing or killing the fish
- Surveying broad areas of the Southern Ocean to estimate the distribution and distribution of Antarctic krill
- Detecting and classifying marine mammals and fish using the sounds they emit
- Describing migratory behavior and habitat use by marine mammals, turtles, pinnipeds, penguins and fish using autonomous instruments attached to the animal
- Enumerating salmon swimming upstream
- Describing the prey field exploited by baleen whales downstream from coastal upwelling centers along the North American coast
- Investigating fish response to passing survey vessels and traditional sampling techniques such as trawl nets
- Using novel platforms for deploying optical and acoustic sensors, such as autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), remote underwater vehicles (ROVs), inexpensive instrumented buoys, small boats, gliders, untethered profilers, drifters and floats
Essential Features of the Ocean Technology Development Test Tank
Essential features include:
- Size: 10m wide, 20m long and 10m deep
- Capacity: 2,000,000 liters
- Temperature range: 2° - 25°C
- Salinity range: 0 to 35 ppt
- Two movable gantries that provide a working platform near the water surface
- Two overhead cranes with three hoists that provide the ability to maneuver objects in three-dimensions.
- Approximately 350 m2 of useable deck space surrounding the Tank on Level 2 (surface level)
- Nine observation ports on two decks
- Removable trusses and insulated panels covering the water surface
- Vibration and seismic isolation
- Water conditioned using a combination of sand filters, ultra-violet radiation, and ozone treatment
- Ability to accommodate live animals
- 12-hour re-circulation cycle
Additional information can be obtained from:
Assistant Director, Ships and Infrastructure
Southwest Fisheries Science Center
8901 La Jolla Shores Drive
La Jolla, California 92037
+1.858.546.5602 (lab)
+1.858.864.6796 (cell)