SMART Subsea Cables for Observing the Ocean and Earth: Update

Abstract

JTF SMART Subsea Cables (Joint Task Force, Science Monitoring And Reliable Telecommunications, 1) is working to integrate environmental sensors for ocean bottom temperature, pressure and seismic acceleration into submarine telecommunications cables. The purpose of SMART Cables is supporting climate and ocean observation, sea level monitoring, observations of Earth structure, and tsunami and earthquake early warning and disaster risk reduction. Recent advances include regional SMART pilot systems that are the first steps to transocean and global implementation. Building on the OceanObs’19 conference and community white paper (2), an overview and description of the status of ongoing projects will include: The InSea wet demonstration project off Sicily at the EMSO Western Ionian Facility; Gondwana-3 connecting New Caledonia and Vanuatu; Indonesia’s Makassar Strait systems working toward systems for the Sumatra-Java megathrust zone; and the CAM-2 triangle system connecting Lisbon, Azores and Madeira. Observing system design studies are elaborated for these and other regions, e. g., the Pacific. Funding reflects a blend of government, development bank, and commercial contributions. In addition to notable scientific and societal benefits, the Telecom mission of societal connectivity will benefit as well, as environmental awareness improves both individual cable system integrity as well as that of the overall global communications network