Award Abstract # 1523319
2015 Shipboard Scientific Support Equipment

NSF Org: OCE
Division Of Ocean Sciences
Recipient: WOODS HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTION
Initial Amendment Date: June 30, 2015
Latest Amendment Date: June 30, 2015
Award Number: 1523319
Award Instrument: Standard Grant
Program Manager: James Holik
OCE
 Division Of Ocean Sciences
GEO
 Directorate for Geosciences
Start Date: July 1, 2015
End Date: June 30, 2017 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount: $91,605.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date: $91,605.00
Funds Obligated to Date: FY 2015 = $91,605.00
History of Investigator:
  • Albert Suchy (Principal Investigator)
    asuchy@whoi.edu
Recipient Sponsored Research Office: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
266 WOODS HOLE RD
WOODS HOLE
MA  US  02543-1535
(508)289-3542
Sponsor Congressional District: 09
Primary Place of Performance: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
183 Oyster Pond Road
Woods Hole
MA  US  02543-1041
Primary Place of Performance
Congressional District:
09
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): GFKFBWG2TV98
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s): SHIPBOARD SCIENTIFIC SUPP EQUI
Primary Program Source: 01001516DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
Program Reference Code(s):
Program Element Code(s): 541600
Award Agency Code: 4900
Fund Agency Code: 4900
Assistance Listing Number(s): 47.050

ABSTRACT

A request is made to fund additional and back-up/replacement equipment on R/V Atlantis, a 274? general purpose Global vessel operated by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution as part of the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System research fleet. The vessel is owned by the U.S. Navy, has state-of-the-art instrumentation and supports all disciplines of oceanographic research. The Global vessel and can accommodate a scientific party of up to 32 persons for as many as 60 days. The vessel works in all the world?s oceans supporting science funded primarily by U.S government agencies. R/V Atlantis is specifically outfitted for launching and servicing Alvin, the human occupied submersible as well as other vehicles of the National Deep Submergence Facility (NDSF). R/V Knorr was retired in 2014 after over 30 years of excellent service in the Academic Fleet.

In 2014, R/V Knorr completed 251 days at sea. NSF funded projects accounted for 51% of the total sailing schedule (128 days). R/V Atlantis completed 316 days at sea in 2014. NSF funded projects accounted for 92% of the total sailing schedule (291 days). In 2015, Atlantis is scheduled for 285 days with NSF accounting for 245 of those or 86%.

Shipboard Scientific Support Equipment requested in this proposal includes:

Radar System: $91,605

Broader Impacts
The principal impact of the present proposal is under Merit Review Criterion 2 of the Proposal Guidelines (NSF 13-589). It provides infrastructure support for scientists to use the vessel and its shared-use instrumentation in support of their NSF-funded oceanographic research projects (which individually undergo separate review by the relevant research program of NSF). The acquisition, maintenance and operation of shared-use instrumentation allows NSF-funded researchers from any US university or lab access to working, calibrated instruments for their research, reducing the cost of that research, and expanding the base of potential researchers.

PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT

Disclaimer

This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.

 Project Outcome Report for AWARD # OCE-1523319 WHOI Project 82331900

WHOI 2015 SSSE Gratn 07/01/15-06/30/17

Project Outcome and Findings Addressing Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts

This grant provided the funds to purchase the new X and S Band Radars for R/V Atlantis. These radars are important for the safe navigation of R/V Atlantis and required by the USCG to operate. The previous radars on Atlantis had become unreliable and unsupportable due to their age.

The new radars on R/V Atlantis enhance the reliability and safety of this Global UNOLS vessel. R/V Atlantis jus completed a 10 month expedition that included operations in the Caribbean Sea as well as the North and South Pacific Ocean with no problems with the new radar system. The ability of R/V Atlantis to be at sea is the primary function of tha research vessel and this cannot be done without reliable radars. Further, these radars have the capability of acting as WAMOS wave from radar further enhancing their value to science. There radars will support T/V Atlantis in meeting mission requirements for years to come.

The scientific capabilities of R/V Atlantis were significantly enhanced by these new X and S band radars. Research vessels go to sea to make new discoveries. Reliable and supported radars enable R/V Atlantis to sail and be in position to make the great discoveries of the future. These radars support the reliability of R/V Atlantis to sustain the outreach of spectacular science discoveries that come from the impressive scientific teams that research the works oceans. These scientific teams include senior oceanographic scientists, post-doctoral and doctoral students, graduate and undergraduate students as well as engineers, technicians and teachers. The research finding that are published from the cruises will advance our understanding of the worlds oceans and our place in the ecosystems. Annually, a number of the cruises have web sites which broadcast real-time images and live conversations into classrooms of America.

The knowledge gained and the discoveries made by the research programs supported by R/V Atlantis enhance the understanding of the oceans and addressed a broad range of important questions in all the scientific disciplines. These broader impacts were achieved thought he reliably and effectiveness of the systems upgraded by the funding from this grants. These intellectual endeavors broaden the understanding of oceans, spur new questions and confirm scientific theory, benefiting society at large.


Last Modified: 07/26/2017
Modified by: Albert F Suchy

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