Surveying a subsea lava flow using the Autonomous Benthic Explorer (ABE)

1 October 1998

journal article
research article
Published by Taylor & Francis in International Journal of Systems Science

Vol. 29 (10) , 1031-1044
https://doi.org/10.1080/00207729808929596

Abstract

This paper summarizes results from the first science deployment of the Autonomous Benthic Explorer (ABE), conducted on the Juan de Fuca Ridge (46°N, 129°W) at depths between 2200 and 2400 m. Using long baseline acoustic transponders, the ABE descended with precision to a preassigned starting point, then executed dead-reckoned tracklines. It followed the bottom at distances between 7 and 20 m using an acoustic fathometer as a reference sensor. The ABE mapped a new subsea lava flow with a magnetometer, imaged the seafloor with a stereo snapshot video system, and mapped a hydro thermal plume with conductivity and temperature sensors. The ABE completed 7 successful dives and covered over 35 km of tracklines. Detailed power records were logged, which permits extrapolation of the ABE's performance to other missions and higher capacity batteries.

Keywords

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Multisensor modeling underwater with uncertain information
Published by MBLWHOI Library ,1988