Ocean Networks Canada - community observatories

Expedition 2019: Highlights Story Map

duncanlowrie@uvic.ca — Thu, 14 Nov 2019 19:36:10 +0000

Click here for the full screen interactive experience.

A first anniversary for British Columbia’s community observatories

linzhill@uvic.ca — Mon, 27 Mar 2017 19:11:16 +0000

Coastal communities are facing a variety of rapid environmental changes. Real-time data from cabled observatories can be used by community members to make informed decisions about their coastal and marine resources.

In March 2016, Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) continued to push the innovation envelope by deploying three community observatories along the British Columbia coast: in Campbell River, Kitamaat Village, and Prince Rupert (Figure 1). After a year in operation, this first anniversary review celebrates the successes, challenges, and future for ONC’s community observatories.

Figure 1. Map of ONC’s community observatories.

What are community observatories?

Community observatories are scaled-down versions of ONC’s major observatories—NEPTUNE and VENUS (Figure 1). These smaller installations are simpler to deploy in remote areas while allowing for all of the benefits that come from conducting year-round, continuous undersea monitoring.

ONC’s Arctic installation at Cambridge Bay, Nunavut was the first community observatory deployed in August 2012. The success of this observatory—and the community relationships it continues to foster—has provided valuable learning and experience that make additional installations possible.

Figure 2. The first community observatory platform was deployed in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut in 2012.

Prior to installation, ONC engaged with the local communities to share scientific and Indigenous ways of knowing the ocean, assess their ocean science needs, and secure permission to install the instruments. In all locations, the observatories include underwater cameras, hydrophones, weather stations, as well as conductivity, temperature, salinity, and oxygen sensors.

"Learning and innovation go hand in hand. The arrogance of success is to think that what you did yesterday will be sufficient for tomorrow." ~ William Pollard

Campbell River Community Observatory

Figure 3. Highlights from the Campbell River community observatory installation March 2016

The Campbell River community observatory is located within Kwakwaka'wakw and Coast Salish territories at the southern end of Discovery Channel, a significant shipping route for vessels traveling north from the Strait of Georgia. This narrow inland passage is notorious for its strong and unpredictable currents; the water flows in from both the north and south end of Vancouver Island, meeting just south of the small city of Campbell River.

Figure 4. ONC’s display near the Campbell River community observatory site.

Kitamaat Village

Kitamaat Village is located at the head of Douglas Channel and is home to the Haisla people. The Kitamaat Village community observatory is located at the Haisla Public Works Waste Treatment compound along the waterfront in the village.

Figure 5. Kitamaat Village launch event at the school.

The region surrounding Kitamaat Village is witnessing a substantial increase in industrial development. Before new waterfront development begins, it is important to have a baseline of the local marine environment. These data will provide independent and unbiased observations of any changes to the Kitamaat Village marine ecosystem, while offering the community a new window into their local marine resources.

Figure 6. Flatfish in Kitamaat Village shows why Douglas Channel is so good for fishing!

Prince Rupert

The Prince Rupert community observatory is located within Ts’msyen Territory on British Columbia’s north coast. The Ts'msyen name for Prince Rupert—Kxeen—means "foam on the waters". As North America’s fastest growing port for trans-Pacific trade, the Port of Prince Rupert is working collaboratively with the community to understand the ocean.

Figure 7. The Prince Rupert community observatory is spread over two sites. Both Digby Island and Ridley Island have oceanographic radar systems that triangulate to produce surface current maps that can extend out 20 to 30 kms. An X-Band radar (WaMos), also on Ridley Island, produces a shorter range but higher resolution picture of wave heights, currents, direction, and speed.

Innovation means overcoming challenges

Installing ocean sensors in new locations is always complex and surprising because the ocean is the new frontier. ONC is the first to explore the depths of the northeast Pacific Ocean in real time. Deploying Internet-connected infrastructure and sensors in remote locations with limited connectivity can be a challenge.

Figure 8. Strong currents flow in from both the north and south end of Vancouver Island, where they meet just south of Campbell River.

During this first year, data collection has seen periodic lapses while the ONC team adapts to the unique features of each location. Every challenge is an opportunity for further innovation.

Figure 9. An example of biofouling after a year in the ocean. The accumulation of organic matter on the instruments can cause them to malfunction.

To mitigate the impact of Campbell River’s fast-moving tumultuous waters, an underwater “shield” was installed to protect the ocean sensors from logs and other debris. Unfortunately, this tent-like structure quickly filled up with sediment, so the first installation needed to be improved. The second installation no longer has a shield so now we see very fast moving water at certain times of day (Figure 8).
Biofouling is a common and costly problem in oceanography. A malfunctioning transformer on the remote Digby Island sat idle due to the buildup of organic matter.
Due to the space constraints of Campbell River’s observatory platform, a conductivity, temperature, and density sensor was attached and deployed in a horizontal position. When the sensor failed to provide reliable data, it presented an opportunity for new insights about reducing bio-fouling. ONC discovered that when deployed vertically, this sensor is exposed to the constantly moving current, which keeps it 'clean’ of the green algae bio solids that accumulate on static underwater objects.
The realities of deploying complex Internet-dependent infrastructure is always a learning opportunity. In Prince Rupert and Kitamaat Village, a weak cellular signal limited the amount of instruments that could be functioning at any one time. This meant that EITHER the hydrophone OR the video camera was transmitting data in real-time. Regardless, both instruments gather and locally store continuous data, so the data are uploaded to Oceans 2.0 to create a continuous time series at a later date.
In Kitamaat Village, the pan and tilt camera failed soon after deployment. A new camera will be in place in April 2017.

"Failure is an option here. If things are not failing, you are not innovating enough." ~Elon Musk, co-founder of PayPal and Tesla Motors.

What's next?

After a decade of deep ocean research, the ONC Operations team understands that a new location or innovative product always involves an initial adjustment phase to work out the kinks in the system. In April 2017, the community observatories along the British Columbia coast will undergo their first annual maintenance overhaul to ensure that they continue to gather clean, reliable data.

State of the Ocean plots

Moving forward, the data from the observatories provide us with a continuous ‘state of the ocean’ time series, similar to the 10 year VENUS plot (Figure 10).

Figure 10. Over a decade of continuous ocean data from the Saanich Inlet.

Educating youth

In 2016 and 2017, ONC invited youth and teachers from the three new community observatory towns to attend its annual Ocean Sense Symposium. This provides an opportunity for the next generation to understand the value of these community observatories and what the data are telling them about their local marine environments.

Coming soon to Port Alberni

ONC is excited to announce that a new community observatory will be deployed in the City of Port Alberni in June 2017 (Figure 11).

Figure 11. The proposed community observatory site in Port Alberni.

“The Port Alberni community observatory is important in terms of discovering more about the ocean and inlet that is our marine backyard (Figure 12). It will afford the opportunity for people—locally and from afar—to learn more about this critical ecosystem. We anticipate that its very presence will increase the number of visitors to our area. The City of Port Alberni thanks Ocean Networks Canada for being such a great partner in science.” ~Mike Ruttan, Mayor of Port Alberni.

Stay tuned for updates on these and other community observatories coming to a coast near you.

Figure 12. Seals visit the Campbell River observatory

Sea Ice Research and its Benefits

mkasprzik@oceannetworks.ca — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 17:10:21 +0000

Understanding Sea Ice: Ocean Networks Canada Coordinates POLAR Safe Passage Project.

Imagine an area of the size of Ontario ‒ gone. That’s roughly the amount of Arctic sea-ice that has melted in the last 30 years: over 1 million square km. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg: some climate change forecasts are predicting an ice-free summer Arctic Ocean by as early as 2030.

Understanding sea-ice change is critical to life in the high north, particularly when it comes to getting around. Local transportation and commercial shipping are defined by the Arctic’s shifting seasonal extremes, which is becoming harder to predict. Not only is the thickness and extent of the frozen ocean shrinking, but the dates of freeze-up, break-up and the duration of solid ice and clear water are shifting dramatically. This warming cocktail of unpredictable conditions is increasing the cost and risk of local transportation, commercial shipping and marine operations, making safe-passage precarious.

Icy shore by Cambridge Bay.

Ice Berg in the waters near remote Devon Island.

Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) is leading a timely collaborative project to improve our understanding of sea ice processes, especially those critical to Arctic transportation. Funded by Polar Knowledge Canada (POLAR), Safe Passage: Sea-Ice Research for Arctic Resource Development and Northern Communities will leverage existing coast observation, modelling programs and community relationships to document the variability of ice cover in Cambridge Bay, Dease Straight and Deception Bay in Hudson Strait.

Locations of northern research areas.

“ONC took the leadership when POLAR asked a few organizations to pull together a single sea-ice study proposal.” Project lead Richard Dewey, ONC’s Associate Director of Science Services will work with ONC’s Associate Director, User Services Maia Hoeberechts, who will coordinate community outreach.

Over the next 3 years, ONC will enhance its Cambridge Bay observatory, which has been continuously gathering data since 2012. The Safe Passage network includes Dr. Monique Bernier, INRS, who are currently working in Deception Bay in Hudson Strait; Dr. Paul Myers, University of Alberta, specializes in numerical modelling in Northern Canada; Derek Mueller, Carleton University, involved with big ice satellite tracking; and the Canadian Ice Service, which currently relies solely on satellite data.

Carlton University student Anna Crawford studies the
deterioration and spatial distribution patterns of ice islands.

ONC’s Cambridge Bay observatory will provide real-time data and ground-truth confirmation of satellite data on sea-ice conditions. “To study seasonal sea-ice, we need both atmosphere and in-water measurements, so ONC’s Cambridge Bay Observatory is an ideal laboratory for researching sea-ice thermodynamics,” says Dewey.

The Community Observatory prior to installation in Cambridge Bay.

This project will integrate with existing and historical monitoring programs, including local and traditional knowledge of sea ice processes. There will also be opportunities for youth education, training for northern scientists, direct community involvement in research, use of local resources for equipment installation as well as presentations, live data displays, reports and online materials.

Calm evening waters of Cambridge Bay.

Since 2012, ONC has been building community relationships in the Cambridge Bay, Dease Strait region. Community involvement in the Deception Bay in Hudson Strait region will leverage programs developed by the Kativik Regional Government, the Kativik School Board and the INRS team.

We’re excited by the potential to use the observatory data and computer modelling, in collaboration with other arctic sea-ice projects and local community. This will improve our skill in predicting freeze-up and break-up dates for safe ice travel and shipping.

Polar Knowledge Canada (POLAR) is on the cutting edge of Arctic issues and strengthens Canada's position internationally as a leader in polar science and technology. It will provide a world-class hub for science and technology research in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut called the Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS). POLAR improves economic opportunities, environmental stewardship and quality of life for Northerners and other Canadians.

New "Ocean Sense" Program Announced

dwowens@uvic.ca — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 15:00:00 +0000

New “Ocean Sense” learning program aims to make global connections with world-leading ocean observatory technology

Mill Bay, BC. - Ocean Networks Canada (ONC), an initiative of the University of Victoria, today launches a pilot ocean science educational program at Brentwood College School to complement its growing network of community observatories program, which saw its prototype installed off the school dock two years ago, in the waters of Mill Bay, BC.

“Ocean Sense” is a free, novel online educational program based on analyzing, understanding and sharing ocean data collected by the observatories.

“At ONC we believe it’s crucial that global citizens develop an ocean sense; an understanding that the health of the ocean reflects the health of the planet. We’re excited to be launching this program in partnership with Brentwood College School, where teachers and students have the ocean close by and are enthusiastic about this project and its potential.”

~ Maia Hoeberechts, Associate Director User Services, ONC

In 2012, Brentwood College School was chosen as the first test location for the community observatory, in part because of its location at Mill Bay with direct access to the sea. The enthusiasm and cooperation of the school administration was also vital.

“With the Saanich Inlet at our doorstep, it’s quite natural for us to be involved with ocean activities, including studies in marine science. We’re looking forward to sharing local observations and building global connections, as our students come to Brentwood from around the world.”

~ Bud Patel, Head of School, Brentwood College School

The pilot year of “Ocean Sense” is directed towards students in Grades 8 to 10. First, students are encouraged to develop an understanding of ocean conditions at their doorstep through the analyses of community observatory data. Then, they connect that knowledge with the health of the global ocean by engaging with students at other schools participating in the educational program.

Students and teachers access educational material and data through a web portal, and use video conferencing and social media tools to communicate their findings. A series of lesson plans introduces the teachers and students to cabled observatory technology and instrumentation, including technical aspects and their value in monitoring changing ocean conditions.

Brentwood College School in Mill Bay, British Columbia, and Kiilinik High School in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut are the two flagship schools in the year-long pilot program. Both observatory systems were recently upgraded. The Arctic installation was upgraded during the last week of September, and the Brentwood College School observatory is being re-deployed today from the dock.

ONC’s community observatory systems are a cornerstone of “Ocean Sense.” These smaller-scale versions of technologies developed on the world-leading NEPTUNE and VENUS cabled ocean observatories are designed to make real-time underwater observations available to the local community, where each is located.

About Ocean Networks Canada

Ocean Networks Canada operates the world-leading NEPTUNE and VENUS cabled ocean observatories in the northeast Pacific Ocean and the Salish Sea. These long-term observatories continuously collect physical, chemical, biological, and geological data, supporting research into complex Earth system processes. In addition, ONC has established community ocean observatories in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut and Mill Bay, British Columbia, with similar systems being developed across Canada.

About Brentwood College School

Brentwood College School is a co-educational boarding school for Grades 9 to 12. Prospective students are drawn to our school’s innovative approach, university preparatory programs, and spectacular oceanfront setting.

Links & Information Contacts

Maia Hoeberechts, Associate Director, User Engagement, Ocean Networks Canada,
(250) 721-8296 maiah@uvic.ca

Ian McPherson, Director of Communications & Marketing, Brentwood College School,
(250) 743-5521 ian.mcpherson@brentwood.bc.ca

“Ocean Sense” and Community Observatories

dwowens@uvic.ca — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 21:08:36 +0000

Coastal communities are facing a wide range of rapid changes due to a changing environment. Lack of up to date scientific data limits community members in their ability to make informed decisions about their own coast. The University of Victoria’s Ocean Networks Canada offers a unique solution for bridging this gap in environmental monitoring, community involvement and scholastic outreach through the community observatory. To complement the expanding community observatory network, Ocean Networks Canada is introducing an educational program, “Ocean Sense: local observations, global connections” that will be piloted at Brentwood College School in Mill Bay, British Columbia, and Kiilinik High School in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut during the 2014-2015 school year.

Connecting coastal communities to their ocean

In early 2012, the first prototype community observatory was installed at the dock at Brentwood College School in Mill Bay, BC. The Mill Bay location was chosen due to the school’s interest in hosting the observatory, the availability of power and communication at the site, and the school’s proximity to the Ocean Networks Canada VENUS observatory site in Saanich Inlet.
- Live data from Brentwood College School in Mill Bay, BC
In September 2012, a proof of concept version was developed for colder northern environments and installed in the Arctic Ocean at Cambridge Bay, Nunavut. Today this community observatory offers year round, continuous monitoring and science-based support for greater understanding and protection of fragile Arctic marine ecosystems. In September 2014, an ONC expedition team completed the 3rd annual visit to Cambridge Bay to maintain and upgrade the observatory.
- Live data from Cambridge Bay, Nunavut
All observatory data are freely available to the local school and community for their use, in addition to being available to the global science and education communities.

Why build a community observatory?

Smaller-scale observatories allow Canadians to participate first-hand in ocean observations using proven ocean observing technologies.
They offer the opportunity to study data, images, video and acoustics, in much the same way that researchers use NEPTUNE and VENUS, the world’s most advanced cabled ocean observatories.

ONC offers an Internet-connected ocean with continuous monitoring

Community observatories consist of four on-site components: an underwater instrument platform, an armored underwater cable, a shore station and a server station.
The information collected from the platform is sent to the University of Victoria where it is managed, archived and made freely available to anyone with Internet connection.

What equipment typically comes in a community observatory system?

Water quality sensors (to measure such things as temperature, oxygen, salinity, chlorophyll)
Underwater microphone (called a hydrophone, to detect marine mammal vocalizations and other sounds)
Underwater video camera (to monitor the diversity and behaviour of sea life)
Above ground weather station (provides information on atmospheric conditions)
Stationary shore camera (to support weather station data)
Optional instruments to suit the location (such as an ice profiler for the Arctic)

From local observations, to global connections with “Ocean Sense”

ONC is launching a pilot educational program this fall focused on grades 8 to 10, to engage students early in their high school studies with locally-relevant ocean content.
Schools that host a community observatory will be the cornerstones; however all schools and communities are welcome to participate. All it takes is an interest in learning more about the ocean through data from the observatory.
“Ocean Sense” will allow a school and its surrounding community to better understand their local ocean environment, and also to share information and insights with other communities, near and far.
Initially, the program will be piloted in both BC and Nunavut schools, connecting the two regions to allow for a collaboration in learning. The flagship schools in the pilot year will be Brentwood College School in Mill Bay, British Columbia and Kiilinik High School in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut. Science teachers at the schools will be using resources and data in classrooms and providing feedback and direction to Ocean Networks Canada in developing and refining the program. Students will have opportunities to connect with each other across geographical distance and share findings and ideas.

Engaging communities with scientific research

The University of Victoria and Ocean Networks Canada support the growing global movement to take university science into the community. This program is linked with other initiatives at the university through the Institute for Studies & Innovation in Community-University Engagement and the Office of Indigenous Affairs.
By making scientific data directly available to community members, they can better understand the local ocean environment and use the data to inform community priorities.

Local students have opportunities to observe and participate in observatory maintenance activities alongside Ocean Networks Canada staff members.

Inspiring future generations to care about their ocean

The cost of a community observatory is highly dependent on its location, distance from shore and the instruments included. Ocean Networks Canada has developed a range of systems to support a wide variety of research projects and that can be tailored to meet a school’s available resources.
Private donors are welcome to provide financial support towards a community observatory, thereby making possible a legacy of environmental and educational stewardship. For information, please contact Jessica Stigant.

The potential for community ocean observatories

From its beginning in southern British Columbia’s coastal waters, the community observatory concept is today garnering interest across Canada.

Links & Information Contacts

Maia Hoeberechts, Associate Director, User Engagement, Ocean Networks Canada,
(250) 721-8296 maiah@uvic.ca

Ian McPherson, Director of Communications & Marketing, Brentwood College School,
(250) 743-5521 ian.mcpherson@brentwood.bc.ca

Ocean Networks Canada - community observatories

Expedition 2019: Highlights Story Map

Tags:

Categories:

A first anniversary for British Columbia’s community observatories

What are community observatories?

Campbell River Community Observatory

Kitamaat Village

Prince Rupert

Innovation means overcoming challenges

What's next?

State of the Ocean plots

Educating youth

Coming soon to Port Alberni

Tags:

Categories:

Sea Ice Research and its Benefits

Tags:

Categories:

New "Ocean Sense" Program Announced

New “Ocean Sense” learning program aims to make global connections with world-leading ocean observatory technology

About Ocean Networks Canada

About Brentwood College School

Links & Information Contacts

Tags:

Categories:

“Ocean Sense” and Community Observatories

Connecting coastal communities to their ocean

Why build a community observatory?

ONC offers an Internet-connected ocean with continuous monitoring

What equipment typically comes in a community observatory system?

From local observations, to global connections with “Ocean Sense”

Engaging communities with scientific research

The potential for community ocean observatories

Links & Information Contacts

Tags:

Categories: