Underwater Node and FerryBox in Ny Âlesund (Spitsbergen) Location

Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht , 2012-11-02
http://www.hzg.de/institute/coastal_research/cosyna/033338/index_0033338.html
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There are large gaps in the knowledge of the abiotic and biotic processes in the Arctic. This is mainly due to
the restricted access of sampling and measuring technology for hydrographic Contact: and biotic Dr. data Gisbert because Breitbach of ice
coverage and temporally limited access to the field. Over Design the last & decade, Programming: technology Dipl.-Inform. has made large Frank steps Seitz in
remote 3564 Bytes, operated 0.04760 sensor Sec. systems which are nowadays operated or at least under construction all over the
world. These systems, if working properly, provide data in a temporal resolution which has NOT been possible
so far but has been spotted as most crucial for understanding, modeling and also finally forecasting possible
scenarios e.g. with respect to environmental changes due to climatic change. With this background an
automated monitoring station has been installed in Spitsbergen by a joint effort of AWI and HZG that operates
the year around.
Underwater Node and FerryBox in Ny Âlesund (Spitsbergen)
-- A joint Experiment of AWI and HZG --
A new AWIPEV Underwater Long Term Fjord Observatory has been installed in June 2012 at the
AWIPEV Base at Ny Âlesund - Kongsfjord, Spitsbergen- on 79° North. It was planned and built in cooperation
between AWI and HZG and is as well a part of COSYNA as of the AWI-Project KOL 07 ('Installation and
running of a permanent online underwater monitoring station in near-shore waters of Kongsfjorden at the old
pier'; principal AWI investigators: Prof. Dr. Christian Wiencke and Prof. Dr. Philipp Fischer). The realisation
was done by the German companies 4H-Jena enigineering GmbH and Loth (Wiesbaden). The planning and
the installation on site was greatly supported by the outstanding expertise of the Norwegian company
KingsBay.
AWIPEV Website

Location
The 'AWIPEV Underwater Long Term Fjord Observatory' is located at Ny Âlesund/Spitsbergen on the
Svalbard Archipel.
In Ny Âlesund the Alfred Wegener Institut for Polar and Marine Research is maintaining 'year-around' together
with French partners the Koldewey station. For oceanographic and ecological research a longtern monitoring
station has been installed next to the 'Old Pier' using COSYNA technology.
Location of systems
Two types of instruments have been installed near the Old Pier: A container with a stationary FerryBox system
inside and an underwater system with a COSYNA Underwater node and in situ instruments.
System Design

Principle of measurement infrastructure
data from the underwater instruments are coordinated by a simplified COSYNA underwater node*).
These data, together with data from the FerryBox on the pier are transferred via the AWI network (firewall) to
the COSYNA server at Helgoland.There they are formatted, archived and transmiited to the COSYNA servers
at HZG. Quality-assured data are transferred to the PANGEA data base.
*) Simplified means that the task of the Spitsbergen node is to provide only the infrastructure for some
dedicated instruments that were pre-defined. Therefore, the extensive supervising mechanisms of the
COSYNA underwater node that control data and power supply are not necessary here.
Underwater System
The underwater system is located about 20 m from the end of the Old Pier in 11 m water depth. The system
consists of a simplified COSYNA Underwater Node with dedicated instrumentation.
The system is installed on a concrete frame at the sea floor. It contains two pumps for water supply of the
FerryBox system, an uplooking ADCP and an 'elevator frame' with different instruments that can be remotely
controlled from the AWI.
Instruments:
1. CTD multiparameter probe CTD 60 (Sea & Sun) with the following sensors:
2. Up-looking ADCP (RDI workhorse),
3. Webcam, swivel-mounted in dome,
4. Stereo-photogrammetric system to assess length or volume of any object, e.g., fish, in the
cameras focus.
The multiparameter probe comprises the following sensors:
temperature,
salinity,
depth,
turbidity (Seapoint)
oxygen (optode, Anderraa),
chl-a fluorescence (Turner)
All

Instrument Frame
Principle of the underwater 'elevator frame'
The underwater 'elevator frame' is a new system that has been developed by AWI: The instrument frame with
different instruments can be positioned between bottom and near-surface by remote control from Germany,
enabling profile measurements and camera observations if different depths. Several balls acting as lifting
bodies provide the necessary buoyancy. The frame glides along two wires that are kept straight by moored
buoys.
FerryBox System
The FerryBox is located in a container at the Old Pier. It is a standard instrument as used in other COSYNA
applications on shore.
Measurement System
Water is pumped by insulated hoses from the Underwater Monitoring Station to the container. In winter they
are heated (temperature-controlled) to prevent freezing.
Automated cleaning and prevention of biofouling is carried out with resh water that is provided by insulated
underground pipes from the Ny Âlesund community. The pipes are heated in winter to prevent freezing.
The following parameters are measured:
salinity
oxygen
turbidity
chl-a fluorescence
pH
All data are transmitted to Germany and are free accessible on the internet
Container
The container is heavily insulated and is heated during winter. It is standing on stilts in order to prevent the
buildup of snow banks.
A separated small compartment in front of the observation room prevents snow drifting into the warm
observation room when persons are entering in winter. Webcams are installed to enable maintenance
personnell to look out for polar bears before leaving the container.

Insulated FerryBox container on stilts
Companies involved in the design and construction of the AWIPEV Longterm
Fjord Observatory
4H Jena enginnering GmbH: FerryBox
Loth-Informatic GmbH: Data system and data transfer
Kings Bay AS: Building of infrastructure (pipes, data cables, container installation etc.)
Foto gallery of installation work

Old Pier in winter
Pipes & cables on shore prior to installation
Laying pipes & cables
Transport of FerryBox container
Laying pipes & cables
Old Pier in spring
Pipes & cables during installation
International Installation Crew

Transport of Underwater System
Old Pier
Underwater system on pier