SATURN Observation Network
The SATURN observation network is an ambitious, configurable integration of heterogeneous modeling systems, observation networks and cyber-infrastructure, offering transformative opportunities to understand processes, variability and change in the Columbia River coastal margin.
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SATURN Endurance Stations: Stations SATURN-01 through SATURN-04 anchor in time the observational assets for SATURN, to produce long-term time series of inter-disciplinary variables. Each is envisioned to have some form of resolving the water column, either through multi-level ports or through vertical profilers. Together, they are designed to cover river-to-ocean salinity gradients.
SATURN 01 and SATURN 03 were deployed in the second quarter of 2008, and are undergoing in-situ testing and operational adjustments. The deployment of SATURN-01 is planned for the second semester of 2008, near the CORIE station Mott Basin. The deployment of SATURN-02 is planned for the second semester of 2009, replacing the CORIE station OGI02
SATURN Pioneer Stations: The Pioneer Stations are bottom-mounted nodes with underwater acoustic telemetry. The basic sensor package is constituted by an ADCP, a novel density profiler, and a bottom-mounted CTD. Other bottom-mounted sensors can be added, constrained by power, bandwidth and other logistics. Un-cabled and without water column or surface expression, the Pioneer Stations are well suited for installation unconstrained by nearby support structures. They are thus ideal for spatial re-arrangement in the context of process studies. Together with SATURN-01 and SATURN-02, and CORIE stations Sandi and Dsdma, they provide the observational foundation for a high-resolution estuarine laboratory in the North Channel of the Columbia River.
NH-10 Mooring : The NH-10 site is located 10 nautical miles off Newport, Oregon along the Newport Hydrographic line at a water depth of 80m. Measurements have been made along this line for more than 40 years; some of the early research on coastal upwelling was done in this region in the ‘60s. Therefore, it is a good location to continue observations to monitor long term changes on the continental shelf in the far field of the Columbia River.
A single surface mooring has been maintained for much of the past 1.5 years. Funding from CMOP helped in the development of a real-time data link. The current operational funding is obtained through NOAA as part of NANOOS (Northwest Association of Networked Ocean Observing Systems); CMOP continues to provide ship time for servicing the mooring.
The mooring measurements include: a suite of meteorological parameters, temperature and conductivity at 14 and 5 depths respectively, and fluorometer/backscatter sensors at a couple of depths. Acoustic Doppler profilers measure horizontal water velocity over the full depth of the water column. A subset of the data is relayed to shore in near real-time using a cellular modem and is displayed on the web at www.orcoos.org .
