Ocean Bottom Seismometer Facility (OBS): OBS's are autonomous seismic recording instruments which are dropped to the seafloor, where they record data and return to the sea surface upon acoustic recall. Simply put, they perform the functions of a seismic observatory while resting on the sea floor.

To further Navy needs and to serve the broader scientific community, ONR supported the design and construction of the instruments and established the Scripps Institution of Oceanography center to maintain a fleet of Ocean-Bottom Seismographs (OBSs) and associated equipment, as a shared resource for use by the members of the scientific community. The facilities are operated on a self-supporting basis, with support from the marine programs of the National Science Foundation and the Office of Naval Research. More >>


Autonomous Tethered Vehicle (ATV): ATV is a 20,000 foot depth capable, remotely operated vehicle (ROV) maintained and operated by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. The ATV was designed and built at Naval Ocean Systems Center (NOSC) under an Acquisition Category (ACAT) IVM project and delivered to the Navy in 1991. ATV has since been at Deep Submergence Unit (DSU) as a deep ocean search vehicle. In May 2000 ATV was transferred to The Scripps Institution of Oceanography for use as a deep ocean research vehicle. More >>

Coastal Observatory Development: The San Diego Coastal Ocean Observing System provides a gateway for up-to-date oceanographic, weather, and water quality data for the San Diego coastal region. Funded under the California Clean Beaches Initiative, the system merges a number of emerging technologies used for oceanographic and environmental sensing into a regional sensor network to provide a heightened awareness of the coastal environment. Partnerships established with this program has enabled a direct link between the information generated by this observing system, Scripps oceanographers, and a wide audience of end-users including local and regional agencies, policy makers, and the public at large. At present, the system is focused on the use of an array of HF radars deployed in the San Diego region to map ocean surface currents to examine the coastal transport issues and their relation to local water quality. More >>

Day/Night Whole Sky Imager: The Atmospheric Optics Group has specialized for many years in the development of Whole Sky Imagers and related systems designed to characterize the cloud and radiance field. These systems acquire images of the sky, from which the cloud fraction over the whole sky may be determined, as well as distributions of radiance. Some of the WSI systems are 24-hour systems capable of acquiring high quality data all day and all night, while others are more specialized systems designed for handling day only, or for looking down from an aircraft. More >>

Autonomous Underwater Vehicle: MPL owns one medium-sized autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) and will be acquiring a second, more advanced AUV in 2003. The existing vehicle is an Odyssey IIb made by Bluefin Robotics, Inc. of Boston, Massachusetts and has since been deployed in two at-sea experiments. More >>