Notes from SEC meeting on 2 Mar 05.  In attendance were Tom O., Kent H., Hans
T., Charlie P., Ken J., Dave C., Andy H.

Ken Johnson: Interested in "Whole ocean productivity", or "primary
productivity."  What happens to PP as the oceans warm?  Requires many
measurements over large areas.  This is currently done by float systems.  He
is interested in two:

1) System ARGO.  Deep water in open ocean, live at 1000m, ascend 4 times,
   remain on surface 12 hr to transmit data over very slow ARGOS satellite
   system.  Fifth time descend to 2000 meters.  One cycle to surface every 10
   days. One way comms.  Cannot program vehicle.  Cost $40k, last 4 years,
   don't try to recover.  Run on alkaline; 60% of power required for comms.
   Sensor drift is a problem.  UW is developing an improved version that uses
   Iridium, which is much faster (30 min data transfer, only needs <30% of
   battery) and is full duplex so that the float can be programmed.

2) BSOP Benthic Station Ocean Profiler. These work "on the shelf" and rest
   on the bottom between cycles.  1600 exist in the oceans now. 400g buoyancy
   change.

Webb Research makes Apex floats.  Ken likes these.

Float #894 has had the same electrode running for more than 2 years.

Things to improve in the float system:  Increase data download, increase
number of cycles, increase number of floats.   

A stable pH sensor would be very useful.  Current sensors require
calibration every few hours. 

Gliders may be useful.  The problem is that payload capacity is limited by
low-drag shape.  He would only need it to stay approximately in the same
area, so drag could be traded for payload capacity.  But floats have the
advantage of being simpler, much cheaper, and with higher payload capacity. 

Dave C:

Core Engineering needs to continue support of the MAUV or opportunity will be
lost. 

Stuff to do on MAUV:  Acoustic Comms, Qnx to Linux, Improve vehicle-to-user
interface, OA, Aided Nav, Battery, Real-time adaptive mapping sonar gain
adjustments.  (Hans:  higher maneuverability and terrain-aided navigation for
work in canyon).

Charlie:  We can get support for the MAUV by developing and clearly
enunciating a 5-year plan and schedule.

MAUV can replace more expensive Deep-towed systems.  $1M for 3x( 6kmx6km)
towed surveys.  Big ship and crew.

Hans: Need to extend AUV range - better batteries.

Mbari MAUV will be made available through NURP.  

Charlie:  Big Issues:

1.  Flux of fluids and gasses through sea floor.
2.  Transport of materials across bottom of ocean floor.

The sediments on the bottom act like a big filter.  Seawater cycles through.

Loihi is the best location for a remote MOOS because events will be frequent
and in a relatively small known area.  The problem with Juan de Fuca is that
the events occur over a much bigger area and timespan.

MOOS and MARS are in a race?

Tom O. suggests standardization of instrument interfaces.

Charlie:  A big question is what systems/vehicles will be abandoned or
discontinued in order to make room for the new ones.  To know what to
concentrate on, list the big systems (AUV MOOS, MARS) and poll scientists to
find out what percentage of time they expect to spend on each in the next 5
years. 

Dave:  Don't forget ROVs in Platforms charter.

Dave:  Reson has a higher resolution head than SM2000.  Reson is .94x.94 deg,
while SM2000 is 1.5x1.5 going to 2.5x1.5 at the outer edges of the flat
array.  (Reson's flat array is worse; .94x.94 to > 2.5 at the edge). SM has
poor side-lobe rejection.  Noisier.  Costs $120k versus $350k for the Reson.
The version of Reson sw we have now has crude beam forming and bottom picking
algorithms.