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Science, Education and Marine Archeology Program in Portugal
A New “Age of Exploration” is Beginning. . .
As part of
the Ocean Technology Foundation’s Science, Education and
Marine Archeology Program in
Portugal
(SEMAPP),
ocean explorers are using the manned submersible
Delta to get
close-up views of Portimão canyon off the coast of Portugal
during
April 12 -19, 2004.
This is the first time in Portugal’s
history that an occupied civilian research submersible will
explore the continental shelf and coastal waters! It is a
combined effort of many different Portuguese and U.S.
organizations and institutions
-- a somewhat unusual organizational
structure for an oceanographic research program.
SEMAPP Explorers are
investigating potential shipwreck sites, some of which may be from the 14th-18th
centuries. They are studying and filming the creatures that
live in the canyons up to 300 meters deep. But most of all,
they are exploring, which means they are going where few, if
any, humans have gone before!
Delta
Submersible
The
Delta
submersible is the primary tool for exploring the deep
water environments of the submarine canyons. Delta can dive
to a maximum depth of 365 meters and can cruise along the ocean
bottom at 1.5 knots. The sub is only 4.6 meters in length and 1.1
meters wide. It houses
camera and navigation systems and a variety of sampling
systems
and holds 2 occupants: a scientist and a pilot. The
scientist is often lying on his or her side or stomach
aiming a
 hand-held
video camera out one of the viewports. The pilot sits upright on
a seat and looks
out through the top (conning tower) of the sub, where the viewports
allow for a 360-degree
view of the surroundings.
The Delta allows divers to come
nose-to-nose with canyon creatures at 100-300 meters.
The sub has logged more
than 6,000 dives since 1987 and dives approximately 334 times
per year.
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Think
About It!
How do submersibles dive and
surface? When was the first submersible created? What is
the difference between a submersible and a submarine? What role
do manned submersibles play in the tourism field today?
Buoyancy and Displacement
http://www.madsci.org/experiments/archive/869327658.Ph.html
Chronology of Submersibles
http://www.onr.navy.mil/focus/blowballast/people/submersibles1.htm
Submersible Photo Gallery
http://www.hboi.edu/gallery/photoarchive/subs_gallery_1.html |
