Multi-Sensor Autonomous Hydrothemal Vent Detection System

Development of a concept of operations is proposed for autonomous hydrothermal vent detection in a single sortie. The concept involves active sonars (forward looking and swath mapping sonars, plus possibly a 1-2 MHz acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) for measuring midwater turbulence) mounted on a commercial AUV equipped with environmental sensors (e.g., CTD, fluorometer, MAPR-ORP). The AUV will be programmed to conduct a systematic seafloor survey mission in which it can (1) deviate from its path when a vent-like signal is detected, sequentially and independently, by two different sonars, (2) approach the target to make proximity verification measurements with the environmental sensors, and (3) resume its programmed survey. The proposed survey system will foster high resolution mapping of the ocean and seafloor processes that are fundamental to geophysical and geological studies of the earth.