Endurance Array Newport Line

Pn1C&D-Overview Image

The Endurance Array is a multi-scale array utilizing fixed and mobile assets to observe crossshelf and along-shelf variability in the coastal upwelling region off the Oregon and Washington coasts, while at the same time providing an extended spatial footprint that encompasses a prototypical eastern boundary current regime and overlaps the OOI RSN cabled infrastructure. This integrated infrastructure bridges processes from the coastal zone (OOI Coastal/Global Scale Nodes), through their transition into the ocean basin interior (OOI RSN), and outward to the pelagic North Pacific (Station Papa). In order to provide synoptic, multi-scale observations of the eastern boundary current regime, two cross-shelf moored array lines, each with three instrumented sites, are supplemented by six gliders patrolling the coastal region. The Endurance Array is composed of two lines of moorings, the Newport Line off the Oregon coast and the Grays Harbor Line off the Washington coast. Oregon State University is leading the Endurance Array effort.

Endurance Array Newport Line Technical Approach

The  Endurance Array Newport Line includes three fixed sites that are aligned perpendicular to isobaths and that span ocean regimes from offshore (600 m) to mid-shelf (80 m) and inshore (25 m). The offshore and shelf sites combine fully-instrumented surface platforms with cabled profilers and benthic boundary layer sensors. The inshore site combines a wave-hardened surface platform electromechanically linked to benthic boundary layer sensors and a stand-alone surface-piercing profiler. The three environments are linked physically, biologically, and geologically, yet represent distinctly different processes. As an example, wave forcing is especially important at the 25 m site, while local and remote wind forcing are dominant at the mid-shelf site. Slope currents and offshore mesoscale variability is important at the slope site.
 
The most transformative design element of the offshore and shelf sites will be the cabled infrastructure that integrates the OOI Endurance Array infrastructure with the OOI Regional Scale Nodes cabled network through Primary Nodes 1C and 1D. This internal OOI partnership extends the reach and capability of the OOI regional cabled infrastructure into the coastal environment, while simultaneously providing the transformative high-power, high-bandwidth capabilities to the OOI coastal infrastructure.

Cabled infrastructure of the Endurance Newport Line is provided through interface requirements with the OOI RSN and will use the same physical interfaces, command control, and data transport mechanisms as other OOI RSN components to minimize duplicated design work by OOI regional, coastal, and cyberinfrastructure components. The cabled infrastructure will support an extensive suite of core sensors deployed on surface-piercing profilers and at benthic boundary layer nodes. Equally important, the cable will also provide outstanding access for the science user community, enabling experiments requiring high-power, high-bandwidth sensors. Surface moorings will also be present at the 500 m and 80 m sites. These moorings will provide continuous meteorological and near-surface oceanographic measurements.

Further details about the Endurance Array may be found here.