What is PRIMO?
The Polar Remote Interactive Marine Observatory is a cabled observatory
to be located about 3 miles to the south of Palmer Station, Anarctica
in 130 m of water.
PRIMO will have observational p
ackages that will
provide year‑round
biological and
physical data to support both
educational and research objectives. The instrument package will
be connected by
electro-optical cable to shore providing the capability for
internet-based
teleoperation by educators, students, and scientists from any where in
the
world. The observatory will consist of a vertical profiler with CTD,
current
meter, sensors for chlorophyll and CDOM fluorescence, oxygen, nitrate,
a
bio-optical package, and an under ice video observation surveillance
system.
The profiler will rise to the surface multiple times per day from a
seafloor-mounted platform consisting of a winch, ADCP and a remote
video
camera. The intent is to use this near shore observatory as a proof of
concept
and test bed for the implementation of a similar observatory to be
located on
the Shelf at a depth of 400-500 m. Both near shore and Shelf
observatories will
provide infrastructure for a variety of science projects conducted by a
host of
principal investigators.