SAFAtor aims at effectively closing the observational gap in the continental shelf, slope, and deep oceans by 1) developing and installing new sensor modules that can be readily integrated into submarine telecommunication cables, 2) using the fiber in existing cables as a sensor and 3) developing a service infrastructure to archive, process and disseminate these new observables. A key novelty of this new generation of monitoring system is to utilize existing telecommunication systems, rather than dedicated submarine fiber, for monitoring the solid earth and oceans, without disrupting telecom traffic. These new technologies have the potential to profoundly change ocean observations and revolutionize the development of models used to analyze and predict climate change and the variability of ocean currents. These observations may also elucidate potential preparation phases of major subduction earthquakes, detect landslides on coastal slopes, and monitor largely unknown submarine volcanic activity. Operational real-time access will reduce earthquake and tsunami early warning delays. Given the novelty and uniqueness of these observations, other curiosity-driven discoveries will also be possible (e.g., to study marine life).

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Time frame

• 2025 - 2029

Principal Investigator

• Prof. Dr. Fabrice Cotton
• Prof. Dr. Charlotte Krawczyk
• Prof. Dr. Frederik Tilmann

Funding

• Helmholtz Association

Cooperations/Partners

• GEOMAR