GEOSTAR , an undersea laboratory to detect tsunamis

Released on - 1/5/2010 3:02:14 PM

A team of Spanish scientists from the Marine Technology Unit of CSIC have installed, at a depth of 3,300m and 60 miles from Cape St. Vincent, the first European submarine laboratory designed to act as a tsunami early warning and prevention station.

Weighing 3 tons and 5 metres in height, "GEOSTAR" has a variety of measuring equipment including an oceanic seismometer as well as water salinity and temperature sensors; which allow it, over and above its primary objective, to collect data on climate change. All this data is sent to a surface buoy which then transmits it, almost in real time and via satellite, to the various European laboratories linked to the project.

Powered by a lithium battery, "GEOSTAR" should have a sufficient power supply for one year at the end of which it will be decided whether to maintain this current method or to replace it with a cable.

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