# An information superhighway into the mesophotic

**URL:** <https://bristlemouth.discourse.group/t/an-information-superhighway-into-the-mesophotic/363>\
**Category:** Pioneer Program\
**Created:** [June 10, 2024, 5:58pm UTC](https://bristlemouth.discourse.group/t/an-information-superhighway-into-the-mesophotic/363 "2024-06-10T17:58:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Aquanaut1957](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/bristlemouth.discourse.group/aquanaut1957/32/301_2.png) [@Aquanaut1957](https://bristlemouth.discourse.group/u/Aquanaut1957)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2024, 5:58pm UTC](https://bristlemouth.discourse.group/t/an-information-superhighway-into-the-mesophotic/363/1 "2024-06-10T17:58:34Z")

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Hi Everyone,

Inspired by the recent call for proposals by NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration, we have submitted a preliminary proposal that involves Bristlemouth nodes and a Spotter buoy that will act as an information superhighway into the mesophotic zone. The mesophotic (40-150 m) is the frontier of coral reef science yet it is difficult to work there as it requires either technical diving (including saturation diving from an underwater habitiat, something I have logged 89 days doing over 10 missions), or visiting by research submersible. Our team from Northeastern University, CARMABI, and Scripps Institution of Oceanography hopes to develop a completely new method of working at these depths, one enabled by the BM system. Here’s a diagram of what we have in mind:

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/bristlemouth/original/1X/8de42559262fe9570fc587b4945cf7896bad6d20.jpeg)

Our partnership with a Northeastern University spinout, HydroNet, makers of best-in-breed underwater modems capable of forming mesh networks, provides a key enabling technology to realize our ambition of manipulative real-time mesophotic experiments. By integrating the modems into the smart mooring at strategic locations, we can achieve a reasonable stand-off distance from the nearby Bristlemouth smart mooring cable, without extra cabling running laterally to the face of the reef drop-off.

We are building on our extensive experience running cabled instrumentation into the Aquarius underwater laboratory over the years. But BM + Spotter will be a game changer. If we are funded, we will be able to implement a system that intelligently responds to changing environmental conditions by altering sample rates and/or activating sampling devices after the divers leave. Needless to say, we are big fan of the BM design philosophy and capabilities.

Best fishes,  
Mark

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**Author:** ![tosca](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/bristlemouth.discourse.group/tosca/32/14_2.png) [@tosca](https://bristlemouth.discourse.group/u/tosca)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2024, 1:23am UTC](https://bristlemouth.discourse.group/t/an-information-superhighway-into-the-mesophotic/363/2 "2024-06-11T01:23:17Z")

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This is so cool! I love the concept. Fingers crossed on receiving an award!