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VENUS Data Now Available via Oceans 2.0

Overview

Some data archives from the VENUS Observatory in the Salish Sea, encompassing the Strait of Georgia and Saanich Inlet can now be accessed via Oceans 2.0 software tools including: - [Data Search](https://data.oceannetworks.ca/home?location=SG): a tool for finding and downloading data - [Plotting Utility](https://data.oceannetworks.ca/PlottingUtility): a graphing tool for time-series scalar data - [Device Console](https://data.oceannetworks.ca/DC): a tool for monitoring instrument health - [Device Search](https://data.oceannetworks.ca/DeviceSearch): a tool for finding instrument information The Victoria Experimental Network Under the Sea (VENUS) has been in continual operation since February, 2006. Deployed in the coastal waters of southern British Columbia, the observatory provides long-term oceanographic data on physical, chemical, biological, and sediment conditions in Saanich Inlet and in the Strait of Georgia near Vancouver, British Columbia. Now, most (but not all) of these long running time-series data can be interactively plotted (using Plotting Utility) and most data products can also be downloaded via Oceans 2.0. All standard data products are available, while some specialized device-specific data products will be made available over the coming months.

ONC’s new dashboard tracks earthquakes around the world

Overview

A magnitude 7.1 earthquake occurred at 21:52:02 (UTC) on October 20, 2015, near the Vanuatu Islands in the south Pacific’s volcanically active region located on the Ring of Fire. ![Quake_Vanuatu_2015_10_20.png](https://cdn.onc-prod.intergalactic.space/Quake_Vanuatu_2015_10_20_54bc46e918.png) Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) is delighted to announce a new interactive dashboard that lets you explore recent earthquakes occurring anywhere in the world, like this one, and those right on our doorstep on the west coast of Canada. Seafloor seismometers that are connected to the ONC observatory in the northeast Pacific detect signals from most major earthquakes, no matter where they originate on the planet. The dashboard enables you to explore a selection of recent earthquakes based on time, epicentre location and magnitude. For each earthquake you can see its distance from the ONC seismometers and inspect the seismometer signals indicating the arrival of the earthquake's ground-shaking seismic waves.

Taking ocean data to the next level: custom web services for marine decision-making

Overview

With hundreds of instruments monitoring Canada’s ocean environment, Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) gathers the same amount of data as the Hubble Telescope. Turning a firehose of high resolution data into useful knowledge is the challenge of the century. ONC’s robust and sophisticated data management system, Oceans 2.0, is already recognized as a state-of-the-art ocean management tool for marine decision-making, and it’s about to get even better. Oceans 2.0 is a versatile online tool that allows scientists and the public to access and manipulate data—including audio and video—from ONC’s hundreds of deep ocean and coastal sensors in real time, 24/7. Thanks to [renewed funding from CANARIE](https://www.oceannetworks.ca/news-and-stories/stories/canarie-funding-supports-new-tools-for-big-data/)—whose ongoing support since 2006 has made Oceans 2.0 possible—a new two phase project is currently underway to accelerate and advance scientific research in Canada.

Canada’s first three-glider mission maps whale habitat

Overview

For the first time in Canada, a triple glider project has successfully mapped out critical gray whale habitat off the west coast of Vancouver Island. While previous missions have deployed one or two gliders, this Whales, Habitat, and Listening (WHaLe) project—funded by the [Marine Environmental Observation, Prediction, and Response](http://meopar.ca/) (MEOPAR) and the Deparment of Fisheries and Oceans—is the first to fly three coordinated gliders. In late January, the three gliders—provided by Ocean Networks Canada (ONC), the [University of British Columbia](http://www.ubc.ca/) (UBC), and Dalhousie’s [Ocean Tracking Network](http://oceantrackingnetwork.org/) (OTN)—set out to survey the shelf and slope waters west of Clayoquot Sound. All three gliders were successfully recovered, two on 18 February by the CCGS John P. Tully.

Redundancy, graceful degradation and good engineering practice

Overview

# Upgrading power sources and data backups for ocean observation Monitoring the ocean in real-time requires platforms, instruments, cables and sensors in the deep sea. This ocean observing hardware requires high voltage power inputs from shore and delivers big data outputs. All of it needs to be regularly serviced and good engineering practices keep the systems running smoothly. Every year Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) [goes to sea to maintain and upgrade the hardware deployed in the ocean](https://www.oceannetworks.ca/news-and-stories/stories/earthquakes-pyrosomes-robots-and-big-seas/). And this year, power and data backup systems on shore are being overhauled after a decade of operations. ## Power systems upgrade In July 2017, ONC’s offshore and inshore power systems received upgrades to ensure that the design goals of redundancy⎯duplicate devices⎯and graceful degradation⎯systems that maintain limited functionality in the event of component or system failure⎯continue to be met. The Port Alberni shore station upgrade includes the overhaul of the two power systems that provide high voltage DC power⎯10,000 volts⎯to each of the six offshore NEPTUNE sites (Figure 1). The overhaul was conducted by Heinzinger Electronic of Germany.

Turning data into knowledge to build a smart ocean

Overview

Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) transforms hard science and big data into products and services that benefit society and industry thanks to a timely investment in Smart Ocean™ Systems from Transport Canada, Western Economic Diversification (WED), and IBM Canada. Gigantic computers were in use for decades before innovative new applications allowed the Internet to become the essential pocket-sized tool we all depend on today. It takes time and effort for specialized technology to evolve into practical use, and it’s no different for ocean observing infrastructure and data. > “You can have big data without information, but you can’t have information without data.” Daniel Keys Moran, computer programmer and sci fi author. The Canada Foundation for Innovation has supported ONC since 2002. In 2014, Transport Canada, WED, and IBM Canada wisely invested in a vision to take [ONC’s decade of deep sea ocean observing science, data, and infrastructure to the next level](https://www.oceannetworks.ca/news-and-stories/stories/government-of-canada-invests-in-smart-ocean/). After three years of hard work, collaboration, and innovation, this timely investment bore fruit in April 2017 when ONC successfully delivered an impressive suite of Smart OceanTM Systems infrastructure, services and data product prototypes, positioning Canada as a global leader in ocean technology, data management and responsible ocean management.

Oceans 2.0: An Internet of Things for the Ocean

Overview

You’ve probably heard of the “Internet of Things”. It’s a connected network of everyday objects that talk to each other, such as cars, kitchen appliances and heart monitors. But did you know that the Internet of Things also extends deep underwater off Canada’s three coasts? Think of it as a Fitbit for the ocean. Made possible by world-leading Oceans 2.0 data management software, Ocean Networks Canada’s (ONC) infrastructure is continuously monitoring the pulse and vital signs of our deep sea and coastal environments. Thousands of Internet-connected sensors gather real-time continuous data⎯everything from temperature, salinity, tides, seismic activity to underwater noise levels and video footage. # Oceans 2.0 helps us #knowtheocean Gathering 250 GB per day from an expanding network of Internet-connected instruments, Oceans 2.0 makes ocean data available to scientists, communities, and leaders, helping them to make informed decisions about climate change, earthquake and tsunami detection, marine safety, life in the ocean, and more (Figure 1). And it’s starting to attract international attention.

Coming soon: MINTED dynamic citation tool

Overview

One of ONC’s newest data stewardship initiatives developed over the last year is MINTED (Making Identifiers Necessary to Track Evolving Data), funded by the CANARIE Network. Due for public release later this month, this exciting project addresses the growing need to cite research datasets that change over time. ONC data are very dynamic due to continually accumulating data streams, data reprocessing, and data product code versioning. While there has been a growing recognition of the benefits and need for data citations made evident by the reception of the FAIR principles (findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable), existing platforms and tools such as Dataverse and the Federated Research Data Repository are currently only able to serve the needs of static or non-frequently updated datasets. ONC’s approach is driven by community best practices emerging from the Research Data Alliance. MINTED will introduce Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) and research organization identifiers (RORs) into ONC’s Oceans 2.0 digital infrastructure. A DOI is applied from the beginning of a deployment, providing traceability of the dynamic dataset life cycle, so that users can better interpret data integrity, respect the terms and conditions under which the dynamic data were accessed, and enhance reproducibility of scientific results. The MINTED project also helps ONC to renew its certification with World Data System (WDS) [CoreTrustSeal](https://www.coretrustseal.org/why-certification/requirements/) (CTS), identifying ONC as a repository that has implemented and supports [FAIR](https://www.force11.org/group/fairgroup/fairprinciples) data principles and best practices, encouraging confidence in content within. # Data Products and Services on the Rise After a decade in the deep sea, Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) has been steadily increasing the number of active sensors gathering data about our ocean ecosystem. These state-of-the-art instruments monitor everything from oxygen and temperature to seismic activity and tsunamis, and are equipped with cameras and hydrophones capture the underwater sights and sounds of marine life and human activity. This year has been particularly productive. The average number of active sensors was 12,105 in 2019-20 compared to 8,713 in 2018-19, representing a 39% increase over last year’s average (Figure 1).

Building TRUST to be FAIR: data stewardship for a sustainable ocean economy

Overview

Our society’s dependence on digital data is growing exponentially, along with our need to trust how and where that information is being managed and preserved. While consensus on ‘good’ data management and stewardship is beginning to develop and evolve, it demands constant diligence and on-going practice to keep up with the 24/7 demands of big data. At this critical time, Canada is developing national infrastructure and services and best practices for research data management. These initiatives include open access to data, achieving FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable) data and the launch of the [CoreTrustSeal](https://www.coretrustseal.org/about/) certification process for data repositories—places where large amounts of data are stored. Ocean Networks Canada’s (ONC) Oceans 2.0 is one such repository, managing and archiving a daily firehose of 280 gigabytes of free, open, continuous, real-time ocean data from over 9000 sensors on all three coasts (Figure 1).

Haida Nation and ONC partnership expands small vessel traffic monitoring in territorial waters

Overview

The archipelago of Haida Gwaii, home of the Haida Nation, is well known for its highly sensitive and rich ecological and cultural environments. Haida Gwaii’s rugged coastlines and remote location make it particularly vulnerable to marine traffic. As shipping and ocean-based industries continue to grow, understanding and monitoring vessel activity is an important step towards advancing environmental stewardship, resource management, and marine safety.