American researchers from Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) have converted a fiber optic cable found at the bottom of the Alaskan coast into a sensor for studying the state of permafrost. The report was published in the official gazette Web site SNL.
Using sensors, scientists tracked pulses of light passing along the wire and determined the ambient temperature per meter of the line based on wavelength. They were also able to evaluate how the cable was affected by acoustic waves, providing insight into the structure of the Arctic seafloor.
“One of the innovations of this project is that we can now obtain acoustic and temperature data using a single fiber. We developed a new system to remotely collect both types of data using a single optical fiber. And we are getting some interesting results,” said project leader Cristian Stanciu.
Based on the data collected, the researchers created a geophysical model that takes into account liquids and gases on the underwater surface. These calculations made it possible to create an up-to-date map of the permafrost distribution at the bottom of the Arctic sea.
According to experts, information about the state of permafrost in the Arctic is important for monitoring climate change; because the constant melting of ice causes the release of methane and other greenhouse gases into the environment.
Birds with electronic backpacks before helped Scientists are creating a map of the atmosphere.