R/V Marcus G Langseth - Oceanographic Instrumentation 2021

A proposal is made to fund instrumentation on the R/V Marcus Langseth, a 235’ Global seismic vessel with general oceanographic capabilities. The vessel is owned by Columbia University and operated by Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University under a cooperative agreement with NSF. The Langseth is unique in the Academic Fleet in that it provides a unique combination of capabilities for imaging the oceans, the seafloor and the solid earth beneath the sea.

It is the only vessel in the world dedicated to academic research that is capable of conducting 3D seismic surveys as well as extended offset 2D surveys. The tuned, linear source array, consisting of up to 36 air-guns, with a total capacity of 6,600 cu in is also unique asset of this vessel.

All of the requested equipment in this proposal is for upgrading existing systems. Instrumentation requested in this proposal includes: 1) 2x Sercel Seal Radial Vibration Isolation Module (RVIM) $46,620 2) Concept Systems Orca Navigation System Hardware Upgrade $28,184 3) FGPS Seispos and P1Tools Software $27,500

4) 2x Sercel Seal Tail Swivels $25,696 $128,000 Broader Impacts

The principal impact of the present proposal is under Merit Review Criterion 2 of the Proposal Guidelines (NSF 19-602). It provides infrastructure support for scientists to use the vessel and its shared-use instrumentation in support of their NSF-funded oceanographic research projects (which individually undergo separate review by the relevant research program of NSF).

The acquisition, maintenance and operation of shared-use instrumentation allows NSF-funded researchers from any US university or lab access to working, calibrated instruments for their research, reducing the cost of that research, and expanding the base of potential researchers.

This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.