VENUS

VENUS Download Data – New Main Page!

Vervynck — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:07:12 +0000

Since May 2011, the VENUS Data and DMAS teams have been working hard to ingest a 10 year data set collected on BC Ferries by the Dr. Jim Gower at the Institute of Ocean Sciences, and a 3 year data set collected by the STRATOGEM group at UBC. For more information about these data sets, please see our About the Data page. VENUS plans to install SeaKeeper instrument systems on BC Ferries this spring for collecting surface data in Strait of Georgia, continuing the long time series. In order to make the historical data available and prepare for the new system, we have made some changes to our Download Data page in order to accommodate Mobile Systems. The main page now has 3 different search types for accessing VENUS data:

Mobile: Select ‘Mobile’ to request data that have been collected on one of our mobile systems (where devices are moving in space and time). Device and sensor types include CTD, Chlorophyll and Transmission from systems installed on BC Ferries.

Platform: Select ‘Platform’ to request data by instrument or by water property from one of our stationary (fixed latitude, longitude and depth) sites where instrument platforms are connected to the VENUS cabled network. Device and sensor types include CTDs, Oxygen, Turbidity, Chlorophyll and Pressure Sensors, Dissovled Gases, Acoustic Profilers and Current Meters.

Multimedia: Select ‘Multimedia’ to request images and video from our camera systems and hydrophone spectra and audio files. Devices under this type are stationary (fixed latitude, longitude and depth) and connected to the VENUS cabled network.

We are still working out minor issues with the background processes that generate our data products. If you are having problems getting the data you need, or if you have any feedback about the new main page, please send an email to venus@uvic.ca and we will respond as soon as possible.

DMAS Archiver Errors – some plots have not updated

Vervynck — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:22:46 +0000

DMAS continues to have issues with their archiving processes. Yesterday’s files were not archived so some of the plots in our Data Plots section didn’t update because the files are not available. No data have been lost and the DMAS Systems team is working hard to resolve the problem. Thank you for your patience.

VENUS Maintenance Cruise: Feb 21 – 27

Vervynck — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 17:16:08 +0000

Between February 21 – 27 the VENUS Team will be at sea conducting maintenance on the Saanich Inlet and Strait of Georgia Arrays. Sites on both arrays will be serviced, so data streams will be interrupted and/ unavailable during this time. Archived data will still be available from the Download Data page. Our data services will slowly come back online as new data streams are available. We hope to have all our services fully functional again by the end of next week. Thank you for your patience.

Summer Student position at VENUS

nnk@uvic.ca — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 23:21:41 +0000

Victoria Experimental Network Under the Sea (VENUS) is an interactive research facility that connects scientists, students and the public with the ocean in real time. Anyone connected to the Internet, can log in to the VENUS online portal at www.venus.uvic.ca where they can monitor ocean conditions as they change. VENUS supports and enables research projects across various disciplines, from Biology to Fine Arts, Oceanography to Computer Science.

Position: Graphic designer assistant (web/print)

Job Description:
The assistant will employ her/his graphic design and creative skills to enhance visuals on the VENUS website. The incumbent will be working closely with communication and web development team of VENUS. Opportunity to closer engage in ongoing maintenance (WordPress CMS) of the VENUS online portal will be available.

Qualifications:
Proven ability to use computer graphic and design software. Familiarity and experience with Google Earth is desired. Knowledge and experience of GIS applications and/or 3D application will be an asset.

Salary: Commensurate with experience.

Term/duration: 4 month (12-18 weeks), beginning early May 2012.

Application deadline: March 1, 2012.

Response Information: to apply, please email your cover letter and resume in Word or PDF format referencing position title at venus@uvic.ca.

Volume 32, Winter 2012 Newsletter

Johanna — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:46:13 +0000

In the Winter 2012 issue of the VENUS newsletter:

Cruise News – New Cameras and Science Instruments
Independent Review Panel Comes with a Site Visit.
The Acoustic Tracking of Marine Mammals with the VENUS Hydrophone Array.
VENUS – 6 years of Operations and User Support.
Connecting with Research Community – 2012 Ocean Sciences Meeting.

Click here to read the full newsletter.

Hydrophone data – still lagging post DMAS release

Vervynck — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:29:22 +0000

DMAS is still having some issues getting processes running again after their code release last Thursday. Our hydrophone files are lagging behind so the data displayed in our hydrophone players for SOG East and SOG Central are significantly behind. We hope to have the issue resolved soon.

Animated sequence of radial current vectors from February 1, 2012

Johanna — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:00:19 +0000

The CODAR station at the Westshore Terminal in Tsawwassen measures surface ocean currents using radio signals reflected off waves in the Strait of Georgia.

A second station, near Vancouver Airport, will be installed in the next month or so, after which it will be possible to resolve north-south and east-west components of the currents. In the meantime, with only a single station operating, it is possible to measure only radial current velocities–that is to say, only the components of ocean currents that are directly towards or directly away from the receiving antenna can be detected.

Interpreting the physical meaning of plots of radial velocities is challenging. An extremely small current-velocity arrow pointing due west, for example, may be evidence of an extremely weak westward current, but it could also correspond to an extremely strong northward current with a very small westward component.

Nevertheless, this animated sequence of radial current vectors from February 1, 2012 gives some tantalizing hints of the current patterns that will be fully resolvable once the second station is up and running.

A plot of estimated tidal heights and current speeds lies below the mapped currents. Current speeds are shown in red, with positive values denoting incoming tide (flowing south to north) and negative values denoting an outgoing tide. Tide heights are shown in blue.

At the time of peak incoming tidal flow, at 04:00 UTC, one would expect to see currents moving northwest, along the Strait. Looking at those CODAR arrows that lie parallel to the Strait’s direction, this is in fact what is seen at 04:00. Similarly, at 22:00, at peak outgoing tidal flow, the CODAR arrows (again, those that are parallel to the Strait’s direction) indicate a flow to the southwest, as one would expect.

DMAS Release on February 9 – Download data and latest data may be affected

Marlene — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:19:54 +0000

Please be aware that DMAS was doing a release on February 9, 2012. Some VENUS items such as the Latest Data Service and Download Data are not updating as expected. Please be patient as we work out the bugs.

6-year Data Record from Saanich Inlet on VENUS

nnk@uvic.ca — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:51:52 +0000

VENUS Celebrates 6 Years of Operation

On February 8, 2006 the VENUS Node in Saanich Inlet went live. The six year data record can be viewed under our Research section, State of the Ocean, log in to be able to download the data. Look for us at the upcoming Click here to continue reading...

Discussing ZAP aboard RV Thomas G. Thompson

Johanna — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:45:08 +0000

Master Student Mei Sato and VENUS Engineer Paul Macoun discuss ZAP aboard RV Thomas G. Thompson, December 2011.