In this section:
- Research Themes
- Research Highlights
- Publications
- Ocean Processes
- Ocean Properties
- The State of the Ocean: A VENUS Perspective
VENUS is an Internet-accessible research facility designed to support a variety of established marine research projects and help researchers design their own projects. As VENUS researchers reveal new insights, we feature highlights of their findings.
Researchers using VENUS are specialists in a broad range of science and engineering studies, and you can participate at any stage of your research career. Here are some of the mechanisms available:
 Go to Data Plots |
 Search Data Archive |
 Propose an experiment |
 Connect your instrument |
Once an instrument is connected to VENUS , it receives and sends data through the DMAS, which is accessible to you through the Internet. Scientists can respond to oceanic events, schedule additional observations, and observe rare and important phenomena, all in real-time. The VENUS nodes support research in three different settings:
- 1. A quiet basin with high productivity and an annual cycle of deepwater anoxia and oxygen rejuvenation. The Saanich Inlet site is in the zone of high to low oxygen transition, which allows scientists to monitor and experiment with the geochemical environment, the physical setting, and the many organism species that must adapt to the fluctuating conditions. Node depth is 95m.
2. A mid-channel site with high tidal exchange below a high-volume river discharge and a busy shipping lane. Circulation in the Strait of Georgia is influenced by deepwater inflow connected to the open Pacific Ocean and by surface outflow from the Fraser River. Annual and inter-annual changes in offshore ocean conditions are manifest in the coastal seaway through complex teleconnections. Node depth is near 300m.
3. An active river delta where sediments are depositing and eroding in high tidal currents. The Fraser Delta site provides an in-water laboratory that allows sedimentologists to examine both small-scale sediment behaviour and large-scale slope failures. This setting is also a challenging one for bottom-dwelling animals. Node depth is around 100m.
The arena for VENUS studies is subject not only to natural extremes but also to human influences. The sites are close to three large cities and the marine environment is extensively used by humans. Thus, many research projects can examine ocean and organism responses to such human pressures as shipping noise, run-off fluctuations, and long-term climate change.
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