Monitoring the Ocean with Telecommunications Cables

Germany-based GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences and GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research launched the SAFAtor project to utilize existing telecommunications cables on the seabed to gather climate and geological data. The €30 million project aims to equip these cables with sensors for monitoring ocean currents, earthquakes, and tsunamis, while enhancing early warning systems. The project is expected to fill significant knowledge gaps in the ocean, which covers 70% of the Earth’s surface, and will be implemented over five years.