DOE OSTI · 3367098
Distributed optical fibre sensing in physical oceanography: emergence and future prospects
Abstract
Distributed optical fibre sensing (DOFS) is a technology that enables continuous, real-time measurements of a range of environmental parameters along the length of a fibre optic cable. In this article, we review the recently emerged applications of DOFS techniques in physical oceanography and offer a perspective on the technology's potential for future growth within the field. The introduction of DOFS to physical oceanography is contextualised with a brief history of the technology, which spun off primarily from the use of seafloor-laid optical fibres for telecommunications purposes. The key components and underpinning physics of a DOFS system are outlined and, on their basis, the suite of variables that are observable with DOFS are discussed. The implementation factors of DOFS, which include trade-offs between measurement accuracy and spatio-temporal resolutions and ranges, are also examined. The physical oceanographic applications of DOFS to date are then illustrated with case examples of four distinct DOFS techniques: distributed temperature sensing (DTS), which can provide ocean temperature observations; distributed static strain sensing (DSS) and distributed acoustic sensing (DAS), which are sensitive to temperature, cable strain and strain-associated variables, such as pressure and ocean velocity; and ultra-long-range observations of ocean currents with optical interferometry. The forthcoming prospects of DOFS in physical oceanography are considered, and are proposed to include new fibre optic-based approaches to sense ocean salinity and measure through the water column. We conclude with reflections on the future role of DOFS within the Global Ocean Observing System, and highlight the opportunities provided by the existing world-wide network of seafloor-laid optical fibres.
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Naveira Garabato, Alberto C. [Univ. of Southampton (United Kingdom)], Spingys, Carl P. [National Oceanography Centre Southampton (NOCS) (United Kingdom)], Lucas, Andrew J. [Univ. of California, San Diego, CA (United States). Scripps Inst. of Oceanography], Dotto, Tiago S. [National Oceanography Centre Southampton (NOCS) (United Kingdom); Univ. of East Anglia, Norwich (United Kingdom)] (ORCID:0000000305656941), Wild, Christian T. [Univ. of Tubingen (Germany)] (ORCID:0000000345861704), Tyler, Scott W. [Univ. of Nevada, Reno, NV (United States)], Scambos, Ted A. [Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO (United States)] (ORCID:0000000342686322), Kratt, Christopher B. [Univ. of Nevada, Reno, NV (United States)], Cappelli, Giuseppe [Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Plouzané (France). Geo-Ocean; Univ. of Brest, Ifremer, Plouzané (France); Ifremer, Plouzané (France); IDIL Fibre Optics, Lannion (France)] (ORCID:0009000344899791), Williams, Ethan F. [Univ. of California, Santa Cruz, CA (United States)], Claret, Mariona [NorthWest Research Associates, Seattle, WA (United States)], Glover, Hannah E. [Oregon State Univ., Corvallis, OR (United States)], Wengrove, Meagan E. [Oregon State Univ., Corvallis, OR (United States)], Smith, Madison M. [Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA (United States)] (ORCID:000000032259042X), Baker, Michael Grant [Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000245806820), Marra, Giuseppe [National Physical Laboratory, Teddington (United Kingdom)], Tamussino, Max [National Physical Laboratory, Teddington (United Kingdom)], Feng, Zitong [National Physical Laboratory, Teddington (United Kingdom)], Lloyd, David [EXA Infrastructure, Dublin (Ireland)], Taylor, Liam [EXA Infrastructure, Dublin (Ireland)], Mazur, Mikael [Nokia Bell Labs, Murray Hill, NJ (United States)], Mangriotis, Maria-Daphne [National Oceanography Centre Southampton (NOCS) (United Kingdom)] (ORCID:0000000217659149), Micallef, Aaron [Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Moss Landing, CA (United States)], Ward Neale, Jennifer [National Oceanography Centre Southampton (NOCS) (United Kingdom)], Godin, Oleg A. [Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA (United States)] (ORCID:0000000345992149), Alford, Matthew H. [Univ. of California, San Diego, CA (United States). Scripps Inst. of Oceanography], Gregory, Emma P. M. [National Oceanography Centre Southampton (NOCS) (United Kingdom)], Clare, Michael A. [National Oceanography Centre Southampton (NOCS) (United Kingdom)], Shiri, Hamid [National Oceanography Centre Southampton (NOCS) (United Kingdom)], Ruiz Angulo, Angel [Univ. of Iceland, Reykjavik (Iceland)] (ORCID:0000000272923002), Gunn, Kathryn L. [Univ. of Southampton (United Kingdom)], Moat, Ben I. [National Oceanography Centre Southampton (NOCS) (United Kingdom)] (ORCID:0000000186767779), Yeo, Isobel A. [National Oceanography Centre Southampton (NOCS) (United Kingdom)], Loureiro, Afonso [Agência Regional para o Desenvolvimento da Investigação, Tecnologia e Inovação (ARDITI), Funchal (Portugal); Univ. of Lisbon (Portugal)] (ORCID:000000023762586X), Silvano, Alessandro [Univ. of Southampton (United Kingdom)] (ORCID:0000000264411496), Hartog, Arthur [FOSINA, Nanterre (France)], Belal, Mohammad [National Oceanography Centre Southampton (NOCS) (United Kingdom)]. 2026-04-10. Distributed optical fibre sensing in physical oceanography: emergence and future prospects. https://doi.org/10.5194/os-22-1129-2026
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