A specific group of scientists, called SWARM scientists, use the moorings to explore Palmer Deep.

  

Check out where Palmer Deep is located back on the research page!

  

They have deployed three mooring systems in the Palmer Deep area. Each mooring system has a mooring line anchored to the ocean floor and connected to an echosounder and float. The float lifts the echosounder above the sea floor and points it toward the surface. The echosounder is housed in the float, and is suspended off the sea floor. The echosounder depth is about 350 meters deep, and sends acoustic signals toward the surface. Moorings are used for keeping equipment at consistent depths in the water column.

  

The SWARM scientists will be using the echosounder to measure the abundance of krill in the ocean.