HDR : Telemetry of ocean seafloors using distributed fiber optic sensing

ABSTRACT : Understanding oceanic and seafloor processes is essential for advancing geophysics, seismology, and climate science. This research explores the application of fiber optic-based underwater remote sensing to bridge critical observational gaps in ocean monitoring.

While traditional seafloor instrumentation is limited by high costs, sparse coverage, and logistical constraints, the development of Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) and other fiber optic sensing techniques offers a transformative approach by repurposing existing submarine telecom cables into dense, real-time sensor networks.

This presentation will highlight how the pursuit of new instrumental methods is likely a necessary step toward a better understanding of earthquakes and, more broadly, progress in Earth sciences. A series of recent studies will illustrate the potential of DAS applied to seafloor telecom cables for monitoring seismic activity, ocean waves, seafloor currents, and internal waves.

These results demonstrate how fiber optic sensing—particularly DAS—is paving the way for a new era of seafloor geophysical monitoring, with the potential to significantly enhance our understanding of the Earth's oceanic systems.

JURY : Prof. Andreas Rietbrock, KIT, Germany (Reviewer), Dr. Philippe Jousset, GFZ, Germany (Reviewer), Dr. Arantza Ugalde, CSIC, Spain (Reviewer), Dr. Guilhem Barruol, IGE, France (examiner), Dr. Jean-Matthieu Nocquet, IPGP/Geoazur, France (examiner)