The SUBMERSE project demonstrates the successful deployment and operation of fibre-optic sensing technologies—Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS), State of Polarization (SOP), and SOP-OTDR—across multiple submarine and terrestrial cable infrastructures in Europe. Continuous data acquisition from six experimental sites, complemented by calibration campaigns using Ocean Bottom Seismometers (OBS), has enabled the development of innovative methodologies for extracting geophysical, oceanographic, and bioacoustic information from fibre-optic measurements.This deliverable synthesises key scientific outcomes from diverse use cases, including earthquake monitoring, ocean dynamics characterisation, marine mammal detection, and vessel tracking. It highlights advances in data processing, signal interpretation, and integration with existing infrastructures, facilitating the generation of higher-level data products. These products are designed to be interoperable and accessible through established European research frameworks such as EPOS and Copernicus Marine services.Furthermore, the report outlines community engagement activities aimed at promoting the adoption of these novel datasets, gathering user feedback, and improving data accessibility and usability. The results underscore the transformative potential of submarine fibre-optic networks as multidisciplinary observatories, supporting a wide range of scientific and societal applications.
Evangelidis et al. (Thu,) studied this question.