Antarctic Technology Offshore Lagoon Laboratory, Floating oceanographic laboratory in Moorfleet, Germany.
The Antarctic Technology Offshore Lagoon Laboratory is a floating oceanographic facility made of three curved fiberglass elements that form a horseshoe shape around a central area of about 150 square meters. Each element stretches about 25 meters long and provides a stable platform for ocean research.
The facility operated from 1982 to 1995 at the University of Kiel's Institute of Oceanography and supported research on marine life. During this time it contributed to developing technologies later used for polar expeditions.
The laboratory played an important role in ocean research by sharing images of marine organisms through radio connections. These innovations opened new ways to observe and document sea life from different locations.
The structure was equipped with beds and work areas to accommodate up to twelve researchers who could work on the water. Its flat design with minimal draft allowed it to anchor in shallow waters for observation studies.
The facility used a NeXT computer system that enabled the development of early virtual microscopes for studying Antarctic krill. This was a breakthrough in computer-assisted visualization of marine organisms.
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