| Term | Description |
| CORK | Circulation Obviation Retrofit Kit. A sealed subseafloor Borehole Observatory |
| WeatherStation | Collects multiple types of weather-related data |
| Glider | A type of autonomous underwater vehicle that uses small changes in its buoyancy in order to move up and down like a profiling float. |
| Aircraft | Powered airborne platform |
| Seismic:SCS | Used primarily for entry_event_line_set Single-Channel Seismics |
| Tripod | A three-legged platform that can be equipped with a variety of devices. |
| USV | Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV) |
| Thermosalinograph | Instrument that measures sea surface temperature and salinity using a water intake system |
| AUV | Autonomous Underwater Vehicle such as ABE |
| CTD | CTD cage to which other instruments can be attached |
| Seismic:MCS | Used primarily for entry_event_line_set Multi-Channel Seismics |
| Cabled Observatory | Infrastructure that enables live access to instruments on the seafloor via cabled connection. |
| HOV | Human-Occupied Vehicles are submersibles that carry personnel. Alvin is an example. |
| HROV | A Hybrid Remote Operated Vehicle (HROV) is a submersible that can be operated in two different modes, either as a Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) or an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) |
| ASV | Autonomous Surface Vehicle |
| ROV | Remotely Operated Vehicles are tethered to their mother platform (typically a ship) from which the vehicle is operated. ROVs do not carry personnel. An example is Jason II. |
| Sled | A frame on which devices are mounted. It is connected to a mother platform by a wire. It is without autonomous propulsion. Examples are WHOI TowCam, and WHOI DSL-120 platforms. |
