OBSBKA301

OBSBKA301

Broadband Ocean Bottom Seismometer

Vacuuming out the OBS caisson

ROPOS using a suction tube to vacuum out the caisson for the broadband seismometer at Axial Base. Photo Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF, Dive 1739, V14

Vacuuming out the OBS caisson

ROPOS using a suction tube to vacuum out the caisson for the broadband seismometer at Axial Base. Photo Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF, Dive 1739, V14

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Broadband seismometers measure seismicity/earthquake activity along tectonic plate boundaries where two key phenomena can occur: large-magnitude subduction zone earthquakes and seismicity associated with migration of melt (magma) beneath the seafloor at underwater volcanoes. Historically, these instruments have been deployed by free-fall from the ship, which has commonly resulted in poor coupling to the seafloor, and, therefore, poor data quality.

Three of these instruments are now installed, one at the base of Axial Seamount (PN3A), and two at the summit of Axial Seamount (Eastern and Central Caldera sites). In sedimented areas (at the base of Axial Seamount), the seismometer was buried beneath the seafloor sediments in a caisson to obtain the highest quality resolution of seismic waves. At the summit of Axial Seamount, there is little sediment, and therefore the broadband seismometer was installed on basement rock, and surrounded by gavel-filled bags.

Broadband seismometer OBSBKA301 is located at the Axial Base site and is connected to the MJ03A junction box by a 25 m-long extension cable. The seismometer is manufactured by Guralp, instrument model Guralp CMG-1T 360s-50Hz with CMG-5T Strong Motion, DM24/7-EAM Digitizer/Interface + Low Frequency Hydrophone (HTI-90-U). These seismometers have an Ethernet (10/100) interface, and are synced to pulse per second timing.

Because the seismometers are cabled and, hence, connected directly to shore, they will provide detection of earthquakes in real-time. Much larger arrays of cabled seismometers and pressure sensors are being utilized offshore in Japan to provide early warning dectection of seismic events such as the 9.0 magnitude megathrust Tohoku event and tsunamis (Dense OceanFloor Network System for Earthquakes and Tsunamis - DONET).

Vacuuming out the OBS caisson

ROPOS using a suction tube to vacuum out the caisson for the broadband seismometer at Axial Base. Photo Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF, Dive 1739, V14

Vacuuming out the OBS caisson

ROPOS using a suction tube to vacuum out the caisson for the broadband seismometer at Axial Base. Photo Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF, Dive 1739, V14

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