Woods Hole Science Center
RMOBS is an opportunity provided by the
USGS for rapid mobilization of ocean bottom seismometers (OBS) to
monitor unanticipated seismic events such as earthquakes or volcanic
eruptions in the coastal and marine environments. This opportunity
recognizes the potential societal and scientific return from studies of
aftershocks of a significant earthquake or volcanic sources. It
represents a natural and responsible effort by the USGS to provide an
emergency response to natural hazards.
The USGS maintains sixteen OBS at the National OBS Instrument Facility
(OBSIP) at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI). These OBS
are equipped with three-component short-period (4.5 Hz) fully gimbaled
(3 axes) seismometers on an external arm and a hydrophone. They are
equipped with the Quanterra 330 data logger and have a wide (135 dB)
dynamic range. They are light (100 lb.) and small, can be air shipped,
and can be deployed from small vessels opportunities. Five of these OBS
are dedicated to RMOBS.
U.S. Department of the Interior |
U.S. Geological Survey
URL: woodshole.er.usgs.gov/operations/obs/rmobs_pub/index.html
Page Contact Information: WHSC Webmaster
Page Last Modified: Tuesday, 18-Dec-2007 09:15:50 EST
