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Ocean bottom seismometers: the German DEPAS pool

Written by Guilhem Barruol on . Posted in Technology

The 48 broad band instruments that will be deployed around La Réunion during the RHUM-RUM experiment are provided by the German pool  DEPAS ("Deutscher Geräte-Pool für amphibische Seismologie" / "German instrument pool for amphibian seismology). They have the following characteristics  :

OBS DEPAS

  • Geophone, gimbal-mounted    Güralp CMG-40T, 60 sec - 50 Hz
  • Hydrophone    HighTechInc HTI-04-PCA/ULF, 100 sec - 8 kHz
  • Digital data recording unit    Send Geolon MCS, 24 bit, 1 - 1000 Hz, 20 GB
  • Acoustic release transponder    Kum K/MT 562 and Kum K/MT 8011M onboard unit
  • VHF radio beacon    Novatec RF-700A1 and Seimac DR500 bearing receiver
  • Xenon flashlight    Novatec ST-400A
  • Floating unit    Syntactical foam
  • Frame and pressure tubes    Titanium alloy
  • Anchor    Iron
  • Maximum deployment depth    6000 meters
  • Maximum deployment duration    19 months
  • Dimensions (excl. flag and beacons)    1.65 m x 1.30 m x 0.72 m
  • Dimensions (incl. flag and beacons)    2.80 m x 1.30 m x 0.72 m
  • Weight (excl. anchor) in air / in water    340 kg / -30 kg
  • Weight (incl. anchor) in air / in water    405 kg / 27 kg

More informations on the  instruments DEPAS on the AWI web site (Alfred Wegener Institute, Bremerhaven, Germany)