Development of Seismometers Sensor Network for Observation on Sea Floor - IP goes to Oceans

Because large earthquakes have repeatedly occurred in subduction zones, it is important to observe seismic activities on the sea floor. An ocean bottom cabled seismometers (OBCS) system is the most suitable tool for this purpose since data can be obtained in real-time. Although the existing OBCS systems are useful for the study of seismic activities, the number of stations is limited due to their cost. Therefore, lower cost in both production and installation is desired. We have developed a new OBCS system utilizing IP technologies. IP technologies yield the new OBCS system that are more compact and less expensive, while a large amount of complex hardware is used in the existing OBCS system. System reliability is ensured by using IP network technologies that provide redundancy. The new OBCS system was first installed to observe the Niigata-Kobe tectonic zone in the Japan Sea on September 2010. Although this first OBCS system has a total length of 25 km, it has been proven that seismic data can be successfully obtained and that the new OBCS system is effective and useful for the dense observation of seismogenic activities on the sea floor around Japan.