A Deep-Towed Explosive Source for Seismic Experiments on theOcean Floor

该奖项将支持建造一个新的地震声源，这将首次允许在10-100米的尺度上对深海最上层火成岩地壳的结构进行精确测量。进行这种实验的最佳方法是将所有设备都放在海底。虽然海底地震仪已经存在了许多年，但在深海环境中还没有能力产生声能。即将开发的拖曳式、大功率、低频震源将使研究人员能够在规模和精度上解决问题，这是以前无法实现的。在一次降低仪器包的过程中，可以引爆多达35个装药，从而可以长时间地观察海流特征，如热液喷口、轴向火山和玄武岩流。一个原型系统已经开发和使用之前。目前的拨款将允许建造一个最终系统。

This award will support the construction of a new seismic sound source that, for the first time, will allow precise measurements to be made of the structure of the uppermost igneous crust in the deep ocean at scales of 10-100 meters. The optimal way to carry out such an experiment is to place all of the equipment on the seafloor. Although ocean-bottom seismometers have existed for a number of years, there has been no ability to generate acoustic energy in deep-sea environment. The towed, high-power, low frequency seismic source to be developed will allow researchers to tackle problems on a scale, and with a precision, that has previously been unapproachable. As many as 35 explosive charges can be detonated in one lowering of the instrument package, allowing long profiles of sea-flow features such as hydrothermal vent fields, axial volcanoes and basalt flows. A prototype system has been developed and used previously. The present award will allow construction of a final system.