Development of Rapidly Deployable, Three Axis Tiltmeters: A Cooperative Proposal

斯克里普斯海洋学研究所将承担一项合作仪器开发项目，开发、建造和测试一种低成本的三轴倾斜仪，这种倾斜仪可以很容易地在海底部署长达两年的时间来测量地壳变形。这种新型传感器将采用精密光学检测技术来测量一个小摆的偏转，精度为1微度，漂移很小。包括数据记录器在内的整个装置将被安置在一个压力箱中。在海洋中脊进行科学实验时，将需要一组这样的新型倾斜传感器，因为火山活动会使海底地壳变形，从而使传感器倾斜。倾斜的数量和方向提供了地下火山活动的信息。这些信息被认为对与RIDGE全球变化研究计划有关的长期海底观测计划很重要。

Scripps Institution of Oceanography will undertake a collaborative instrument development project to develop, construct, and test a low-cost, three-axis tiltmeter which can be easily deployed for long durations of up to two years on the seafloor to measure crustal deformation. The new sensors will employ precision optical detection technology to measure the deflection of a small pendulum with a precision of 1 microradian and very small drift. The entire unit including data logger will be housed in a pressure case. An array of these new tilt sensors would be needed for scientific experiments along mid-ocean ridges where volcanic activity deforms the crust of the seafloor and hence tilts the sensors. The amount and direction of tilt then provides information on subsurface volcanic activity. Such information has been deemed important for planned long-term seafloor observatories associated with the RIDGE global change research program.