Rapid deployment seismic array

地震方法是NERC研究的许多领域的基础；作为对地球进行近实时“成像”的为数不多的方法之一，也是获取地下物理性质信息最常用的方法之一。地震方法在地球和环境科学中广泛使用：用于地震、火山和山体滑坡的监测和表征；了解人类基础设施的影响，包括地热发电和风力涡轮机；研究冰川运动、冻融过程和永久冻土行为；成像地球深处，包括地下自然资源；以及动物的行为，比如迁徙。在偏远、交通不便和具有挑战性的环境中，如冰川消融带，现有的地震传感器可能会失效，因此对快速地震部署的需求日益增长。为英国研究界提供这样一个快速部署的地震阵列是NERC地球物理设备设施（GEF）指导委员会在2021年确定的首要任务，在NERC社区需求声明中指出，“迫切需要在短期内用现代和前瞻性的替代方案取代GEF的关键骨干仪器”。本文提出的Certimus传感器阵列将满足这一迫切需求，既提供关键的主干仪器，又带来独特的下一代优势，例如倾斜公差从旧仪器的正/负2.5度增加到正/负90度。该功能是Certimus独有的，通过在其他宽带地震仪因快速变化的地面水平（如冰川，大陆冰盖和冰冻圈中的永久冻土）而失效的环境中实现连续宽带地震数据采集，从而在世界级的环境科学中实现了一步改变；以及滑坡和雪崩等斜坡不稳定地区。Certimus使用的功率大约是其前身的三分之一，这大大减少了需要运输到现场的太阳能电池板和电池的数量。此外，更小更轻的仪器减少了运输重量，这进一步降低了数据采集的环境成本。该阵列将成为NERC地球物理设备设施的一部分，从一开始就安置在莱斯特节点（seisa - uk）内，GEF工作人员将在其整个生命周期内对其进行委托、支持和维护。它将通过正常的基金申请程序提供给获得全球环境基金全面支持和培训的英国研究人员。在GEF的整个历史中，对这类传感器的需求一直很高，通常超过供应，自从旧设备退役以来，这已经成为一个严重的问题。GEF在维护地震设备方面拥有超过20年的经验和专业知识，再加上他们的用户培训和支持计划，他们已经证明了保持传感器使用寿命超过制造商预期寿命两倍的能力。数据将在每次贷款结束3年后存档并公开，为这笔资本投资带来额外价值。我们的项目合作伙伴在使用Certimus方面有着丰富的经验，并表示他们“……我坚信这台设备将对英国地震学领域的研究产生变革性的影响，主要是因为它开辟了以前不可能的研究领域，但却完全在NERC的职权范围内。”我们的项目合作伙伴为现场测试设备提供了实物支持，并培训了全球环境基金的工作人员，他也相信“获得大量的Certimus地震仪将使英国地震学界在未来十年保持在其学科的前沿，并为从事前所未有的多学科研究提供新的动力”。

Seismic methods underpin many areas of NERC research; as one of a limited number of methods for "imaging" the Earth in near real time, and one of the most used methods for obtaining information about the physical properties of the subsurface. Seismic methods are used across earth and environmental sciences: for the monitoring and characterisation of earthquakes, volcanoes and landslides; for understanding impacts from human infrastructure including geothermal power and wind turbines; for the study of glacial movement, freeze-thaw processes, and permafrost behaviour; for imaging the deep Earth, including subsurface natural resources; and for animal behaviour, such as migration. There is a growing need for rapid seismic deployments in remote, inaccessible and challenging environments, such as glacial ablation zones, where existing seismic sensors would fail. Providing access for the UK research community to such a rapid deployment seismic array is the top priority defined by the NERC Geophysical Equipment Facility (GEF) steering committee in 2021, and in the NERC Statement of Community Need it was stated that "there is an urgent requirement to replace GEF's critical backbone instrumentation with modern and forward-looking alternatives in the short term".An array of Certimus sensors, as proposed here, would fulfil this urgent requirement by providing both critical backbone instrumentation, and bringing unique, next generation benefits, such as tilt tolerance, which has increased to plus / minus 90 degrees, from just plus / minus 2.5 degrees in older instruments. This feature is unique to the Certimus and creates a step change in world class environmental science by enabling continuous broadband seismic data acquisition in environments where other broadband seismometers would fail due to rapidly changing ground levels, such as glaciers, continental ice sheets and permafrost in the cryosphere; and areas of slope instability such as landslides and avalanches. The Certimus uses approximately 1/3 of the power of its predecessor, which significantly reduces the number of solar panels and batteries which much be transported into the field. Additionally, smaller and lighter instruments reduce the shipping weight, which further reduces the environmental cost of data acquisition. The array would become part of the NERC Geophysical Equipment Facility, being housed within the Leicester node (SEIS-UK) from the outset, where GEF staff would commission, support and maintain it for its entire lifespan. It would be available to UK researchers with full GEF support and training through the normal Facility application process. Demand for this class of sensor has been consistently high throughout GEF's history, often exceeding supply, and this has become an acute problem since the retirement of the older equipment.GEF have over 20 years' experience and expertise in maintaining seismic equipment, and combined with their user training and support programs, they have demonstrated ability to keep sensors in use for over double the manufacturers' expected lifespan. Data will be archived and publically available 3 years after each loan ends, bringing additional value to this capital investment. Our project partner has significant experience of working with the Certimus and state that they "... strongly believe that this equipment will have a transformational effect on the research undertaken by the seismology community in the UK, largely because it opens up areas of research that were not previously possible, yet sit squarely within NERC's remit". Our project partner, who has offered in-kind support to field test equipment, and train GEF staff, also believes that "access to a sizable pool of Certimus seismometers will allow the UK seismology community to stay at the forefront of its discipline for the next decade, and provide new impetus to engage in multidisciplinary research like never before".