Ocean bottom seismology
An OBS system being deployed.
Güralp Systems has been designing and manufacturing specialized ocean bottom systems since 1987.
The newest designs have the potential to place OBS in the standard seismological repertoire, greatly improving our understanding of coastal and deep-sea seismic processes.
Güralp instruments have a modular design which enables any of our sensor types to be deployed in an OBS package.
Ocean bottom research
The CMG-40TOBS sensor in place.
Güralp Systems collaborates with scientists in France, the US and elsewhere to research new ocean botom system designs.
Ocean bottom seismology presents new challenges to the manufacturer of seismic equipment. Not only must the instruments be robust and reliable, they must also be “self-installing”: able to settle automatically into a position well coupled to the seafloor, level their own components, and produce data for several months without any outside intervention. For temporary installations, the recovery process must also be carefully designed, using components that are guaranteed not to jam or corrode even after several months underwater.
Our OBS equipment was featured in a poster presentation given at EGU 2005.
Download the poster (21 Mb)Instruments
CMG-3TOBS weak motion ocean bottom system
The CMG-3TOBS uses the latest CMG-3T weak motion sensor technology in a robust ocean bottom installation.
CMG-40TOBS medium motion ocean bottom system
The CMG-40TOBS triaxial ocean bottom instrument is the smallest ocean bottom sensor available from Güralp Systems, with CMG-40T components housed in a 16 cm diameter spherical casing.
The CMG-40TOBS is also Güralp Systems' most popular ocean bottom deployment, with over 35 instruments delivered.
Ocean boreholes
CMG-1T sensors can be installed in a borehole sonde for ocean borehole experiments.
The CMG-1T's durability and proven technology makes it ideally suited for the harsh environment and difficult access of ocean borehole installations.
For more information on CMG-1T sensors, please contact us.
Accessories
We can also provide a range of accessories for ocean bottom installations.
Featured articles
 | Case study: The Monterey Bay ocean bottom observatoryOctober 2004
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 | Ocean bottom sensors reach the mainstreamJune 2006Güralp Systems' OBS packages have gone into full production, with the CMG-40TOBS proving popular with scientists. |
 | First Spanish OBS installed off CatalunyaAugust 2005A CMG-OBS3T sensor has been successfully deployed by scientists from the Institut Cartogràfic de Catalunya and Güralp Systems. |
Trials of our ocean-bottom equipment designs are conducted in partnership with Géosciences Azur. Photos reproduced with thanks.