Short Period Seismometer

This short-period seismometer was deployed on a flat sheet flow ~ 1.3 km east of the ASHES hydrothermal field in 2013. The black ball in the yellow circle shows that it is perfectly level, helping to insure that the highest quality data comes off of this network. Axial Volcano is likely to be quite seismically active and we are anxious to get the real-time data on shore next year. This will help us understand magma and fluid migration in the subsurface of the volcano...and eventually these data may help us predict an eruption. Several earthquakes were detected in real-time during testing of these seismometers in 2013. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF, ROPOS Dive R1635; V13.

Short-period ocean-bottom seismometers (OBSSP) detect vibrations from small earthquakes ranging from 0.1 Hz to 100 Hz. These earthquakes are caused by local phenomena, such as melt movement beneath Axial Seamount and upward flow of hydrothermal fluids in the conduits that feed the black smoker chimneys. These Guralp CMG-6TF instruments enable imaging of the seismic energy traveling through the seafloor.

Five short period seismometers are now installed at the summit of Axial Seamount at the Eastern Caldera subsite (MJ03E), and near the ASHES (MJ03B) hydrothermal field, the Central Caldera, and at the International District Hydrothermal Field (MJ03D). Three short-period ocean-bottom seismometers are also installed at Southern Hydrate Ridge Summit (LJ01B), a methane seep site off of Newport Oregon.

All instruments are streaming data live to IRIS (Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology) and are available to the public. Daily and hourly updates on the number, locations, depths, and magnitudes of earthquakes occurring at Axial Seamount can be accessed through Dr. William Wilcock’s web site.

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