Design and shipboard operation of a multipurpose ocean bottom seismograph

Ocean bottom seismographs designed to meet the requirements of both seismicity and refraction experiments have been operated extensively on twelve cruises (72 deployments). Signals from a hydrophone, and two geophones (horizontal and vertical) are direct recorded on a modified commercial tape recorder providing 10 day continuous recording at 1/40 ips and a 2–80 Hz band width. The free-fall deployment technique with timed ballast release has yielded a 93% recovery rate (96% over the most recent 24 deployments) despite frequently difficult weather and sea conditions. Emphasis on reliability and operational simplicity has produced an instrument that can be operated in arrays by a single shipboard technician.Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory Contribution Number 2535.