Applications

Seafloor Geodesy

Measure the seafloor movement to predict and monitor undersea earthquake and Tsunami.

Measurement of slow movement of the seafloor is very important to monitoring and prediction of earthquakes and Tsunamis. Due to the slow changing nature of the seafloor movement, highly accurate acoustic measurement is required. The PMGS system from LinkQuest allows scientists to measure the seafloor movement with sub-centimeter accuracy. 

LinkQuest tailored the precision transponder to this specific application. One glass sphere housing contains both electronics and batteries which is sufficient for any deployment up to 7 years.

 

Japan Marine Safety Agency (JMSA) has been deploying LinkQuest's PMGS systems in its seafloor geodetic project since November of 1999. Multiple stations, each comprised of 3 to 4 subsea precision transponders, have been deployed on the seafloor of Kumano Trough at water depth of 2000 meters in 1999 and 2000. Several scientific research trips have been made to these sites to position the seafloor movement at a range of 5000 meters.  Preliminary results were successful. LinkQuest sub sea precision transponders and surface station performed impeccably in each scientific trip. With experience gained in early deployments, JMSA has increased the total number of transponders deployed to more than 90, covering large areas of interests in Japan Sea.

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution also started to deploy the PMGS systems in year 2003 in the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean for experiments in monitoring undersea earthquakes. 

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