The Advanced Prototype of the Geohydroacoustic Ice Buoy

Area of Science:

• Geophysics
• Oceanography
• Seismology

Background:

• Geophysical monitoring in Arctic seas requires robust, autonomous data acquisition systems.
• Existing technologies face challenges in simultaneous multi-sensor data collection in harsh environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a new-generation geohydroacoustic buoy prototype.
• To evaluate its performance for simultaneous acoustic, hydroacoustic, and seismoacoustic data acquisition.
• To assess its suitability for Arctic marine environments and seismological applications.

Main Methods:

• Development of a modular geohydroacoustic buoy with an advanced data logger.
• Integration of vector-scalar hydroacoustic accelerometer, broadband molecular-electronic velocimeter, and optional hydrophones.
• Laboratory testing at the Geophysical Survey of the Russian Academy of Sciences (GS RAS) observatory.

Main Results:

• The buoy prototype demonstrated low power consumption, enabling autonomous operation for over a week.
• Continuous laboratory tests validated its capability for microseismic noise and teleseismic earthquake data recording.
• Comparative analysis confirmed the prototype meets high seismological standards.

Conclusions:

• The geohydroacoustic buoy prototype is a promising tool for geophysical and seismological research in challenging environments like the Arctic.
• Its modular design and multi-sensor capabilities offer flexibility for various scientific applications.
• The system's autonomous operation and data quality meet the demands of modern seismology.