High Resolution Measurements of the Shallow Structure of the Oceanic Crust: The Rebuild of NOBEL.
Abstract
The goal of this program was to build a deep-towed explosive source that would allow high resolution seismic experiments to be carried out on the ocean floor with a precision and resolving power that is not attainable in any other way. This source, which we call NOBEL (Near Ocean Bottom Explosives Launcher), has an operational depth of 6000 m and can carry, launch and detonate 47 5-10 lb. charges of explosive while being towed a few tens of meters above the ocean floor on a research vessel's conventional 0.68" coaxial cable. Following a completely successful cruise to the East Pacific Rise in early 1991, NOBEL was unfortunately lost in mid-1992 while carrying out a set of experiments over gas hydrate deposits off the East Coast of the U.S. The single objective of this program was to rebuild this unique seismo-acoustic source. Construction of the system is complete. NOBEL was used extensively on an NSF-funded cruise to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in June of 1997. It was deployed on ten separate occasions and worked superbly each time.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 14, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA330660
Entities
People
- John A. Collins
Organizations
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution