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Installing the first Passive seismic station

The first two passive seismic stations were installed yesterday as part of the training process.  Two groups of 5-6 people went to two different sites taking extra time to go through the complete process so that all participants get to see all parts of the installation process.  This includes digging a hole about 1.5 meters deep, placing a large pastic garbage can with its bottom cut out in the hole, pouring a small concrete pad in the middle with gravel around it to facilitate drainage, insalling the sensor on this pad with an inverted small plasic can over the sensor to reduce airflow and help prevent flooding, connecting the sensor cable through a PVC pipe exiting the side of the fault, connecting this through a protective sleeve to the equipment box, which is loaded with a battery, power control box, data-logger and timing GPS receiver.  A solar panel is installed nearby either on a mast (if deep snow is expected) or on a low mount and connected to the power system in the equipment box.  The sensor is shipped in special vibration-dampong containers and only unlocked when in position.  Moving it by hand once it is unlocked can seriously damage it. It is very, very sensitive to timy motions including those due to air convection so stable temperature is critical.   The vault is covered over with a tarp and soil to help isolate it from temperature changes.

Here are a few photos of one of the installations:

 

A UW SUV is loaded with all of the equipment needed for one site.

 

 

This field site is covered with wild fox gloves, which perfectly match the color of the sensor shipping case.

 

 

Gina is digging the sensor hole while Kelly and Tim look on and Dylan heads for a water jug.

 

Dylan makes electrical power connections in the equipment box.