Design, Testing, and Preliminary Data Analysis of the Seafloor Absolute Pressure Gauge

Taiwan is situated in the collision zone between the Philippine Sea Plate and the Eurasian Plate, where these two plates are converging at an average rate of 8.2 centimeters per year, leading to significant crustal deformation on the island. Utilizing data from GPS (Global Positioning System) measurements processed and analyzed using Bernese software, the average velocity field of crustal movements can be estimated, providing a more comprehensive understanding of crustal deformation. The combination of GPS and seafloor geodesy observations can aid in unraveling the seismic processes along plate boundaries. Due to the inability of GPS signals to penetrate seawater, acoustic methods are employed to make ocean bottom pressure (OBP) measurements, serving as a valuable and unique tool for monitoring integrated ocean currents and observing sea level changes.

OBP measurements have been applied for various geophysical purposes, including ocean physics and marine geodesy. Seafloor Absolute Pressure Gauges (SAPG) based on quartz oscillation principles have been employed to record phenomena such as tsunamis, ocean tides and non-tidal sea level variations, as well as seafloor vertical deformations. These instruments play a crucial role in marine physics research.

In recent years, the Academia Sinica has also conducted research in the surrounding waters of Taiwan using acoustic positioning methods for seafloor geodetic observations. In conjunction with seafloor geodetic observations, ocean bottom pressure (OBP) measurement is another method employed.

The seafloor absolute pressure gauge (SAPG) developed by the Academia Sinica is composed of a Paroscientific Inc. quartz vibrating pressure sensor, integrated with an OEM data logger from RBR-Global Co. (http://www.rbr-global.com/products/bpr) and components such as the BART Boards with Regular Tuning ROUND and Acoustic Transducer that made by EdgeTech Co. The assembly of SAPG has been completed, and it has been deployed in the waters off the eastern coast of Taiwan for long-term observations. This paper will introduce the instrument assembly of SAPG, pre-deployment testing, and preliminary analysis results of the marine data.