Reissued 30 May 2017 with Second Reader’s non-NPS affiliation added to title page. / Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited / The purpose of this thesis is to characterize typical levels of vibrational noise on the ocean floor to ascertain the vibration's effect on possible future bottom mounted sensors. The data used for this thesis was obtained from publicly available recorded information from four ocean bottom seismometers (OBS). The OBSs were located in two geographical choke points: the Luzon Strait and west of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. These highly trafficked choke points were considered to be a good representation of where these experimental bottom mounted sensors might be located should they be built. Unix-based seismic processing software available from the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS) proved essential to obtaining calibrated data, and the methodology used to get the calibrated data is discussed in detail. The results showed that one OBS out of the four was highly variable, with decibel levels varying widely from day to day. The other OBSs remained fairly consistent. In addition, there were no common discrete frequencies between sensors that were in the same geographic area. Recommended future research involves the study of environmental effects on the OBSs, additional research to correlate the results observed in the Luzon Strait, and a look into the electronic noise floors of the OBSs used. / Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy

Würzburg, Univ., Diss., 2009. / Zsfassung in dt. Sprache.

abstract: This thesis presents approaches to develop micro seismometers and accelerometers based on molecular electronic transducers (MET) technology using MicroElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS) techniques. MET is a technology applied in seismic instrumentation that proves highly beneficial to planetary seismology. It consists of an electrochemical cell that senses the movement of liquid electrolyte between electrodes by converting it to the output current. MET seismometers have advantages of high sensitivity, low noise floor, small size, absence of fragile mechanical moving parts and independence on the direction of sensitivity axis. By using MEMS techniques, a micro MET seismometer is developed with inter-electrode spacing close to 1μm, which improves the sensitivity of fabricated device to above 3000 V/(m/s^2) under operating bias of 600 mV and input acceleration of 400 μG (G=9.81m/s^2) at 0.32 Hz. The lowered hydrodynamic resistance by increasing the number of channels improves the self-noise to -127 dB equivalent to 44 nG/√Hz at 1 Hz. An alternative approach to build the sensing element of MEMS MET seismometer using SOI process is also presented in this thesis. The significantly increased number of channels is expected to improve the noise performance. Inspired by the advantages of combining MET and MEMS technologies on the development of seismometer, a low frequency accelerometer utilizing MET technology with post-CMOS-compatible fabrication processes is developed. In the fabricated accelerometer, the complicated fabrication of mass-spring system in solid-state MEMS accelerometer is replaced with a much simpler post-CMOS-compatible process containing only deposition of a four-electrode MET structure on a planar substrate, and a liquid inertia mass of an electrolyte droplet encapsulated by oil film. The fabrication process does not involve focused ion beam milling which is used in the micro MET seismometer fabrication, thus the cost is lowered. Furthermore, the planar structure and the novel idea of using an oil film as the sealing diaphragm eliminate the complicated three-dimensional packaging of the seismometer. The fabricated device achieves 10.8 V/G sensitivity at 20 Hz with nearly flat response over the frequency range from 1 Hz to 50 Hz, and a low noise floor of 75 μG/√Hz at 20 Hz. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Electrical Engineering 2014

Hauptaufgabe der Vulkanseismologie ist die qualitative and quantitative Beschreibung einer oder mehrerer unbekannter seismischer Quellen, die sich in einer unbekannten Tiefe unter dem Vulkan befinden. Auch wenn viele Vulkane der Erde ähnliche Signalcharakteristiken aufweisen, war es bis heute nicht möglich, für Vulkane ein seismisches Standard-Quellmodell zu finden, analog dem Double- Couple in der Erdbebenseismologie. Kontinuierlich tätige Vulkane, wie z.B. Stromboli (Italien), stellen für den Vulkanseismologen ein ideales natürliches Feldlabor dar, diese Fragestellung zu untersuchen. Die vorliegende Arbeit untersucht auf Stromboli registrierte Explosionsbeben und vulkanischen Tremor in einem breiten Frequenzband und behandelt die Frage nach der Lage und dem Mechanismus der seismischen Quelle(n). Seismische und Infraschallmessungen von strombolischen Explosionsbeben zeigen, dass sich eine Hochfrequenz-Phase mit einer Geschwindigkeit von etwa 330 m/s fortbewegt. Die seismische Quelle kann durch eine Explosion am oberen Ende der Magmasäule erklärt werden, die durch aufsteigende Gasblasen verursacht wird. Sowohl die seismische P-Welle, als auch die Luftwelle werden zum gleichen Zeitpunkt an ein und demselben Ort generiert. Die verschiedenen Laufwege und Geschwindigkeiten der seismischen und der Luftwelle resultieren in einem Laufzeitunterschied dt, der zur Bestimmung des Magmenstandes und der Schallgeschwindigkeit in der Eruptionss¨aule im Schlotinnern genutzt werden kann. In Kraternähe installierte Stationen zeigen, dass Infraschall- und seismische Messungen des kurzperiodischen Tremors (> 1 Hz) den gleichen Frequenzgehalt und ähnliche Fluktuationen der seismischen Energie aufweisen. Daher wird der kurzperiodische vulkanische Tremor auf Stromboli durch das kontinuierliche Aufsteigen und Platzen kleiner Gasblasen im oberen Teil der Magmasäule verursacht. Das Spektrum des auf Stromboli registrierten langperiodischen Tremors besteht hauptsächlich aus drei Maxima bei 4.8 s, 6 s und 10 s, deren Spektralamplitude mit der jeweiligen Wettersituation variieren. Sie werden daher nicht von einer lokalen vulkanischen Quelle erzeugt, sondern durch Meeresmikroseismik (MMS). Der Durchzug eines lokalen Tiefdruckgebietes scheint die Ursache für Spektralenergie bei 4.8 s and 10 s, die jeweils die Doppelte bzw. die Primäre Frequenz der MMS darstellen. Als Ursache des spektralen Maximums bei 6 s könnte ein Tief nahe der Britischen Inseln in Frage kommen. Seismische Daten, die von dem ersten auf Stromboli installierten Breitband- Array registriert wurden, zeigten überraschend einfache Wellenformen, die einen anfänglich kontraktierenden Quellmechanismus anzeigen. Die Analyse der Partikelbewegung und die Anwendung seismischer Arraytechniken ermöglichten eine Lokalisierung der seismischen Quelle in Oberflächennähe. Die Anwendung verschiedener Inversionsmethoden gestattete es, Eruptionsparameter und Charakteristiken der seismischen Quelle während der Strombolieruption am 5. April 2003 abzuschätzen. Als Ergebnis kann festgehalten werden, dass der paroxystische Ausbruch durch eine langsame Überschiebungsdislokation mit einer Momentenmagnitude von Mw = 3.0 verursacht wurde, ausgelöst durch einen vorher durch Dike-Intrusion verursachten Bruch. Während des Paroxysmus konnte in den seismischen Signalen mindestens eine Blow-out Phase mit einer Momentenmagnitude von Mw = 3.7 identifiziert werden. Diese kann durch einen vertikalen linearen Vektordipol, zwei schwächere horizontale lineare Dipole in entgegengesetzter Richtung, zuzüglich einer Vertikalkraft repräsentiert werden. Seismische Messungen, die während kontrollierter und reproduzierbarer Blowout Experimente unter Verwendung von einem in einer Basaltschmelze eingeschlossenen Gasvolumen durchgeführt wurden, ergaben folgende Ergebnisse: Monochromatische Signale sind Anzeiger für einen Blow-out in einem duktilen Regime, wohingegen ein breitbandigerer Frequenzgehalt auf einen Sprödbruch hinweist. Je grösser die Länge des Schmelztiegels ist, desto schwächer sind die seismischen Signale. Ein grösser Gasdruck bewirkt eine stärkere Fragmentation des Magmas, aber keine höhere Austrittsgeschwindigkeit des Magmapropfens und auch keine grössere seismische Amplitude. Auch wenn die langperiodischen Signale, wie beispielsweise Tilt, im Labor nicht simuliert werden konnten, sind die Blow-out Experimente überraschend gut in der Lage, die am Vulkan Stromboli registrierten kurzperiodischen seismischen Signale zu reproduzieren. / The main purpose of volcano-seismology concerns the qualitative and quantitative description of one or more unknown seismic source(s) located at some unknown depth beneath a volcano. Even if many different volcanoes show similar seismic signal characteristics, up to now it was not possible to find a standard seismic source model for volcanoes, as the double-couple in earthquake seismology. Volcanoes with a continuous activity, like Stromboli (Italy), represent for the volcano seismologist a perfect natural laboratory to address this question. This thesis treats the study of explosion-quakes and volcanic tremor recorded on Stromboli in a broadband frequency range, and discusses the location and the possible mechanisms of the seismic source(s). Seismic and infrasonic recordings of explosion-quake from Stromboli showed that the high-frequency phase propagates with a velocity of approximately 330 m/s. The seismic source can be explained as an explosion at the top of the magma column generated by rising gas bubbles. The seismic P-wave and the air-wave are both generated in the same point at the same time. The different path lengths and velocities for the seismic wave and the air-wave result in a difference in arrival times dt, that could be used to deduce the magma level and sound speed in the eruption column inside the conduit. Stations installed near the active crater reveal that infrasonic and seismic recordings of the short-period tremor (> 1 Hz) share the same spectral content and show similar energy fluctuations. Therefore, the short-period volcanic tremor at Stromboli originates from the continuous out-bursting of small gas bubbles in the upper part of the magmatic column. The spectrum of the long-period tremor recorded at Stromboli consists of three main peaks with periods at 4.8 s, 6 s and 10 s, and amplitudes varying with the regional meteorological situation. Hence, they are not generated by a close volcanic source but rather by ocean microseisms (OMS). The passage of a local cyclone seems to be the seismic source for spectral energy at 4.8 s and 10 s, which represent the Double Frequency and the Primary Frequency of the OMS, respectively. Concerning the 6 s peak, a cyclone near the British Isles could act as a seismic source. Seismic data from the first broadband array deployed on Stromboli showed surprisingly simple waveforms, indicating an initially contracting source mechanism. The analysis of particle motion and the application of seismic array techniques allowed the location of a seismic source in the shallow part of the volcano. Eruption parameters and seismic source characteristics of the April 5, 2003 Stromboli eruption have been estimated using different inversion approaches. The paroxysm was triggered by a shallow slow thrust-faulting dislocation event with a moment magnitude of Mw = 3.0 and possibly associated with a crack that formed previously by dike extrusion. At least one blow-out phase during the paroxysmal explosion could be identified from seismic signals with an equivalent moment magnitude of Mw = 3.7. It can be represented by a vertical linear vector dipole and two weaker horizontal linear dipoles in opposite direction, plus a vertical force. Seismic measurements performed during controlled and reproducible blow-out experiments with a gas volume entrapped in basaltic melt revealed the following: Monochromatic seismic signals suggest a blow-out in a more ductile regime, whereas broader frequency content indicates rupture in a more brittle environment. The longer the crucible, the weaker the seismic signals. An increase in pressure results in a stronger fragmentation, but not in a higher ejection velocity of the plug neither in a higher seismic amplitude. Even if the very long period observations like the tilt signal could not be simulated in the laboratory, the blow-out experiments simulate very well the short-period seismic signals recorded at Stromboli volcano.

abstract: The instrumentational measurement of seismic motion is important for a wide range of research fields and applications, such as seismology, geology, physics, civil engineering and harsh environment exploration. This report presents series approaches to develop Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) enhanced inertial motion sensors including accelerometers, seismometers and inclinometers based on Molecular Electronic Transducers (MET) techniques. Seismometers based on MET technology are attractive for planetary applications due to their high sensitivity, low noise floor, small size, absence of fragile mechanical moving parts and independence on the direction of sensitivity axis. By using MEMS techniques, a micro MET seismometer is developed with inter-electrode spacing close to 5 μm. The employment of MEMS improves the sensitivity of fabricated device to above 2500 V/(m/s2) under operating bias of 300 mV and input velocity of 8.4μm/s from 0.08Hz to 80Hz. The lowered hydrodynamic resistance by increasing the number of channels improves the self-noise to -135 dB equivalent to 18nG/√Hz (G=9.8m/s2) around 1.2 Hz. Inspired by the advantages of combining MET and MEMS technologies on the development of seismometer, a feasibility study of development of a low frequency accelerometer utilizing MET technology with post-CMOS-compatible fabrication processes is performed. In the fabricated accelerometer, the complicated fabrication of mass-spring system in solid-state MEMS accelerometer is replaced with a much simpler post-CMOS-compatible process containing only deposition of a four-electrode MET structure on a planar substrate, and a liquid inertia mass of an electrolyte droplet. With a specific design of 3D printing based package and replace water based iodide solution by room temperature ionic liquid based electrolyte, the sensitivity relative to the ground motion can reach 103.69V/g, with the resolution of 5.25μG/√Hz at 1Hz. By combining MET techniques and Zn-Cu electrochemical cell (Galvanic cell), this letter demonstrates a passive motion sensor powered by self-electrochemistry energy, named “Battery Accelerometer”. The experimental results indicated the peak sensitivity of battery accelerometer at its resonant frequency 18Hz is 10.4V/G with the resolution of 1.71μG without power consumption. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Electrical Engineering 2016

This dissertation presents a study on velocity modeling using ocean-bottom seismometer data (OBS) collected in 2004 and 2006 on the western Scotian slope. Gas hydrate and free gas concentrations and their distribution along the Scotian margin were derived based on the velocity results modeled with two different OBS data sets. A strong velocity increase (140-300 m/s) associated with gas hydrate was modeled for a depth of 220 m below seafloor (bsf). At the base of that high velocity zone (330 mbsf) the velocity decreases with 50-130 m/s. This depth is associated with the depth of the bottom-simulating reflector (BSR) observed in previous 2-D seismic reflection data. The gas hydrate concentrations (2-18 %) based on these velocities were calculated with an effective medium model. The velocity modeling shows that a sparser OBS spacing (~ 1 km) reveals more velocity uncertainties and smaller velocity contrasts than a denser (100 m) spaced OBS array. The results of the travel-time inverse modeling are applied in a waveform inverse modeling with OBS data in the second part of the thesis. The modeling tests were performed to obtain information on OBS instrument spacings necessary to detect low-concentration gas hydrate occurrences. The model runs show that an increase in instrument spacing leads to an increasing loss of model smoothness. However, large instrument spacings (>500 m) are beneficial for covering a wide target region with only using a few instruments, but decreasing the lateral resolution limits of the subsurface targets. In general half of the instrument spacing defines the lower boundary for the lateral width of the target structure. Waveform modeling with the 2006 OBS data has shown that low frequencies (<8 Hz) in the source spectrum are necessary to recover the background velocity of the model. The starting model derived from travel-time inversion of the 2006 data is not close enough to the true model. Thus the first-arrival waveforms do not match within half a cycle. Modeling with a starting frequency of 8 Hz and and applying data with a low signal-to-noise ratio (1.25) introduces artifacts into the final model result without updating the velocity. / Graduate

The Gulf of Mexico Basin Opening project (GUMBO) is a study of the lithological composition and structural evolution of the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) that uses Ocean Bottom Seismometer (OBS) data from four transects in the Northern GoM. I examine 39 OBS shot records in the easternmost transect for shear wave arrivals and pick shear wave travel times from the 11 usable records. I then carry out a tomographic inversion of seismic refraction travel times. I use the resulting shear-wave velocity model in conjunction with a previously constructed P-wave model to examine the relationship between Vp and Vs. I compare velocities in the sediment and basement with empirical velocities from previous studies for the purpose of constraining lithological composition below the transect and make an interpretation of the structural evolution of the eastern GoM. The seismic velocities for crust landward of the Florida Escarpment are consistent with normal continental crust. Seaward of the Escarpment, velocities in the upper oceanic crust are anomalously high (Vp = 6.5 – 7 km/sec; Vs = 4.0 – 4.6 km/sec). A possible explanation for this observation is that GoM basalt formation consisted of basaltic sheet flows, forming oceanic crust that does not contain the vesicularity and lower seismic velocities found in typical pillow basalts. Increased magnesium and iron content could also account for these high velocities. Seismic refraction and reflection data provide a means of investigating the nature of the Moho in the northeastern GoM. I use a finite difference method to generate synthetic record sections for data from eight instruments that are part of the two easternmost GUMBO seismic lines (lines 3 & 4). I then vary the thickness of the Moho in these synthetic models and compare the results with the original receiver gather to examine the effects this variability has on amplitudes. The data from the instruments chosen for these two lines are representative of continental and transitional crust. The finite difference models indicate that the Moho beneath GUMBO 3 is ~1500 m thick based on the onset and amplitudes of PmP arrivals. All five instruments display consistent results. The instruments along GUMBO 4 suggest a Moho almost twice as thick as GUMBO 3 on the landward end of the transect that grades into a Moho of similar thickness (1750 m) in the deep water GoM. The three instruments used to model the Moho in this area show that the Moho ranges from ~1750 to 3500 m in thickness. The sharper boundary beneath continental crust in GUMBO Line 3 supports other evidence that suggests magmatic underplating and volcanism in the northern GoM during the mid-Jurassic. The thicker Moho seen on the landward end of GUMBO Line 4 that is overlain by continental crust was likely unaffected by GoM rifting. Therefore, the Moho beneath the Florida Platform might be as old as the Suwannee Terrane, and complex Moho structure is not uncommon for ancient continental crust. / text

Overpressure, or abnormally low effective pressures, is hazardous in drilling operations and construction of sea-bottom facilities in deepwater environments. Estimation of the locations of overpressure can improve safety in these operations and significantly reduce overall project costs. Propagation velocities of both seismic P and S wave are sensitive to bulk elastic parameters and density of the sediments, which can be related to porosity, pore fluid content, lithology, and effective pressures. Overpressured areas can be analyzed using 4C seismic reflection data, which includes P-P and P-SV reflections. In this thesis, the effects on compressional (P) and shear (S) wave velocities are investigated to estimate the magnitude and location of excess pore pressure utilizing Eaton’s approach for pressure prediction (Eaton, 1969). Eaton’s (1969) method relates changes in pore pressure to changes in seismic P-wave velocity. The underlying assumption of this method utilizes the ratio of observed P-wave velocity obtained from areas of both normal and abnormal pressure. This velocity ratio evaluated through an empirically determined exponent is then related to the ratio of effective stress under normal and abnormal pressure conditions. Effective stress in a normal pressured condition is greater than the effective stress value in abnormally overpressured conditions. Due to an increased sensitivity of variations in effective pressure to seismic interval velocity, Ebrom et al. (2003) employ a modified Eaton equation to incorporate the S-wave velocity in pore pressure prediction. The data preparation and subsequent observations of seismic P and S wave velocity estimates in this thesis represent a preliminary analysis for pore pressure prediction. Six 2D receiver gathers in the regional dip direction are extracted from six individual ocean-bottom 4C seismic recording nodes for P-P and P-SV velocity analysis. The receiver gathers employed have minimal pre-processing procedures applied. The main processing steps applied were: water bottom mute, 2D rotation of horizontal components to SV and SH orientation, deconvolution, and frequency filtering. Most the processing was performed in Matlab with a volume of scripts designed by research scientists from the University of Texas, Bureau of Economic Geology. In this thesis, fluid pressure prediction is estimated utilizing several 4C multicomponent ocean-bottom nodes in the Atlantis Field in deepwater Gulf of Mexico. Velocity analysis is performed through a ray tracing approach utilizing P-P and P-SV registration. A modified Eaton’s Algorithm is then used for pore pressure prediction using both P and S wave velocity values. I was able to successfully observe both compressional and shear wave velocities to sediment depths of approximately 800 m below the seafloor. Using Hamilton (1972, 1976) and Eberhart-Phillips et al. (1989) regressions as background depth dependent velocity values and well-log derived background effective pressure values from deepwater Gulf of Mexico, I am able to solve for predicted effective pressure for the study area. The results show that the Atlantis subsurface study area experiences a degree of overpressure. / text

Le suivi de la déformation de la croûte terrestre durant la phase intersismique pour la recherche des transitoires nécessite des instruments précis capables d'opérer pour de très longues durées. Le projet ANR-LINES a visé le développement de trois nouveaux instruments : un sismomètre mono-axial, un inclinomètre hydrostatique à longue base et un inclinomètre de forage pendulaire. Ces trois instruments profitent d'un capteur interférométrique de déplacement à longues fibres optiques du type Fabry-Pérot Extrinsèque (EFFPI). Leurs architectures mécaniques et l'utilisation de longues fibres permettent à ces instruments géophysiques nouvellement fabriqués d'atteindre les objectifs fixés.Le premier objectif de cette étude est de proposer des méthodes adaptées à l'estimation de la phase du chemin optique dans les cavités Fabry-Pérot. Une modulation du courant de la diode laser, suivie par une démodulation homodyne du signal d'interférence et un filtre de Kalman permettent de déterminer la phase en temps réel. Les résultats sont convaincants pour des mesures de courtes durées mais exigent des solutions complémentaires pour se prémunir des effets de la variation des phénomènes environnementaux.Le capteur EFFPI intégré dans l'inclinomètre de forage LINES lui offre l'opportunité d'établir une mesure différentielle de l'oscillation de la masselotte pendulée grâce à trois cavités Fabry-Pérot. Le sismomètre LINES utilise lui aussi le capteur de déplacement EFFPI pour la mesure du déplacement de sa bobine. Une description de l'architecture mécanique de ces instruments et une analyse des phénomènes détectés (mouvements lents, marées, séismes, microséismes . . . ) font partie de cette thèse. / Monitoring crustal deformation during the interseismic phase when searching for earth transients requires precise instruments able to operate for very long periods. The ANR-LINES project aimed to develop three new instruments: a single-axis seismometer, a hydrostatic long base tiltmeter and a borehole pendulum tiltmeter. These three instruments benefit of an extrinsic Fabry-Pérot interferometer (EFFPI) with long optic fibers for displacement detections. Their mechanical architectures and their disposal of long fibers help these newly manufactured geophysical instruments complete their goals.The first objective of this study is to propose appropriate methods for estimating the phase of the optical path in the Fabry-Pérot cavities. A modulation of the laser diode current, followed by a homodyne demodulation of the interference signal and a Kalman filter, allow determining the phase in real time. The results are convincing while taking short periods measurements but require additional solutions for protection against environmental phenomena variations. The EFFPI sensor integrated in the LINES borehole tiltmeter gives it the opportunity to establish a differential measurement of the bob's oscillation thanks to three Fabry-Perot cavities. The LINES seismometer also uses the EFFPI displacement sensor to measure its coil's displacement. A description of the two instruments' mechanical structures and an analysis of the detected phenomena (slow movements, tides, earthquakes, microseisms . . . ) are part of this thesis.Keywords: Laser interferometry, wavelength modulation, synchronous homodyne demodulation, ellipse fitting, Kalman filter, temperature compensation, borehole tiltmeter, simple pendulum, differential measurements, slow drift, seismicobservations, seismometer.

L'estiu de 2005, es varen instal·lar un sismòmetre de fons marí (OBS, sigles en anglès d'Ocean Bottom Seimometer) permanent, de tres components i banda ampla, i un sensor diferencial de pressió, a les immediacions de la plataforma petrolífera Casablanca (Repsol Investigaciones Petrolíferas S.A.), a uns 150 m de fondària i 50 km de la costa de Tarragona. Aquesta iniciativa, pionera a l'Estat espanyol, es va portar a terme en el marc del projecte Casablanca (REN2003-06577), concedit pel Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia a l'Institut Geològic de Catalunya (IGC) i l'Observatori de l'Ebre, amb l'objectiu de caracteritzar la detectabilitat de l'OBS i millorar el coneixement de la sismicitat i el risc sísmic a la zona. L'any 2007, després d'una reinstal·lació dels sensors en què es varen introduir millores, la transmissió satèl·lit en temps real del senyal al centre de recepció de dades sísmiques a l'IGC de Barcelona va possibilitar la integració de l'OBS a la xarxa sísmica de Catalunya.L'anàlisi de soroll sísmic ambiental a l'emplaçament de l'OBS Casablanca mostra nivells alts als tres components, especialment a baixes freqüències i a la banda microsísmica. Així mateix, s'observen variacions estacionals i la influència de les condicions meteorològiques i oceanogràfiques. La comparació dels nivells de soroll a l'OBS Casablanca amb el d'un altre OBS situat a la mar de Ligúria, amb una instrumentació semblant, però instal·lat a una fondària de 2500 m, mostra un comportament més sorollós a Casablanca, probablement a causa de la menor profunditat a què està situat.Tot i el seu comportament sorollós, l'OBS Casablanca ha enregistrat diversos sismes locals, regionals i telesismes. Malgrat la petita magnitud i l'escassesa de terratrèmols locals succeïts durant el període de funcionament de l'OBS, l'estació ha mostrat la seva utilitat de cara a la millora de les localitzacions hipocentrals dels sismes propers amb epicentre a la mar. Noves dades permetran la validació d'aquest resultat.El senyal de l'OBS Casablanca, juntament amb el d'estacions situades a la Península Ibèrica, el nord d'Àfrica i les Illes Balears, s'ha pogut utilitzar amb èxit en un estudi de tomografia d'ones superficials amb soroll sísmic ambiental realitzat al NE de la Península. El procediment de l'estudi tomogràfic ha inclòs un tractament del senyal a fi de minimitzar l'energia aportada pels terratrèmols i normalitzar les amplituds a totes les freqüències. Mitjançant el càlcul de la correlació creuada per a tots els parells d'estacions disponibles durant un període de més d'un any, s'ha trobat un senyal equivalent a la funció de Green del medi, que ha possibilitat la mesura de la velocitat de grup i de fase. La representació dels resultats en forma de mapes de dispersió mostra zones d'altes i baixes velocitats, coherents amb les principals estructures geològiques de l'escorça i part del mantell superior. / Durante el verano de 2005, se instalaron un sismómetro de fondo marino (OBS, siglas en inglés de Ocean Bottom Seismometer) permanente, de tres componentes y banda ancha, y un sensor diferencial de presión, en las inmediaciones de la plataforma petrolífera Casablanca (Repsol Investigaciones Petrolíferas S.A.), a unos 150 m de profundidad y 50 km de la costa de Tarragona. Esta iniciativa, pionera en España, se llevó a cabo en el marco del proyecto Casablanca (REN2003-06577), concedido por el Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia al Institut Geològic de Catalunya (IGC) y al Observatori de l'Ebre, con el objetivo de caracterizar la detectabilidad del OBS y mejorar el conocimiento de la sismicidad y el riesgo sísmico en la zona. En el año 2007, después de una reinstalación en la que se introdujeron mejoras, la transmisión satélite en tiempo real de la señal al centro de recepción de datos sísmicos del IGC en Barcelona posibilitó la integración del OBS a la red sísmica de Cataluña.El análisis del ruido sísmico ambiental en el emplazamiento del OBS Casablanca muestra niveles altos en las tres componentes, especialmente a bajas frecuencias y en la banda microsísmica. También se observan variaciones estacionales y la influencia de las condiciones meteorológicas y oceanográficas. La comparación de los niveles de ruido en el OBS Casablanca con los de otro OBS situado en el mar de Liguria, de instrumentación similar, pero instalado a 2500 m de profundidad, muestra un comportamiento más ruidoso en Casablanca, probablemente a causa de la menor profundidad a la que está situado.Aunque de comportamiento ruidoso, el OBS Casablanca ha registrado numerosos seísmos locales, regionales y teleseísmos. A pesar de la pequeña magnitud y la escasez de terremotos locales durante el periodo de funcionamiento del OBS, la estación ha mostrado su utilidad de cara a la mejora de las localizaciones hipocentrales de los seísmos cercanos con epicentro en el mar. Nuevos datos permitirán la validación de este resultado.La señal del OBS Casablanca, junto con la de estaciones situadas en la Península Ibérica, el norte de África y las Islas Baleares, se ha podido utilizar con éxito en un estudio de tomografía de ondas superficiales con ruido sísmico ambiental realizado al NE de la Península. El procedimiento del estudio tomográfico ha incluido el tratamiento de la señal para minimizar la energía aportada por los terremotos y normalizar las amplitudes para todas las frecuencias. Mediante el cálculo de la correlación cruzada para todos los pares de estaciones disponibles durante un periodo de más de un año, se ha obtenido una señal equivalente a la función de Green del medio, que ha posibilitado la medida de la velocidad de grupo y de fase. La representación de los resultados en forma de mapas de dispersión muestra zonas de altas y bajas velocidades, coherentes con las principales estructuras geológicas de la corteza y parte del manto superior. / During the summer of 2005, a three-component broad-band permanent ocean bottom seismometer (OBS) and a differential pressure gauge were deployed near the Casablanca oil platform (Repsol Investigaciones Petrolíferas S.A.) at a depth of about 150 m and 50 km away from the Tarragona coast (NE Iberian Peninsula). This initiative, pioneer in Spain, was carried out within the framework of the Casablanca project (RES2003-06577), given by the Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia to the Institut Geològic de Catalunya (IGC) and to the Observatori de l'Ebre. The aim of this project was to characterize the OBS detection threshold and to improve the knowledge of the seismicity and seismic risk in the area around. In 2007 satellite transmission was implemented to have continuous and real time data, which allowed integrating the OBS into the Catalan Seismic Network.A seismic ambient noise analysis at the Casablanca OBS site shows high levels on the three components, especially at low frequencies and at the microseismic band. Seasonal variations and the meteorological and oceanographic conditions influence are also observed. The comparison between Casablanca OBS noise levels and those from another OBS placed at the Ligurian Sea, equipped with similar instrumentation but installed at a depth of 2500 m, shows that the Casablanca site is noisier, probably due to its shallower deployment.Despite its noisy behaviour, the Casablanca OBS has recorded a number of local and regional earthquakes and teleseisms. Only few close small events have occurred during the OBS running period. Nevertheless, the station has shown its utility to improve hipocentral locations of close earthquakes with the epicentre offshore.The Casablanca OBS signal, together with that from stations placed at the Iberian Peninsula, northern Africa and Balearic Islands, has been successfully used in a surface wave tomographic study from ambient noise in the NE Iberian Peninsula. The tomographic study includes a signal processing to minimize the energy from earthquakes and to normalize the amplitudes for all frequencies. A signal equivalent to the Green function has been obtained through the cross-correlation between all the possible station pairs during a period longer than one year, allowing the measurement of group and phase velocities. The results, which are presented as dispersion maps, show areas of high and low velocities that are coherent with the main crust and upper mantle geological structures.