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The rapid response ocean bottom seismograph fleet, jointly developed and maintained by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and USGS, was swiftly deployed after a major earthquake hit Northern California and the Pacific Northwest. The quick deployment of these instruments will enable the collection of the high-value data needed to produce the most accurate and useful hazard assessment.  

On December 5, 2024, a powerful 7.0 magnitude earthquake rocked Northern California and the Pacific Northwest. The USGS and colleagues from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution’s Ocean Bottom Seismic Instrument Center quickly mobilized our fleet of rapid response ocean bottom seismographs to record aftershocks and collect critical data needed to better understand the earthquake’s impact, assess the risk of further damage, and improve future earthquake preparedness.  

Three people on ship in the ocean, working on equipment
Wayne Baldwin (USGS) and Eric Moore (USGS) preparing the rapid response ocean bottom seismograph fleet for deployment. Photo credit: Nathan Miller, USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center. 
Rapid Response OBS - Mendocino

Within just 11 days of the earthquake—the fastest response in our program’s history—9 ocean bottom seismographs were deployed off the coast of Cape Medocino, California. These instruments complement about 115 nodes and 18 real-time aftershock stations deployed on land by the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program. Since the mainshock and most of the aftershocks are up to 43 miles (70 kilometers) offshore, combining ocean bottom seismograph data with the data collected on land should significantly improve fault zone imaging, as well as our understanding of aftershock locations and the velocity structure near the rupture zone. The team will return in 45 days to recover the instruments. 

People on ship on ocean working on equipment
Wayne Baldwin (USGS), Eric Moore (USGS), and Hannah Brewer (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution) preparing the rapid response ocean bottom seismograph fleet for deployment. Photo credit: Nathan Miller, USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center. 
Rapid Response OBS - Mendocino

Having an ocean bottom seismograph fleet exclusively reserved for rapid response efforts was key to this quick turnaround. Before the fleet was created, it typically took over 100 days to deploy our traditional ocean bottom instruments after a major earthquake due to their massive size and transportation requirements. This rapid response fleet represents a significant advancement in capabilities for natural hazards research and will allow us to record events during periods of exceptionally high scientific value. 

Two people on ship on the ocean hunched over equipment
Wayne Baldwin (USGS) and Eric Moore (USGS) preparing the rapid response ocean bottom seismograph fleet for deployment. Photo credit: Nathan Miller, USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center. 
Rapid Response OBS - Mendocino

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