Deploying an ocean bottom seismometer

Scientists deploy an ocean bottom seismometer (OBS) from the research vessel Pelican to study gas hydrates in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico. The OBS will free-fall to the seafloor and record data that provide information about the geometry and composition of sub-seafloor sediment layers. To recover the OBS, an acoustic (sound) signal sent from the ship will trigger the release of the anchor (the flat metal plate suspended below the yellow housing), and the OBS will float to the surface.