Investigating slow slip earthquakes with HOBITTS

Scientists Kimihiro Mochizuki and Syuichi Suzuki carry an absolute pressure gauge that recorded over a year’s worth of fluctuations in water pressure on the seafloor offshore Gisborne, New Zealand. Photo credit: Steven Plescia

Seafloor absolute pressure gauges lashed to the deck.It is important to strap down the instruments, especially during high seas such as those sometimes found offshore Gisborne, New Zealand. Photo credit: Justin Ball

Scientists and engineers haul a barnacle and mud encrusted absolute pressure gauge out of the ocean. The white panels help protect the instrument from trawling during its one year deployment on the seafloor.Photo credit: Elizabeth Brenner

Scientists deploy an ocean bottom seismometer and absolute pressure gauge offshore Gisborne, New Zealand from the R/V Tangaroa. Photo credit: Takeo Yagi,

Graduate students Erin Todd and Justin Ball disassemble the housing of a seafloor absolute pressure gauge. Photo credit: Martha Savage

Engineers recover a Lamont ocean bottom seismometer and absolute pressure gauge package after one year on the seafloor offshore Gisborne, New Zealand. Photo credit: Elizabeth Brenner

Engineers recover a Tohoku University seafloor absolute pressure gauge after one year on the seafloor offshore Gisborne, New Zealand. Photo credit: Elizabeth Brenner

Marine technician Jay Turnbull helps usher an ocean bottom seismometer onto the R/V Roger Revelle during the night after it spent a year on the seafloor offshore Gisborne, New Zealand recording ground motion. Photo credit: Anne Sheehan