The National Oceanography Centre (“NOC”) selects Güralp for long-term Ocean Bottom Seismometer (“OBS”) partnership

Güralp has signed a landmark agreement with NOC to support current and future offshore seismic research. The initial requirement forms part of NOC’s ‘Full Ocean Fibre’ project which seeks to utilise existing international undersea communications cables as a vast sensor network. The OBS units are key for validating the cable measurements and provide valuable high-quality acoustic and seismic data from offshore regions that are devoid of passive seismic data.

 The Full Ocean Fibre project is one of twenty-six projects that make up the ‘Forecasting Tipping Points’ programme which aims to enhance our climate change response by developing an early warning system for when climate system tipping points are likely to be crossed – the stage at which they become self-perpetuating. The programme is being led and funded by the UK’s Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA).

 Güralp are supplying reusable and autonomous Aquarius marine seismometers which will deliver seismic and acoustic monitoring for soundscape mapping and assessment at multiple locations over the duration of the project. Longer term, the instrumentation will be maintained for utilisation on other projects and research collaborations across ocean soundscape, geohazard, and sub-seafloor characterisation.

The initial phase requires the Aquarius and topside equipment to be deployed during the spring of 2026 – you can read more about the capabilities of Aquarius here.

 The contract forms the basis of longer-term collaboration between Güralp and NOC, providing a framework for expanding ocean monitoring capabilities and developing new technologies that will push the boundaries of ocean science.

ENDS

About Guralp Systems

Guralp Systems (www.guralp.com) is a leading global provider of sophisticated seismic monitoring solutions used to understand natural seismological events such as earthquakes, aftershocks and volcanos, as well as induced seismic events, or seismic signals, resulting from human activity.

Our solutions are used in research, civil and industrial applications to increase understanding, optimise processes and to protect people and the environment. Our equipment is installed in all major ocean basins and across all continents worldwide.

Our instruments range in performance from very low frequency, very low noise for global seismology to high dynamic range instruments for local, strong motion monitoring. Our sensors and can be supplied for deployment at the surface, in boreholes and on the ocean bottom. We also provide data acquisition equipment, power and communication accessories and data interpretation software.

Our services include installation and commissioning; network operation; repair and maintenance services; data processing and interpretation.

Headquartered in Reading, in the UK, we have been operating for more than 30 years and have established a global network of distributors who provide local customer support and sales services.

About the National Oceanography Centre (NOC)

The UK’s National Oceanography Centre (NOC) https://noc.ac.uk/ is one of the world’s top ocean research institutions. NOC’s scientists work around the globe, uncovering links between the ocean, climate change and biodiversity loss, to help every living thing on our planet flourish.

NOC solves challenging multidisciplinary, large scale, long-term marine science problems to underpin international and UK public policy, business and societal outcomes.

NOC is a company limited by guarantee set up under the law of England and Wales (11444362) and registered as a charity (1185265).

NOC operates the Royal Research Ships James Cook and Discovery and develops technology for coastal and deep ocean research.

Working with its partners NOC provides long-term marine science capability including: sustained ocean observations, mapping and surveying; data management; modelling and scientific research and advice.

Among the resources that the NOC provides on behalf of the UK are the British Oceanographic Data Centre (BODC), the Marine Autonomous and Robotic Systems (MARS) facility, the National Marine Equipment Pool (NMEP), the National Tide and Sea Level Facility (NTSLF), the Permanent Service for Mean Sea Level (PSMSL) and British Ocean Sediment Core Research Facility (BOSCORF).

About the Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA).

The Advanced Research and Invention Agency is an R&D funding agency created to unlock technological breakthroughs that benefit everyone. Created by an Act of Parliament, and sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology, we fund teams of scientists and engineers to pursue research at the edge of what is scientifically and technologically possible.