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The Self-Calibrating Tilt Accelerometer: A method for observing tilt and correcting drift with a triaxial accelerometer
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  • Erik K Fredrickson,
  • William S. D. Wilcock,
  • Michael J. Harrington,
  • Geoffry Cram,
  • James Tilley,
  • Derek Martin,
  • Justin Burnett
Erik K Fredrickson
The University of Texas at Austin Institute for Geophysics

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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William S. D. Wilcock
University of Washington
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Michael J. Harrington
University of Washington Applied Physics Laboratory
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Geoffry Cram
University of Washington Applied Physics Laboratory
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James Tilley
University of Washington Applied Physics Laboratory
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Derek Martin
University of Washington Applied Physics Laboratory
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Justin Burnett
Applied Physics Laboratory
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Abstract

We present observations from two field deployments of a calibrated tiltmeter that we name the Self-Calibrating Tilt Accelerometer (SCTA). The tiltmeter is based upon a triaxial quartz crystal accelerometer; the horizontal channels measure tilt and are periodically rotated into the vertical to obtain a measurement of the acceleration of gravity. Changes in the measured total acceleration are ascribed to drift in the vertical channel and used as calibrations for removing that same drift from the tilt time series observed between calibrations. Changes in the span (sensitivity) of the accelerometer channels can also be measured by calibrating them pointing up and down. A 3-year test on the seafloor at Axial Seamount show that the calibrations are consistent with a linear-exponential model of drift to ~0.5 μg (μrad). The calibrated tilt time series was impacted by platform settling for the first 2 years, but after repositioning the tiltmeter, the calibrated observations were consistent for the final year with the tilt observed on a nearby LILY tiltmeter. A separate 15-month test in a stable vault at Piñon Flat Observatory was complicated by seasonal temperature variations of >5°C; the calibrations are consistent with a linear-exponential model of drift to ~2 μg when temperature and temperature time-derivative dependence is included. Similarly, the calibrated tilt time series was impacted by thermal deformation of the SCTA assembly. A future test in a thermally and tectonically stable borehole will be required to assess the accuracy of the SCTA.
08 Aug 2024Submitted to ESS Open Archive
12 Aug 2024Published in ESS Open Archive