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In this paper, we describe the results of a first pilot experiment of passive seismic monitoring near the active Longqi hydrothermal vent at the Southwest Indian Ridge during Chinese cruise DY115-30. During 102-day experiment, we recorded over 2,000 seismic events on a single ocean bottom seismometer with hydrophone close to the hydrothermal field. We classified these events into the following three classes based on their time–frequency characteristics: (1) volcano tectonic microearthquakes (VTMs); (2) regional earthquakes; (3) short-duration events (SDEs). We preliminarily located the 1,277 VTMs using a single-station location method. Our results revealed hypocenters primarily beneath the axial valley ridge which is about 10 km away from hydrothermal vent and extending to the upper mantle at a depth of 15 km. Two discrete swarms of VTMs occurred during our survey period. The SDEs show a complex frequency characteristics ascribed to clusters of monochromatic waves around different frequencies. This suggests that SDEs result from combination of harmonic waves resonating in fluid-filled pipes and cracks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relocation of ocean bottom seismometers (OBSs) is a key step in analyzing the three-dimensional seismic tomographic structure of crust and mantle. In order to get the accurate location of OBSs on the seafloor, we analyze the travel times of direct water waves emitted by air-guns. The Monte Carlo and least square methods have been adopted to calculate the true OBS location. The secondary time correction is necessary if the arrivals of direct water waves show overall time drift during relocation which maybe originates from remnant of linear clock drift correction and average errors of travel time picking, mean water velocity assumption, and experiment geometry. We have improved the original OBS relocation procedure which we used previously for other experiments by deliberateness of a secondary time correction and automatically approaching the really mean water velocity. A series of synthetic tests are carried out firstly to document the feasibility of our procedure and then it is applied on a real experiment. In here, we relocate 28 OBSs in total were relocated in 3D seismic survey near Bashi Channel. Relocation results show that the drifting distances for the 28 OBSs range from 65 to 1136 m between the deployed and relocated locations deduced by relocation results. The Pearson correlation coefficient between OBS drifting direction and sea current direction is 0.79, indicating that the two sets of data are highly linearly related and further manifest the sea current as the most possible driving force for OBS drifting during landing on the seafloor but its detailed influence mechanism is unclear by now. This research is necessary and critical for velocity structure modeling, and the optimal relocation program provides valuable experiences for 3D seismic survey in other area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]