Bottom Pressure and Tilt Meter V15

The Bottom Pressure and Tilt Meter (BOPT) is a custom instrument developed by Bill Chadwick at NOAA PMEL in Newport, Oregon The BOPT measures the inflation and deflation of the seafloor at the summit of Axial Seamount using a precision pressure sensor that enables detection of the seafloor's rise and fall (i.e., "breathing") as magma (molten rock) moves in and out of the underlying magma chamber. A very precise tilt meter that measures in micro-radians records the "tilting" of the seafloor as it deforms in response to melt migration.

During VISIONS '14, a bottom pressure tilt instrument was installed at the International District 2 Site (MJ03D) and at the Eastern Caldera Site (MJ03E), and at the Central Caldera Site (MJ03F). 

The pressure sensor is a Paroscientific Digiquartz pressure transducer and the tilt meter is supplied by Applied Geomechanics (LILY).