Shallow Sedimentary Layers Research Articles

Conservation value of post-mining headwaters: drainage channels at a lignite spoil heap harbour threatened stream dragonflies

Headwaters and small streams are crucial components of riverine systems, harbouring many highly specialized and unique invertebrate species. Unfortunately, the overwhelming majority of the Central European lowland headwaters are channelized, eutrophicated and/or polluted, and many related species have become critically endangered. Artificial streams established to drain some post-mining sites supplement a network of headwaters and generally do not suffer from agricultural pollution. Nevertheless, the biodiversity and conservation potential of the streams at post-mining sites has never been evaluated. We studied the biodiversity of dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata) at 53 sections (30 m) of an extraordinarily dense system of drainage ditches at a large lignite spoil heap in the Czech Republic. We recorded 22 dragonfly species, of which eight are threatened according to the national Red List. Moreover, four of them are closely associated with the endangered environment of small streams. Overall diversity was generally low at very tiny and/or narrowed streams and was also strongly reduced by high water velocity, high bankside inclination and dominance of expansive common reeds. Sufficient cover of rather shallow sediment layers strongly supports the studied diversity indicators. We thus conclude that post-mining streams in drainage ditches could have a strong potential to offer secondary habitats for threatened headwater biodiversity. However, intermittent reed suppression and the establishment of gently sloping banks and a structured stream bottom are necessary measures for maximizing post-mining stream conservation.

Environmental controls on intragroup diversity of the uncultured benthic archaea of the miscellaneous Crenarchaeotal group lineage naturally enriched in anoxic sediments of the White Oak River estuary (North Carolina, USA).

Sediments of the White Oak River (WOR) estuary are situated on the coast of North Carolina harbour, one of the most diverse known populations of uncultured Archaea, specifically the miscellaneous Crenarchaeotal group (MCG). In order to constrain the environmental factors influencing the uncultured archaeal groups in the WOR estuary, biogeochemical profiles as well as archaeal 16S rRNA genes from sediment pushcores were analysed. The relative fraction of MCG Archaea in clone libraries decreased at shallow sediment depths (27% of the total MCG). A LINKTREE analysis of the MCG intragroup diversity reinforced the observation that the MCG subgroup 6 was found predominantly within sulfide-depleted shallow sediment layers; other subgroups (especially MCG-1 and MCG-5/8) occurred preferentially in deeper, more strongly reducing sediment layers. The available evidence from this study and published MCG distribution patterns indicates that the MCG-6 subgroup is a specialized MCG lineage that, in contrast to other MCG subgroups, prefers suboxic sediment horizons with minimal or no free sulfide. Collectively, our results reveal the habitat preferences of different MCG subgroups in the WOR sediments and suggest that physiological adaptations to distinct sedimentary geochemical niches evolved in different MCG subgroups.

Long-Period Ground Motion in the Arabian Gulf from Earthquakes in the Zagros Mountains Thrust Belt

The Arabian Gulf is adjacent to the Zagros Mountains, one of the most seismically active regions in the world. We observe that broadband seismic records of Zagros earthquakes recorded on the Arabian side of the Gulf display long-duration surface waves. While shorter periods (<1 s) are attenuated from crossing the deep sediments (>10 km) of the Gulf basin, the long-period energy is enhanced and transmitted efficiently. Consequently, large earthquakes in the Zagros could result in amplified ground motions at long periods (2–10 s) relative to average behavior. Such ground motions are of concern for large engineered structures, such as tall buildings and long bridges with resonant periods in the same period range. Here we present results of investigations of the characteristics of ground motions recorded on the western shore of the Gulf from selected earthquakes in the Zagros Mountains region. Exceptionally, long-duration seismic waves, as compared with standard models, are shown to occur with periods of 2–10 s. This may be due to waveguide effects in the deep sedimentary basin structure of the Arabian Platform. In addition to analyzing recorded ground motion we performed 3D wave propagation simulations using a finite difference method and experimental velocity models of the Gulf, with different shallow sedimentary layers structures. The simulation results confirm our hypothesis that long-period waves with extremely long duration and relatively large amplitudes are caused by the geometry of the basin sedimentary layers and, to some extent, by shallow earthquake depths. Combined effects of basin edge geometry with sharp velocity contrasts and shallow sources (<10 km) on the eastern side of the Arabian Gulf can cause large long-period ground motion on the western side of the Gulf. In contrast, the short-period content of ground motion (<2 s) at long distances is relatively weak. This is mainly due to wave propagation scattering and attenuation in the shallow sedimentary layers of the Gulf basin.

Resolution analysis of shallow marine seismic data acquired using an airgun and an 8-channel streamer cable

Abstract We conducted a high-resolution seismic survey off Yeosu, Korea, using a 30 in3 small airgun as a seismic source and an 8-channel streamer cable with a 5 m group interval as a receiver, to find out the proper acquisition and processing parameters at the study area where shallow sedimentary layers were well deposited. The data were digitally recorded with a shot interval of 2 s and a sample interval of 0.1 ms using an in-house PC-based acquisition and processing system. The quality of the subsurface image depends on the acquisition parameters such as the sample interval, common midpoint (CMP) interval and CMP fold. To understand the effects of these parameters, we resampled the field data with various sample intervals, CMP intervals and CMP folds and processed the data. The analysis results show that thin layers of 70–80 cm thickness at a depth of 30–45 m from the sea bottom can be imaged with good resolution and continuity using acquisition parameters with a sample interval of less than 0.2 ms, a CMP interval of shorter than 2.5 m and a CMP fold of greater than 4. The data quality of the shallow marine seismic survey is greatly enhanced through multichannel data processing flows such as spiking deconvolution, frequency filtering and careful static correction. Our results demonstrate that very high-resolution seismic reflection images can be made from 8-channel data recoded with high sample rates and processed with appropriate parameters.

Phreatomagmatic eruptions through unconsolidated coastal plain sequences, Maungataketake, Auckland Volcanic Field (New Zealand)

Maungataketake is a monogenetic basaltic volcano formed at ~85–89ka in the southern part of the Auckland Volcanic Field (AVF), New Zealand. It comprises a basal 1100-m diameter tuff ring, with a central scoria/spatter cone and lava flows. The tuff ring was formed under hydrogeological and geographic conditions very similar to the present. The tuff records numerous density stratified, wet base surges that radiated outward up to 1km, decelerating rapidly and becoming less turbulent with distance. The pyroclastic units dominantly comprise fine-grained expelled grains from various sedimentary deposits beneath the volcano mixed with a minor component of juvenile pyroclasts (~35vol.%). Subtle lateral changes relate to deceleration with distance and vertical transformations are minor, pointing to stable explosion depths and conditions, with gradual transitions between units and no evidence for eruptive pauses. This volcano formed within and on ~60m-thick Plio/Pleistocene, poorly consolidated, highly permeable shelly sands and silts (Kaawa Formation) capped by near-impermeable, water-saturated muds (Tauranga Group). These sediments rest on moderately consolidated Miocene-aged permeable turbiditic sandstones and siltstones (Waitemata Group). Magma–water fuelled thermohydraulic explosions remained in the shallow sedimentary layers, excavating fine-grained sediments without brittle fragmentation required. On the whole, the resulting cool, wet pyroclastic density currents were of low energy. The unconsolidated shallow sediments deformed to accommodate rapidly rising magma, leading to development of complex sill-like bodies and a range of magma–water contact conditions at any time. The weak saturated sediments were also readily liquefied to provide an enduring supply of water and fine sediment to the explosion loci. Changes in magma flux and/or subsequent stabilisation of the conduit area by a lava ring-barrier led to ensuing Strombolian and fire-fountaining eruption phases. Future eruptions in littoral environments around Auckland are likely to be of this type, producing base surges that rapidly decrease in energy over short runout distances (~1km).

Morphology and Efficiency of a Specialized Foraging Behavior, Sediment Sifting, in Neotropical Cichlid Fishes

Understanding of relationships between morphology and ecological performance can help to reveal how natural selection drives biological diversification. We investigate relationships between feeding behavior, foraging performance and morphology within a diverse group of teleost fishes, and examine the extent to which associations can be explained by evolutionary relatedness. Morphological adaptation associated with sediment sifting was examined using a phylogenetic linear discriminant analysis on a set of ecomorphological traits from 27 species of Neotropical cichlids. For most sifting taxa, feeding behavior could be effectively predicted by a linear discriminant function of ecomorphology across multiple clades of sediment sifters, and this pattern could not be explained by shared evolutionary history alone. Additionally, we tested foraging efficiency in seven Neotropical cichlid species, five of which are specialized benthic feeders with differing head morphology. Efficiency was evaluated based on the degree to which invertebrate prey could be retrieved at different depths of sediment. Feeding performance was compared both with respect to feeding mode and species using a phylogenetic ANCOVA, with substrate depth as a covariate. Benthic foraging performance was constant across sediment depths in non-sifters but declined with depth in sifters. The non-sifting Hypsophrys used sweeping motions of the body and fins to excavate large pits to uncover prey; this tactic was more efficient for consuming deeply buried invertebrates than observed among sediment sifters. Findings indicate that similar feeding performance among sediment-sifting cichlids extracting invertebrate prey from shallow sediment layers reflects constraints associated with functional morphology and, to a lesser extent, phylogeny.

Crustal structures of the Weihe graben and its surroundings from receiver functions

We use 15 seismic stations, crossing the Qinling orogen (QO), Weihe graben (WG) and Ordos block (OB), to study the crustal structures by receiver functions (RFs) methods. The results show quite a difference in crustal structures and materials of three tectonic units (orogenic belt, extentional basin and stable craton). The average crustal thickness in the northern QO is 37.8 km, and Poisson ratio is 0.247, which indicates the increase of felsic materials in QO. In the southern OB, the average crustal thickness is 39.2 km and Poisson ratio is 0.265. Comparatively high value of Poisson ratio is related with old crystallized base in the lower crust and shallow sediments. The artificial RFs reveal that low-velocity and thick sediments have a significant effect on phases of the Mohorovicic discontinuity (Moho). As a result, the Moho phases in WG are tangled. S-wave velocity (VS) inversion shows that there are shallow sediment layers with 4-8 km’s thickness and high velocity zones in the middle-lower crust in WG. Complex Moho structure and high velocity zone may have been induced by the activities of the Weihe faults series.

A Pressure and Temperature Preservation System for Gas-hydrate-bearing Sediments Sampler

A pressure and temperature preservation system (PTPS) was developed for a natural gas hydrates (NGH) sampler. First, some pressure-coring tools for gas hydrate and free gas investigation are reviewed. Then a PTPS with length of 11.2 m and diameter of 60 mm was developed, which can be divided into four parts with a length of less than 4 m for each part. Laboratory experiments showed that this new PTPS was suitable for maintaining the pressure and temperature of ice and water mixture. Further, this new PTPS was applied during the HY4-2006-03 voyage of No. 4 ocean ship on the northern part of the South China Sea, and two pressurized sediments of 85 and 100 cm length were obtained. All laboratory experiments and applications show that the maximum operating depth and sample length of this PTPS are 3,000 m and 10 m, respectively, the PTPS has a good ability of recovering sediment samples on the seafloor and maintaining their original in situ pressure and temperature, meeting the requirement of exploration of NGH in deep-sea shallow sediment layers.

Archaeal and anaerobic methane oxidizer communities in the Sonora Margin cold seeps, Guaymas Basin (Gulf of California)

Cold seeps, located along the Sonora Margin transform fault in the Guaymas Basin, were extensively explored during the 'BIG' cruise in June 2010. They present a seafloor mosaic pattern consisting of different faunal assemblages and microbial mats. To investigate this mostly unknown cold and hydrocarbon-rich environment, geochemical and microbiological surveys of the sediments underlying two microbial mats and a surrounding macrofaunal habitat were analyzed in detail. The geochemical measurements suggest biogenic methane production and local advective sulfate-rich fluxes in the sediments. The distributions of archaeal communities, particularly those involved in the methane cycle, were investigated at different depths (surface to 18 cm below the sea floor (cmbsf)) using complementary molecular approaches, such as Automated method of Ribosomal Intergenic Spacer Analysis (ARISA), 16S rRNA libraries, fluorescence in situ hybridization and quantitative polymerase chain reaction with new specific primer sets targeting methanogenic and anaerobic methanotrophic lineages. Molecular results indicate that metabolically active archaeal communities were dominated by known clades of anaerobic methane oxidizers (archaeal anaerobic methanotroph (ANME)-1, -2 and -3), including a novel 'ANME-2c Sonora' lineage. ANME-2c were found to be dominant, metabolically active and physically associated with syntrophic Bacteria in sulfate-rich shallow sediment layers. In contrast, ANME-1 were more prevalent in the deepest sediment samples and presented a versatile behavior in terms of syntrophic association, depending on the sulfate concentration. ANME-3 were concentrated in small aggregates without bacterial partners in a restricted sediment horizon below the first centimetres. These niche specificities and syntrophic behaviors, depending on biological surface assemblages and environmental availability of electron donors, acceptors and carbon substrates, suggest that ANME could support alternative metabolic pathways than syntrophic anaerobic oxidation of methane.

Microearthquake activity around Kueishantao island, offshore northeastern Taiwan: Insights into the volcano–tectonic interactions at the tip of the southern Okinawa Trough

Kueishantao is a volcanic island located offshore the northeastern coast of Taiwan and lies at the tip of the southern Okinawa Trough which is the back-arc basin of the Ryukyu subduction zone. Its last eruption occurred during the Holocene (~7ka), hence Kueishantao can be considered as an active volcano. In an effort to better understand how magmatic processes may interact with the regional tectonics, a seismic network was installed in the area during early January 2008. This network consisted of 16 three-component seismometers located both on Kueishantao and the coast of northeastern Taiwan. One year of data was analyzed yielding 425 earthquakes whose P and S arrival times were manually picked and each event was located using a nonlinear probabilistic location method. In order to improve the location accuracy, the minimum 1-D velocity model for this dataset was derived and all earthquakes were relocated using this model. The results show a tight cluster of events near Kueishantao while the remaining earthquakes are scattered between the island and mainland Taiwan. The majority of hypocentral depths range between 2.5 and 10km where the former depth coincides with the bottom of the shallow sedimentary layer and the latter with the ductile lower crust. Waveforms of the three largest events were also inverted for the determination of their deviatoric and full moment tensor. No statistically significant isotropic component was found, while two of the events can be explained by a double-couple source. The third event exhibited a low frequency content (<10Hz) and a large non-double-couple component suggesting fluid involvement at its source. A stress inversion of all available focal mechanisms in the area shows that fluid circulation in the upper crust generates a local stress field around Kueishantao facilitating the opening of cracks along the NW–SE direction of regional extension.

Methanogenic activity and diversity in the centre of the Amsterdam Mud Volcano, Eastern Mediterranean Sea

Marine mud volcanoes are geological structures emitting large amounts of methane from their active centres. The Amsterdam mud volcano (AMV), located in the Anaximander Mountains south of Turkey, is characterized by intense active methane seepage produced in part by methanogens. To date, information about the diversity or the metabolic pathways used by the methanogens in active centres of marine mud volcanoes is limited. (14)C-radiotracer measurements showed that methylamines/methanol, H(2)/CO(2) and acetate were used for methanogenesis in the AMV. Methylotrophic methanogenesis was measured all along the sediment core, Methanosarcinales affiliated sequences were detected using archaeal 16S PCR-DGGE and mcrA gene libraries, and enrichments of methanogens showed the presence of Methanococcoides in the shallow sediment layers. Overall acetoclastic methanogenesis was higher than hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis, which is unusual for cold seep sediments. Interestingly, acetate porewater concentrations were extremely high in the AMV sediments. This might be the result of organic matter cracking in deeper hotter sediment layers. Methane was also produced from hexadecanes. For the most part, the methanogenic community diversity was in accordance with the depth distribution of the H(2)/CO(2) and acetate methanogenesis. These results demonstrate the importance of methanogenic communities in the centres of marine mud volcanoes.

Stress redistribution following unwelding of near-surface layers in strike-slip fault zones

SUMMARY Major strike-slip earthquakes are often associated with a complex pattern of surface fractures, organized in hierarchic order (en-echelon shear fracture arrays, open tensile fractures and hillocks), which are oriented differently from the strike of the main fault and often extend laterally 1 or 2 km. In the attempt to understand why the main fault remains confined at depth, we have considered the possibility that, during the earthquake, a soft shallow sedimentary layer unwelds from the lower basement rock along a horizontal interface. The stress redistribution provided by the unwelding process in the shallow layer is studied in terms of a dislocation model employing the boundary-element method. We show that a nearly uniform Coulomb failure function develops above the main fault, over a km-wide strip along the fault strike (explaining shear fracture arrays) and positive tensile stresses appear near the surface over a similarly wide strip (explaining open fractures). A parametric study is performed to show when the unwelding process can take place and how the resulting stress redistribution in the shallow layer depends on the depth of the unwelded layer and on the coefficient of friction.

Finite Difference Simulations of Seismic Wave Propagation for the 2007 Mw 6.6 Niigata-ken Chuetsu-Oki Earthquake: Validity of Models and Reliable Input Ground Motion in the Near-Field

Finite difference simulations of seismic wave propagation are performed in the Niigata area, Japan, for the 2007 Mw 6.6 Niigata-ken Chuetsu-Oki earthquake at low frequencies. We test three 3D structural models built independently in various studies. First aftershock simulations are carried out. The model based on 3D tomography yields correct body waves in the near field, but later phases are imperfectly reproduced due to the lack of shallow sediment layers; other models based on various 1D/2D profiles and geological interpretation provide good site responses but generate seismic phases that may be shifted from those actually observed. Next, for the mainshock simulations, we adopt two different finite source models that differ in the near-field ground motion, especially above the fault plane (but under the sea) and then along the coastline. Each model is found to be calibrated differently for the given stations. For engineering purposes, the variations observed in simulated ground motion are significant, but for seismological purposes, additional parameter calibrations would be possible for such a complex 3D case.

Archaeal Populations in Hypersaline Sediments Underlying Orange Microbial Mats in the Napoli Mud Volcano

Microbial mats in marine cold seeps are known to be associated with ascending sulfide- and methane-rich fluids. Hence, they could be visible indicators of anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) and methane cycling processes in underlying sediments. The Napoli mud volcano is situated in the Olimpi Area that lies on saline deposits; from there, brine fluids migrate upward to the seafloor. Sediments associated with a brine pool and microbial orange mats of the Napoli mud volcano were recovered during the Medeco cruise. Based on analysis of RNA-derived sequences, the "active" archaeal community was composed of many uncultured lineages, such as rice cluster V or marine benthic group D. Function methyl coenzyme M reductase (mcrA) genes were affiliated with the anaerobic methanotrophic Archaea (ANME) of the ANME-1, ANME-2a, and ANME-2c groups, suggesting that AOM occurred in these sediment layers. Enrichment cultures showed the presence of viable marine methylotrophic Methanococcoides in shallow sediment layers. Thus, the archaeal community diversity seems to show that active methane cycling took place in the hypersaline microbial mat-associated sediments of the Napoli mud volcano.

Multi-scale inversion of density structure from gravity anomalies in Tarim Basin

Based on the power spectra of gravity anomalies in Tarim Basin, the anomalies can be decomposed to the following three components: a sub-anomaly formed mainly by the basin crystallized basement, a sub-anomaly formed mainly by deep sedimentary layers, and that by shallow sedimentary layers. A special wavelet transform analysis scheme and a density inversion method are designed and applied to the decomposition and inversion of gravity sub-anomalies, which are correlated with regional geology and drilling data. The results indicate that the deep and the shallow sub-anomalies show some relations with ancient fluid active zones. The negative density disturbances inversed from the shallow sub-anomaly are mainly caused by Mesozoic fluid active zones, whereas the negative density disturbances form the deep sub-anomalies are mainly correlated with Paleozoic fluid active zones. As the ancient fluid movement was good for formation of oil/gas fields, the multi-scale inversion methods for locating the ancient fluid movement zones seem to be helpful and valuable to oil/gas exploration.

Magnetic expression of salt diapir–related structures in the Nordkapp Basin, western Barents Sea

High-resolution aeromagnetic surveys in the Nordkapp Basin, western Barents Sea, demonstrate the capability of modern, high-resolution aeromagnetic surveys to provide an efficient and promising tool for mapping features related to salt diapirism. Salt diapirs are clearly visible by a small, low-amplitude negative round to ellipsoidal magnetic pattern. This pattern coincides with shallow sedimentary layers deformed by the rising salt during active and passive diapirism. The dimensions of these features coincide in shape and size with those interpreted on gravity and seismic surveys.

地震および微動観測による石川県鳳珠郡穴水町における地盤震動特性

During the 2007 Noto Hanto earthquake, a K-NET station ISK005, which is located in Anamizu town and approximately 19 km far from the epicenter, recorded the ground velocity larger than 100 cm/s. A set of observational study is carried out to investigate spatial variation of ground motion amplification characteristics in Anamizu town. Firstly, the spatial variation of the amplification was observed by aftershock observations along a temporary linear seismic array across Anamizu town. In the center of the town, the spectral amplification factor is 10 to 20 between 1 Hz and 2 Hz with respect to the rock site. Then, dense single-station microtremor observations were carried out at 147 sites with average spacing of 100 m in Anamizu town to see the spatial variation in thickness of low-velocity layers. The peak frequency of the microtremor H/V spectral ratio varies from 0.8 to 2.0 Hz in the town. The velocity structure model of shallow portion in Anamizu town is estimated from the mircrotremor H/V spectral ratios. The thickness of low-velocity layers (VS =70 to 100 m/s) changes along the Omata and the Manai rivers. Finally, a three-dimensional ground motion simulation is conducted using the obtained velocity structure model in order to see relationship between shallow sedimentary layers and ground motion amplification in Anamizu town. The peak velocity in the frequency range below 2.5 Hz is three or four times larger in the area around ISK005, where the thickness of low-velocity layers is approximately 10 to 25 m, than that in the rock side. It could be concluded that the ground motion amplification characteristics in the frequency range between 1 Hz and 2 Hz is mainly controlled by the existence of such low-velocity sedimentary layers.

An effect of pier pilings on nearshore submarine groundwater discharge from a (partially) confined aquifer

Concurrent bulk ground conductivity mapping and direct measurements of seepage rates were carried out near a pier at Shelter Island, New York, U.S.A. A shallow sediment layer was identified to provide confinement for lower aquifer units. The conductivity and seepage rate data indicate that pilings of the pier apparently pierce this shallow sediment layer, producing a comparatively high seepage rate driven by the hydraulic head of the (partially) confined aquifer, resulting in a substantial increase in submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) near the pier. Seepage rate measurements made close to the pier, which runs perpendicular to the shoreline, cannot be considered representative for the area. At the study site, the magnitude of SGD depends both on the distance from shore and on the distance from the pier, a rmding that confounds the commonly observed patterns of decreasing SGD with increasing distance from shore. This alteration of a groundwater flow pattern is a previously undescribed effect of anthropogenic perturbation in a coastal system.

Geophysical surveying an active well catchment in the presence of significant topography and anthropogenic disturbances

ABSTRACTTraditional approaches to surveying well catchments usually involve investigations at two quite different spatial scales: very high resolution borehole‐based studies and low resolution tracer and pump tests. In recent years, various researchers have attempted to fill the wide gap between the two scales of acquired data by using a variety of geophysical tools that have high‐to‐medium resolution capabilities. Although geophysical surveying may be relatively straightforward at many locations, there are numerous regions where topography, the presence of ubiquitous metal objects and/or a lack of suitably placed boreholes cause the acquisition, processing, inversion and interpretation of certain types of geophysical data to be extremely challenging. It was necessary for us to address such problems in an investigation of an active well catchment near Zurich, Switzerland. The principal goals of our project were to determine the geometries and physical properties of the shallow sedimentary layers, with emphasis on a key water‐bearing gravel unit. To achieve these goals, four different geophysical methods were employed. In a first step, frequency‐domain electromagnetic measurements allowed the locations of buried metal pipes to be established. A 2D tomographic seismic refraction survey then provided information on the interface between the low‐velocity surface loamy topsoil and underlying high‐velocity morainal material. The high electrical resistivity of the important gravel unit allowed its upper boundary to be outlined in 2D models derived from geoelectric data and its lower boundary to be delineated in models based on 1D linked inversions of geoelectric and transient electromagnetic data.

Identifying and removing noise from the Monterey ocean bottom broadband seismic station (MOBB) data

When compared to quiet land stations, the very broadband Monterey ocean bottom seismic station (MOBB) shows increased long‐period background as well as signal‐generated noise. Both sources of noise are unavoidable in shallow ocean bottom installations, and postprocessing is required to remove them from seismic observations. The long‐period background noise observed for periods longer than 20 s is mainly due to infragravity waves and ocean currents. The shorter‐period signal‐generated noise, on the other hand, is due to reverberations of the seismic waves in the shallow sedimentary layers as well as in the water layer. We first present the steps that were taken prior to and during the instrument deployment to minimize instrument generated noise as well as to avoid noise due to water flow around the instrument. We then present results from two postprocessing methods that can be used to remove the long‐period background noise, which both utilize the ocean bottom pressure signal locally recorded on a differential pressure gauge (DPG). One consists of subtracting the locally recorded ocean bottom pressure from the vertical seismic acceleration signal. In this case the frequency‐independent scale factor is linearly estimated from the data. The other one makes use of the transfer function between the vertical seismic and pressure signal to predict the vertical component deformation signal. The predicted signal is then removed from the vertical seismic data in either frequency or time domain. We also present two methods that can be used to remove the signal‐generated noise. One employs the empirical transfer function constructed from MOBB data and nearby land station data that do not show the signal‐generated noise. The other one uses a synthetic transfer function computed by modeling the response of shallow layers at the MOBB location. Using either of the two transfer functions, most of the signal‐generated noise can be removed from the MOBB data by deconvolution.