Galperin configuration

[2] Common triaxial seismometers provide signal outputs in three orthogonal axes oriented towards east–west (E), north–south (N) and up-down (Z), i.e. in the Cartesian coordinate system.

In contrast, the Galperin configuration consists of three orthogonal axes (U, V, W) that are oriented at precisely the same angle with respect to the horizontal plane (α=35.26°).

Another advantage is the ability to build smaller packages (i.e., instruments) compared to the Cartesian orientation,[1] which makes the Galperin configuration especially applicable for borehole installations.

[2] However, the main drawback of the configuration is that all input vectors are linked by the rotational matrix, which causes failure of the entire system when one of the three sensor is malfunctioning.

The Galperin configuration found wide application in seismometer design, including models for borehole, ocean bottom, and vault installations.