Improvements in High-Precision Tiltmeter Instrument Systems Located in an Underground Geophysical Observatory

The paper presents the results of both theoretical and experimental studies carried out in the framework of the integrated problem on improving national systems for high-precision instrumental observations using the IPE RAS Geophysical Observatory in the Northern Caucasus. The geophysical observatory is located in the vicinity of the Mt. Elbrus in a deep underground tunnel of the Baksan Neutrino Observatory, supervised by INR RAS. Along with general information about the underground laboratory, the significant performance characteristics of the main instrument—a two-axial tiltmeter—are presented, as well as the data acquisition, processing, and storage system. The influence of natural and technogenic disturbances on the results of interpreting both tidal harmonics and other long-period variations are estimated via the developed technique to minimize the impact of a separate class of disturbances; an express estimate of the amplitude of the observed tide is performed.