Low-power satellite-timed seismic data acquisition system

A recorder (10) for digitizing and recording geophone seismic signals comprising:

• a processor (50) coupled to at least one seismic sensor (18) so as to collect data;
• a memory (40) coupled to said processor so as to store said data;
• an acquisition clock circuit (52) coupled to said processor so as to pace collection of said data;
• a satellite navigation system receiver (44) which receives signals from GPS satellites and determines a satellite time standard signal;
• means for periodically actively synchronizing a time signal of said acquisition clock circuit (52) with said satellite time standard signal, so that said clock circuit includes an enabled synchronizing state when synchronizing is occurring and an idle state when no synchronizing of the two signals is occurring;
• and
• means for turning said satellite navigation system receiver (44) off during idle periods of time when said time signal of said acquisition clock circuit is not being synchronized,
• whereby power consumption of said GPS receiver is conserved and said acquisition clock circuit remain in synchronization with said satellite time standard signal within a predetermined tolerance.