Seismic decoupling for explosions in spherical cavities

Summary A series of paired explosions in a salt mine near Winnfield, Louisiana, has been conducted to test a theory by Dr.A. L. Latter concerning seismic decoupling by underground cavities. The theory predicted a decoupling of about 100. Free-field and surface measurements from an explosion in either a 6-ft-or a 15-ft-radius spherical cavity were compared with similar measurements from a completely tamped explosion. Shot sizes were from 20 Ib up to a few tons. Surface measurements were made out to 100 km and covered the frequency range from 0.5 to 100 cps. The experiment confirmed that decoupling does occur. The actual decoupling factor as a function of frequency is presented and compared with theLatter theory.Presented at the international meeting of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics at Helsinki, July 27, 1960.     

Seismic Source Characteristics of Soviet Peaceful Nuclear Explosions

—?During the period 1965 to 1988, the former Soviet Union (FSU) conducted over 120 peaceful nuclear explosions (PNE) at locations widely dispersed throughout the territories of the FSU. These explosions sample a much wider range of source conditions than do the historical explosions at the known nuclear test sites and, therefore, seismic data recorded from these PNE tests provide a unique resource for use in deriving improved quantitative bounds on the ranges of seismic signal characteristics which may require consideration in global monitoring of the Comprehensive Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). In this paper we summarize the results of a detailed statistical analysis of broadband seismic data recorded at the Borovoye Geophysical Observatory from 21 of these PNE tests at regional distances extending from about 7 to 19 degrees, as well as the results of theoretical waveform simulation analyses of near-regional (Δ?相似文献   

Wave Generation from Explosions in Rock Cavities

—?We have developed a measurement method to monitor P- and S-waves generated from laboratory-scale explosions in meter-sized rock samples at a series of stations, as well as invented a device to drill spherical cavities in rock, with diameters up to 10?centimeters. We applied these to experiments in Bedford limestone in which spherical/cylindrical explosives (0.2 to 1.9?g) were centrally placed in 1.2- to 3-cm diameter cavities. Stress waves generated by the explosions were recorded within a radius of 25?cm. The radial stress wave records and post-explosion studies demonstrate that S-waves are generated from explosions in cavities as a result of both wave mode-conversion from the cavity wall and crack propagation in rocks. The experimental results of wave generation from the explosions in spherical and cylindrical cavities demonstrate the cavity geometrical effect on the resulting wave pattern. The P- and S-waves generated by explosions and crack propagation in rocks are analyzed. A simple analytic model for P-wave generation is proposed to explain the differences of P-wave-induced displacement histories between the observed waveforms and those predicted by a step-pressure source. Generally, the qualitative predictions of this model fit the observations. The present results demonstrate the importance of rock cracking and cavities in P- and S-wave generation.     

Yield Estimation for Semipalatinsk Underground Nuclear Explosions Using Seismic Surface-wave Observations at Near-regional Distances

—?A statistical procedure is described for estimating the yields of underground nuclear tests at the former Soviet Semipalatinsk test site using the peak amplitudes of short-period surface waves observed at near-regional distances (Δ < 150 km) from these explosions. This methodology is then applied to data recorded from a large sample of the Semipalatinsk explosions, including the Soviet JVE explosion of September 14, 1988, and it is demonstrated that it provides seismic estimates of explosion yield which are typically within 20% of the yields determined for these same explosions using more accurate, non-seismic techniques based on near-source observations.     

Isotropic and Nonisotropic Components of Earthquakes and Nuclear Explosions on the Lop Nor Test Site, China

—?We test the hypothesis that the existence of an observable non-zero isotropic component of seismic moment can be used as a discriminant to distinguish nuclear explosions from shallow earthquakes. We do this by applying the method described herein to a small set of data recorded between 1990 and 1996 following events (seven nuclear explosions, three earthquakes) that occurred on the Lop Nor test site in Western China. We represent each source as a sum of an isotropic component at the surface and a nonisotropic, double-couple component at an estimated depth. The explosions all possess a significant non-zero isotropic component and the estimated depth of the double-couple component of the moment tensor, presumably the result of tectonic release, lies between about 0 and 3?km. For the earthquakes studied, the isotropic component is indistinguishable from zero and the depths of the sources are estimated at 3, 17 and 31?km. The data set we have studied, although still very small, suggests that certain source characteristics (namely, double-couple depth and the ratio of the isotropic to nonisotropic components of seismic moment) may prove useful in discriminating explosions from shallow earthquakes. Further work is needed to determine whether these observations hold for explosions at other test sites, to investigate a much larger set of shallow earthquakes located in regions of interest, and to study the robustness of the estimated source parameters as source magnitude and the number of observing stations decrease.     

Seismic Source Characteristics of Nuclear and Chemical Explosions in Granite from Hydrodynamic Simulations

Seismic source characteristics of low-yield (0.5–5 kt) underground explosions are inferred from hydrodynamic simulations using a granite material model on high-performance (parallel) computers. We use a non-linear rheological model for granite calibrated to historical near-field nuclear test data. Equivalent elastic P-wave source spectra are derived from the simulated hydrodynamic response using reduced velocity potentials. Source spectra and parameters are compared with the models of Mueller and Murphy (Bull Seism Soc Am 61:1675–1692, 1971, hereafter MM71) and Denny and Johnson (Explosion source phenomenology, pp 1–24, 1991, hereafter DJ91). The source spectra inferred from the simulations of different yields at normal scaled depth-of-burial (SDOB) match the MM71 spectra reasonably well. For normally buried nuclear explosions, seismic moments are larger for the hydrodynamic simulations than MM71 (by 25 %) and for DJ91 (by over a factor of 2), however, the scaling of moment with yield across this low-yield range is consistent for our calculations and the two models. Spectra from our simulations show higher corner frequencies at the lower end of the 0.5–5.0 kt yield range and stronger variation with yield than the MM71 and DJ91 models predict. The spectra from our simulations have additional energy above the corner frequency, probably related to non-linear near-source effects, but at high frequencies the spectral slopes agree with the f ^?2 predictions of MM71. Simulations of nuclear explosions for a range of SDOB from 0.5 to 3.9 show stronger variations in the seismic moment than predicted by the MM71 and DJ91 models. Chemical explosions are found to generate higher moments by a factor of about two compared to nuclear explosions of the same yield in granite and at normal depth-of-burial, broadly consistent with comparisons of nuclear and chemical shots at the US Nevada Test Site (Denny, Proceeding of symposium on the non-proliferation experiment, Rockville, Maryland, 1994). For all buried explosions, the region of permanent deformation and material damage is not spherical but extends along the free surface above and away from the source. The effect of damage induced by a normally buried nuclear explosion on seismic radiation is explored by comparing the motions from hydrodynamic simulations with those for point-source elastic Green’s functions. Results show that radiation emerging at downward takeoff angles appears to be dominated by the expected isotropic source contribution, while at shallower angles the motions are complicated by near-surface damage and cannot be represented with the addition of a simple secondary compensated linear vector dipole point source above the shot point. The agreement and differences of simulated source spectra with the MM71 and DJ91 models motivates the use of numerical simulations to understand observed motions and investigate seismic source features for underground explosions in various emplacement media and conditions, including non-linear rheological effects such as material strength and porosity.     

不同地区人工爆炸与天然地震记录特征及识别研究

本文分析了河北怀来多次爆炸、河北三河采石场多次爆炸和低震级天然地震事件的记录特征和时频差异。结果显示:河北怀来爆炸的P波能量强、衰减快、S波发育弱;河北三河采石场爆炸的P波、S波主频均低于怀来爆炸,S波与面波混淆,不同震中距的台站记录低频发育明显;而天然地震的有效频带更宽,频率成分更为复杂。将Pg/Sg谱比判据应用于小震级地震与爆炸的识别中,探索交叉频带谱比对不同地区爆炸的识别。结果表明:高频（＞5 Hz）Pg/Sg谱比判据可将研究数据中的爆炸与小震级地震完全区分;与Sg低频（0—2 Hz）有关的交叉频带谱比可对两个不同地区的爆炸进行识别,交叉频带的谱比判据较传统的单一频带谱比判据能够更好地反映出不同类型事件的特征差异。      

Identification of blasting sources in the Dobrogea seismogenic region,Romania using seismo-acoustic signals

In order to discriminate between quarry blasts and earthquakes observed in the Dobrogea seismogenic region, a seismo-acoustic analysis was performed on 520 events listed in the updated Romanian seismic catalogue from January 2011 to December 2012. During this time interval, 104 seismo-acoustic events observed from a distance between 110 and 230 km and backazimuth interval of 110–160° from the IPLOR infrasound array were identified as explosions by associating with infrasonic signals. WinPMCC software for interactive analysis was applied to detect and characterize infrasonic signals in terms of backazimuth, speed and frequency content. The measured and expected values of both backazimuths and arrival times for the study events were compared in order to identify the sources of infrasound. Two predominant directions for seismo-acoustic sources’ aligning were observed, corresponding to the northern and central parts of Dobrogea, and these directions are further considered as references in the process of discriminating explosions from earthquakes. A predominance of high-frequency detections (above 1 Hz) is also observed in the infrasound data. The strong influence of seasonally dependent stratospheric winds on the IPLOR detection capability limits the efficiency of the discrimination procedure, as proposed by this study.     

A Study of Small Magnitude Seismic Events During 1961–1989 on and near the Semipalatinsk Test Site, Kazakhstan

—?Official Russian sources in 1996 and 1997 have stated that 340 underground nuclear tests (UNTs) were conducted during 1961–1989 at the Semipalatinsk Test Site (STS) in Eastern Kazakhstan. Only 271 of these nuclear tests appear to have been described with well-determined origin time, coordinates and magnitudes in the openly available technical literature. Thus, good open documentation has been lacking for 69 UNTs at STS.¶The main goal of our study was to provide detections, estimates of origin time and location, and magnitudes, for as many of these previously undocumented events as possible. We used data from temporary and permanent seismographic stations in the former USSR at distances from 500?km to about 1500?km from STS. As a result, we have been able to assign magnitude for eight previously located UNTs whose magnitude was not previously known. For 31 UNTs, we have estimated origin time an d assigned magnitude — and for 19 of these 31 we have obtained locations based on seismic signals. Of the remaining 30 poorly documented UNTs, 15 had announced yields that were less than one ton, and 13 occurred simultaneously with another test which was detected. There are only two UNTs, for which the announced yield exceeds one ton and we have been unable to find seismic signals.¶Most of the newly detected and located events were sub-kiloton. Their magnitudes range from 2.7 up to 5.1 (a multi-kiloton event on 1965 Feb. 4 that was often obscured at teleseismic stations by signals from an earthquake swarm in the Aleutians).¶For 17 small UNTs at STS, we compare the locations (with their uncertainties) that we had earlier determined in 1994 from analysis of regional seismic waves, with ground-truth information obtained in 1998. The average error of the seismically-determined locations is only about 5?km. The ground-truth location is almost alw ays within the predicted small uncertainty of the seismically-determined location.¶Seismically-determined yield estimates are in good agreement with the announced total annual yield of nuclear tests, for each year from 1964 to 1989 at Semipalatinsk.¶We also report the origin time, location, and seismic magnitude of 29 chemical explosions and a few earthquakes on or near STS during the years 1961–1989.¶Our new documentation of STS explosions is important for evaluating the detection, location, and identification capabilities of teleseismic and regional arrays and stations; and how these capabilities have changed with time.     

Seismic resonances of spherical acoustic cavities

We study the interaction of a seismic wavefield with a spherical acoustic gas‐ or fluid‐filled cavity. The intention of this study is to clarify whether seismic resonances can be expected, a characteristic feature that may help in detecting cavities in the subsurface. This is important for many applications, in particular the detection of underground nuclear explosions, which are to be prohibited by the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. To calculate the full seismic wavefield from an incident plane wave that interacts with the cavity, we considered an analytic formulation of the problem. The wavefield interaction consists of elastic scattering and the wavefield interaction between the acoustic and elastic media. Acoustic resonant modes caused by internal reflections in the acoustic cavity show up as spectral peaks in the frequency domain. The resonant peaks coincide with the eigenfrequencies of the un‐damped system described by the particular acoustic medium bounded in a sphere with stiff walls. The filling of the cavity could thus be determined by the observation of spectral peaks from acoustic resonances. By energy transmission from the internal oscillations back into the elastic domain, the oscillations experience damping, resulting in a frequency shift and a limitation of the resonance amplitudes. In case of a gas‐filled cavity, the impedance contrast is still high, which means low damping of the internal oscillations resulting in very narrow resonances of high amplitude. In synthetic seismograms calculated in the surrounding elastic domain, the acoustic resonances of gas‐filled cavities show up as persisting oscillations. However, due to the weak acoustic–elastic coupling in this case, the amplitudes of the oscillations are very low. Due to a lower impedance contrast, a fluid‐filled cavity has a stronger acoustic–elastic coupling, which results in wide spectral peaks of lower amplitudes. In the synthetic seismograms derived in the surrounding medium of fluid‐filled cavities, acoustic resonances show up as strong but fast decaying reverberations.     

Passive (Micro-) Seismic Event Detection by Identifying Embedded “Event” Anomalies Within Statistically Describable Background Noise

Among engineers there is considerable interest in the real-time identification of “events” within time series data with a low signal to noise ratio. This is especially true for acoustic emission analysis, which is utilized to assess the integrity and safety of many structures and is also applied in the field of passive seismic monitoring (PSM). Here an array of seismic receivers are used to acquire acoustic signals to monitor locations where seismic activity is expected: underground excavations, deep open pits and quarries, reservoirs into which fluids are injected or from which fluids are produced, permeable subsurface formations, or sites of large underground explosions. The most important element of PSM is event detection: the monitoring of seismic acoustic emissions is a continuous, real-time process which typically runs 24?h a day, 7?days a week, and therefore a PSM system with poor event detection can easily acquire terabytes of useless data as it does not identify crucial acoustic events. This paper outlines a new algorithm developed for this application, the so-called SEED? (Signal Enhancement and Event Detection) algorithm. The SEED? algorithm uses real-time Bayesian recursive estimation digital filtering techniques for PSM signal enhancement and event detection.     

Earthquake-explosion discrimination using waveform cross-correlation technique for mines in southeast of Tehran

The presence of man-made explosions in a seismic catalogue leads to errors in statistical analyses of seismicity. Recently, the need to monitor man-made explosions used for mining, road excavating, and other constructional applications has been become a demanding challenge for the seismologists. In this way, we gain new insight into the cross-correlation technique and conduct this approach to discriminate explosions from seismic datasets. Following this, improved P-wave arrival times are used for more precise relocation. In this study, the waveform cross-correlation technique provides a reliable means for discriminating explosions which have cross-correlation coefficients (CC) of 0.6 or greater with their own corresponding stacked waveforms. The results illustrate that approximately 80 % of seismicity of southeast of Tehran, recorded by the Iranian Seismological Center (IRSC), includes events which have cross-correlation coefficients of ≥0.6 with their corresponding stacked waveforms. Furthermore, with improved P-wave arrival time, there is a better chance to relocate explosions precisely in the region under study.     

On the Use of Calibration Explosions at the Former Semipalatinsk Test Site for Compiling a Travel-time Model of the Crust and Upper Mantle

—?Two chemical calibration explosions, conducted at the former Semipalatinsk nuclear test site in 1998 with charges of 25 tons and 100 tons TNT, have been used for developing travel-time curves and generalized one-dimensional velocity models of the crust and upper mantle of the platform region of Kazakhstan. The explosions were recorded by a number of digital seismic stations, located in Kazakhstan at distances ranging from 0 to 720?km. The travel-time tables developed in this paper cover the phases P, Pn, Pg, S, Sn, Lg in a range of 0–740?km and the velocity models apply to the crust down to 44?km depth and to the mantle down to 120?km. A comparison of the compiled travel-time tables with existing travel-time tables of CSE and IASPEI91 is presented.     

WHERE IS ZERO TIME?*

Mis-ties are all-too-common results of seismic surveys made at the same place but at different times with different equipment or by different organizations. Even after removal of positioning or polarity errors, reflection times often appear to differ by several tens of milliseconds. Zero time appears to fluctuate. How can zero time differ on surveys with only minor differences in acquisition or processing? What can be done to identify the true zero time for each survey? The first step toward establishing zero time is to record the source pulse. It is well-known that the different sources currently used in reflection seismic prospecting (propane-oxygen explosions, compressed-air discharges, explosives, steam bubbles, mechanical implosions, vibrations, etc.) yield different pressure wavefronts as the input to the seismic reflection system. By recording this wavefront we capture the basic pulse shape and we establish the initial time delay. The second step is to process the recorded source pulse as if it were reflection data to establish the additional time and shape changes introduced by data processing. Then, display the recorded and processed source pulse as an auxiliary variable at the ends of the seismic section. From this display the interpreter can systematically establish the time shifts appropriate to each picked event. He can determine also whether the pick should be a peak or a trough. He can see why surveys which appear to tie for shallow reflections appear to mis-tie for deep reflections. The display of the processed source pulse constitutes a major interpretation aid which, in a readily useable form, increases the information content of the basic seismic section.     

Application of Network-averaged Teleseismic P-wave Spectra to Seismic Yield Estimation of Underground Nuclear Explosions

—?A set of procedures is described for estimating network-averaged teleseismic P-wave spectra for underground nuclear explosions and for analytically inverting these spectra to obtain estimates of m _b /yield relations and individual yields for explosions at previously uncalibrated test sites. These procedures are then applied to the analyses of explosions at the former Soviet test sites at Shagan River, Degelen Mountain, Novaya Zemlya and Azgir, as well as at the French Sahara, U.S. Amchitka and Chinese Lop Nor test sites. It is demonstrated that the resulting seismic estimates of explosion yield and m _b /yield relations are remarkably consistent with a variety of other available information for a number of these test sites. These results lead us to conclude that the network-averaged teleseismic P-wave spectra provide considerably more diagnostic information regarding the explosion seismic source than do the corresponding narrowband magnitude measures such as m _b , M _s and m _b (L _g ), and, therefore, that they are to be preferred for applications to seismic yield estimation for explosions at previously uncalibrated test sites.     

Cepstrum analysis of seismic source characteristics

This paper introduces the concept of cepstrum.By investigating the difference in source characteristics between earthquakes and explosions the paper infers the manifestation of source difference in various variable domains,and seeks for effective means to express such source difference.Extending the approach of source discrimination from time and frequency domain to the cepstrum domain,the paper proposes a method of cepstrum analysis for recognizing the characteristics of seismic sources and establishes criteria for identifying the type of seismic sources.Cepstrum analysis on some recent earthquakes and explosions has been made,and the result shows that the method is quite effective in practice.     

Electric potential gradient changes during explosive activity at Sakurajima volcano,Japan

We report electric potential gradient measurements carried out at Sakurajima volcano in Japan during: (1) explosions which generated ash plumes, (2) steam explosions which produced plumes of condensing gases, and (3) periods of ashfall and plume-induced acid rainfall. Sequential positive and negative deviations occurred during explosions which generated ash plumes. However, no deflections from background were found during steam explosions. During periods of ashfall negative electric potential gradients were observed, while positive potential gradients occurred during fallout of plume-induced acid rain from the same eruption. These results suggest that a dipole arrangement of charge develops within plumes such that positive charges dominate in the volcanic gas-rich top and negative charges in the following ash-rich part of the plume. The charge polarity may be reversed for other volcanoes (Hatakeyama and Uchikawa 1952). We suggest that charge is generated by fracto-emission (Donaldson et al. 1988) processes probably during magma fragmentation within the vent, rather than by frictional effects within the plume.     

Explosion craters associated with shallow submarine gas venting off Panarea island, Italy

Explosions of hot water, steam, and gas are common periodic events of subaerial geothermal systems. These highly destructive events may cause loss of life and substantial damage to infrastructure, especially in densely populated areas and where geothermal systems are actively exploited for energy. We report on the occurrence of a large number of explosion craters associated with the offshore venting of gas and thermal waters at the volcanic island of Panarea, Italy, demonstrating that violent explosions similar to those observed on land also are common in the shallow submarine environment. With diameters ranging from 5 to over 100?m, the observed circular seafloor depressions record a history of major gas explosions caused by frequent perturbation of the submarine geothermal system over the past 10,000?years. Estimates of the total gas flux indicate that the Panarea geothermal system released over 70?Mt of CO₂ over this period of time, suggesting that CO₂ venting at submerged arc volcanoes contributes significantly to the global atmospheric budget of this greenhouse gas. The findings at Panarea highlight that shallow submarine gas explosions represent a previously unrecognized volcanic hazard around populated volcanic islands that needs to be taken into account in the development of risk management strategies.     

Analysis of Russian Hydroacoustic Data for CTBT Monitoring

—?As part of a collaborative research program for the purpose of monitoring the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), we are in the process of examining and analyzing hydroacoustic data from underwater explosions conducted in the former Soviet Union. We are using these data as constraints on modeling the hydroacoustic source as a function of depth below the water surface. This is of interest to the CTBT because although even small explosions at depth generate signals easily observable at large distances, the hydroacoustic source amplitude decreases as the source approaches the surface. Consequently, explosions in the ocean will be more difficult to identify if they are on or near the ocean surface. We are particularly interested in records featuring various combinations of depths of explosion, and distances and depths of recording.¶Unique historical Russian data sets have now become available from test explosions of 100-kg TNT cast spherical charges in a shallow reservoir (87?m length, 25?m to 55?m width, and 3?m depth) with a low-velocity air-saturated layer of sand on the bottom. A number of tests were conducted with varying water level and charge depths. Pressure measurements were taken at varying depths and horizontal distances in the water. The available data include measurements of peak pressures from all explosions and digitized pressure-time histories from some of them. A reduction of peak pressure by about 60–70% is observed in these measurements for half-immersed charges as compared with deeper explosions. In addition, several peak-pressure measurements are also available from a 1957 underwater nuclear explosion (yield <10?kt and depth 30?m) in the Bay of Chernaya (Novaya Zemlya).¶The 100-kg TNT data were compared with model predictions. Shockwave modeling is based on spherical wave propagation and finite element calculations, constrained by empirical data from US underwater chemical and nuclear tests. Modeling was performed for digitized pressure-time histories from two fully-immersed explosions and one explosion of a half-immersed charge, as well as for the peak-pressure measurements from all explosions carried out in the reservoir with water level at its maximum (3?m). We found that the model predictions match the Russian data well.¶Peak-pressure measurements and pressure-time histories were simulated at 10?km distance from hypothetical 1-kt and 10-kt nuclear explosions conducted at various depths in the ocean. The ocean water was characterized by a realistic sound velocity profile featuring a velocity minimum at 700?m depth. Simulated measurements at that same depth predict at least a tenfold increase in peak pressures from explosions in the SOFAR channel as compared with very shallow explosions (e.g., ～3?m depth).¶ The observations and the modeling results were also compared with predictions calculated at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory using a different modeling approach. All results suggest that although the coupling is reduced for very shallow explosions, a shallow 1-kt explosion should be detectable by the IMS hydroacoustic network.     

Video and seismic observations of Strombolian eruptions at Erebus volcano,Antarctica

Between 1986 and 1990 the eruptive activity of Erebus volcano was monitored by a video camera with on-screen time code and recorded on video tape. Corresponding seismic and acoustic signals were recorded from a network of 6 geophones and 2 infrasonic microphones. Two hundred Strombolian explosions and three lava flows which were erupted from 7 vents were captured on video. In December 1986 the Strombolian eruptions ejected bombs and ash. In November 1987 large bubble-bursting Strombolian eruptions were observed. The bubbles burst when the bubble walls thinned to ∼ 20 cm. Explosions with bomb flight-times up to 14.5 s were accompanied by seismic signals with our local size estimate, “unified magnitudes” (m_u), up to 2.3. Explosions in pools of lava formed by flows in the Inner Crater were comparatively weak.