Slowness Corrections — One Way to Improve IDC Products

—?The first step to identify and locate a seismic event is the association of observed onsets with common seismic sources. This is especially important in the context of monitoring the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) at the International Data Center (IDC) being developed in Vienna, Austria. Well-defined slowness measurements are very useful for associating seismic phases to presumed seismic events.¶Shortly after installation of the first seismic arrays, systematic discrepancies between measured and theoretically predicted slowness values were observed, and therefore slowness measurements of seismic stations should be calibrated. The observed slownesses measured with small aperture arrays, some of which will be included in the International Monitoring System (IMS) now being implemented for verifying compliance with the CTBT, show large scatter and deviations from theoretically expected values. However, in this study a method is presented, by which mean slowness corrections can be derived, which show relatively stable patterns specific to each array.¶The correction of measured slowness values of these arrays clearly improved the single array location capabilities. Applying slowness corrections with seismic phases observed by ARCES, FINES, GERES, and NORES, and associated to seismic events in the bulletins of the prototype International Data Center (pIDC) in Arlington, VA, also clearly demonstrates the advantages of these corrections. For arrays with large slowness deviations that are due to the influence of a dipping layer, the corrections were modeled with a sine function depending on the measured azimuth. In addition, the measured values can be weighted with the corresponding uncertainties known from the process of deriving the mean corrections.     

第七代国际地磁参考场的检验与评价

本文对国际地磁和高空物理学会推荐的第七代国际地磁参考场进行了检验和评价。评价工作是通过１９６０～１９９５年（５年间隔）中国地磁台的观测数据;对中国地区复测点的测量数据;中国地区三阶泰乐多项式模型与第七代国际地磁参考场模型进行了比较,求得了平均差和标准偏差。并以１９９０年代为例,做出了１９９０年代各个地磁要素两个模型计算值之间的差值图,图上显示出这些差值的异常分布,这结异常是来自地壳源,比较结果,可     

Study of seismicity in the NW Himalaya and adjoining regions using IMS network

The Reviewed Event Bulletin (REB) of the International Data Center (IDC) has been used in order to investigate the seismicity of the Northwest Himalaya and its neighboring region for the time period June 1999 to March 2015 within the geographical coordinates 25–40° N latitude and 65–85° E longitude. We have used a very precisely located earthquake dataset recorded by the International Monitoring System (IMS) Network containing 7,583 events with body wave magnitudes from 2.5 to 6.3. The study area has been subdivided into six regions based on the Flinn-Engdahl (F-E) seismic and geographical regionalization scheme, which was used as the region classifications of the International Data Center catalog. The examined region includes NW India, Pakistan, Nepal, Xizang, Kashmir, and Hindukush. For each region, Magnitudes of completeness (Mc) and Gutenberg-Richter (GR) recurrence parameters (a and b values) have been estimated. The Gutenberg-Richter analysis is preceded by an overview of the seismotectonics of the study area. The obtained Mc values vary from 3.5 to 3.9. The lower value of Mc was found mainly in Xizang region whereas the higher Mc threshold is evident in Pakistan region. However, the b values vary from 1.19 to 1.48. The lowest b value is recorded in Xizang region, which is mostly related to the Main Karakoram Thrust (MKT) fault, whereas the highest b values are recorded in NW India and Kashmir regions, which are mostly related to the Main Frontal Thrust (MFT) fault. The REB for the selected period has been compared to the most renowned bulletin of global seismicity, namely that issued by the National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC) of the United States Geological Survey (USGS). A study of 4,821 events recorded by USGS in the study region indicates that about 36 % of seismic events were missed and the catalog is considered as complete for events with magnitudes ≥4.0. However, both a and b values are obviously higher than those of IMS catalog. The a and b parameters in the Gutenberg-Richter magnitude–frequency relationship have been utilized to forecast the probability of future earthquakes of different magnitudes and returned periods (recurrence intervals).     

Peak characteristics of F2 region over Tucumán: Predictions and measurements

Ionosonde measurements obtained at Tucumán are used to check the validity of the International Reference Ionosphere model to predict the maximum electron density of the F2 region (NmF2) and its height (hmF2) over this station. Data corresponding to different months and solar activity conditions are considered. CCIR and URSI options are used to model calculations. The results show that, generally, the predictions of hmF2 are better than those of NmF2. Disagreements between predicted and measured NmF2 values are observed and the consequences in the vertical total electron content modeling are stressed.     

Quiet-condition hmF2, NmF2, and B0 variations at Jicamarca and comparison with IRI-2001during solar maximum

We use the measurements of the Jicamarca digisonde to examine the variations in F2 layer peak electron density (NmF2), its height (hmF2), and the F2 layer thickness parameter (B₀) near the dip equator. The hourly ionograms during geomagnetic quiet-conditions for a 12-month period close to the maximum solar activity, April 1999–March 2000, are used to calculate the monthly averages of these parameters, for each month. The averages are compared with the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI)-2001 model values. The results show that the higher hmF2 values during daytime, associated with the upward velocity, are mainly responsible for the greater values of NmF2 and B₀; while the nighttime lower hmF2, related to the downward velocity, are responsible for the smaller NmF2 and B₀. For daytime, hmF2 and NmF2 are correlated with the solar activity in the equinoctial and summer months. The hmF2 and B₀ peaks at sunset with an associated sharp decrease in NmF2 are presented in the equinoctial and summer months, but not in the winter months. Comparison of the measured hmF2 values with the International Radio Consultative Committee (CCIR) maps used in IRI-2001 (IRI-CCIR) reveals an IRI overestimate in hmF2 during daytime. The most significant discrepancy is that the IRI-CCIR does not model the post-sunset peak in hmF2. For the NmF2 comparison, the values obtained from both the CCIR and URSI maps are generally close to the observed values. For the B₀ comparison, the highest discrepancy between the observation and the Gulyaeva option (IRI-Gulyaeva) is the location of the annual maximum for the daytime values, also the winter daytime predictions are too low. Additionally, the significant negative difference between the observation and the B₀-table option (IRI-B₀-table) provides a slightly better prediction, except for 0400–1000 LT when the model significantly overestimates. The post-sunset peak in B₀ at some months is predicted by neither the IRI-Gulyaeva nor the IRI-B₀-table options.     

Estimation of Background Noise for International Monitoring System Seismic Stations

v--vThe prototype International Data Centre (IDC) in Arlington, Virginia has been acquiring data from seismic stations at locations designated in the Comprehensive Test-Ban Treaty for the International Monitoring System (IMS) since the start of 1995. A key characteristic of these stations is their background noise levels and their seasonal and diurnal variability. Since June 1997 an automated sample selection effort has collected over 700,000 individual noise sample spectra from 39 primary and 57 auxiliary stations. Monthly median and 5 and 95 percentile estimates have been calculated for each channel of every station. Compatibility of median spectra obtained for the same station and channel in the same month for two different years confirms the consistency of the noise-sampling algorithm used. A preliminary analysis of the results shows strong (more than a factor of two) seasonal variation at a quarter of all stations. Strong diurnal variations at half of the sites indicate that many of the selected sites are poorly located with respect to cultural noise sources. The results of this study are already being used to evaluate station quality, improve those processes that require background noise values, such as automatic association and requesting auxiliary station data, and to improve the estimation of station and network detection and location thresholds.     

Comparison between IRI-2001 predictions and observed measurements of hmF2 over three high latitude stations during different solar activity periods

The monthly median values of the height of peak electron density of the F2-layer (hmF2) derived from ionosonde measurements at three high latitude stations, namely Narssarssuaq (NAR) (61.2 °N, 314.6 °E), Sondrestrom (SON) (67°N, 309.1°E) and College (COL) (69.9°N, 212.2°E) were analyzed and compared with the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI-2001) model, using Comité Consultatif International des Radio communications) (CCIR and Union Radio-Scientifique Internationale (URSI) options. The analysis covers hmF2 values for March Equinox (February, March, April), June Solstice (May, June, July), September Equinox (August, September, October), and December Solstice (November, December, January), during periods of high (2000–2001), medium (2004–2005) and low (2007–2008) solar activity. Generally, the IRI-2001 prediction follow fairly well the diurnal and seasonal variation patterns of the observed values of hmF2 at all the stations. However, IRI-2001 overestimates and underestimates hmF2 at different times of the day for all solar activity periods and in all the seasons considered. The percentage deviation never exceeded 20%, except during DEC SOLS at COL and SON and during MARCH EQUI at SON during low solar activity period. For all solar activity periods considered, both the URSI and CCIR options of the IRI-2001 model give hmF2 values close to the ones measured, but the URSI option performed better than the CCIR option.     

SI,the international system of units

Two types of systems of units have been formed. The commercial is a system of weights and measures, such as the metric, defined by civil law. The scientific is a system of physical units generated through use of scientific laws which link corresponding quantities.The International System of units, denoted SI, was established in 1960 by the General Conference of Weights and Measures. The set of SI units included therein is the only comprehensive, coherent system of physical units. There is only one SI unit, whose value is unambiguous, for each physical quantity. Included in the SI, but not in any CGS system, are the volt, ampere, ohm, and watt, which are the only units used for measurement of the corresponding electrical quantities. Also included in the SI are prefixes used to form non-coherent, decimal multiples and sub-multiples of SI units. A few other units, such as the day, degree of arc, and degree Celsius may be used with SI units. Precepts for use of the SI, conversion tables, and geophysical constants expressed in SI units are given.Abbreviations BA British Association for the Advancement of Science - BIPM Bureau Interntional des Poids et Mesures (International Bureau of Weights and Measures) - CIPM Comité International des Poids et Mesures (International Committee of Weights and Measures) - CGPM Conférence Générale des Poids et Mesures (General Conference of Weights and Measures) - emf electromotive force - emu electromagnetic unit - esu electrostatic unit - G-W Gauss-Weber - IEC International Electrotechnical Commission - PE practical electrical - SI Système International d'Unités (International System of Units)     

Seasonal variation of the total electron content, maximum electron density and equivalent slab thickness at a South-American station

Total electron content (TEC) and foF2 ionosonde data obtained at Tucumán (26.9°S; 65.4°W) from April 1982 to March 1983 (high solar activity period) are analyzed to show the seasonal variation of TEC, NmF2 (proportional to square of foF2) and the equivalent slab thickness EST. Bimonthly averages of the monthly median for January–February, April–May, July–August and October–November have been considered to represent summer, autumn, winter and spring seasons, respectively. The results show that the higher values of TEC and maximum electron density of F2-layer NmF2 are observed during the equinoxes (semiannual anomaly). During daytime, both in TEC and in NmF2 the seasonal or winter anomaly can be seen. At nighttime, this effect is not observed. Also, the observed NmF2 values are used to check the validity of International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) to predict the seasonal variability of this parameter. In general, it is found that averaged monthly medians (obtained with the IRI model) overestimate averaged monthly median data for some hours of the day and underestimate for the other hours.     

A rectified map of recent vertical surface movements in the West Carpathians in Slovakia

The first-order relevelling network in Slovakia (International Relevelling Program) was supplemented by second-order relevelling lines measured at the time of the International Relevelling Program (1973–1978) or after its completions, in order to gain more detailed information on the movement activity of the West Carpathians in Slovakia. Mathematical evaluation of relevelling results allowed of drawing a map of recent vertical movements in the region at the scale of 1:1,000,000.The Czechoslovak Uniform Levelling Network of 1947–1962 and the 2nd Czechoslovak Relevelling Network of 1973–1983 constitute the geodetic basis of the map. The relative annual movement velocities, as related to the Initial Fundamental Benchmark Pitelová near Žiar nad Hronom (approximately in the centre of Slovakia) are represented by isolines at intervals of 0.5 mm per year.An analysis of the map 1952–1977 indicates an overall subsidence of lowland regions with respect to the mountanous regions of the West Carpathiams. Central Carpathian morphostructures feature uplifts, with some regions appearing to be stable. Over the entire period under study, the maximal values of vertical movements were + 1.0 mm/year (uplifts) and -4.0 mm (subsidences), the total range being 5 mm/year.     

Magnetospheric effects of cosmic rays. 1. Long-term changes in the geomagnetic cutoff rigidities for the stations of the global network of neutron monitors

Vertical geomagnetic cutoff rigidities are obtained for the stations of the global network of neutron monitors via trajectory calculations for each year of the period from 1950 to 2020. Geomagnetic cutoff rigidities are found from the model of the Earth’s main field International Geomagnetic Reference Field (IGRF) for 1950–2015, and the forecast until 2020 is provided. In addition, the geomagnetic cutoff rigidities for the same period are obtained by Tsyganenko model T89 (Tsyganenko, 1989) with the average annual values of the Kp-index. In each case, the penumbra is taken into account in the approximation of the flat and power spectra of variations of cosmic rays. The calculation results show an overall decrease in geomagnetic cutoff rigidities, which is associated with the overall decrease and restructuring of the geomagnetic field during the reporting period, at almost all points.     

地球:我们的变化着的行星--IUGG动态

本文概述了国际大地测量学与地球物理学联合会(IUGG)的历史发展,介绍了IUGG的近况。IUGG作为一个致力于研究地球及把研究所获得的知识应用于造福人类社会的科学组织,近年来在推动地球科学各相关学科的交叉融合、加强国际合作、关心与帮助发展中国家或地区地球科学的发展以及探讨地球科学未来的发展趋向等方面,开展了许多活动,这些活动对于认识人类赖于生存的、不断变化的行星地球、促进人与自然的和谐相处以及人类社会的发展具有重要的意义。     

Evaluation of site conditions for the Ankara Basin of Turkey based on seismic site characterization of near-surface geologic materials

Regional site conditions relevant for seismic hazard studies can be derived from various geologic, seismologic, and geotechnical sources. In this study, site conditions are derived for the Ankara Basin in Turkey by merging in-situ seismic measurements of dynamic properties, geologic information, and some geotechnical boring information. Field seismic refraction surveys were performed at 259 sites in the project area to classify and characterize Plio–Pleistocene fluvial deposits and Quaternary alluvial and terrace deposits. The shear-wave velocity profiles of the near-surface geologic units are used to characterize site classes according to the International Building Code [International Code Council, ICC. International Building Code. Structural and fire- and life-safety provisions (seismic, wind, accessibility, egress, occupancy and roof codes), 2006. Whittier, CA.] and the Turkish Seismic Code [Ministry of Public Works and Settlement, 1998. Turkish Seismic Code, Specification for Structures to be Built in Disaster Areas, Ankara, Turkey], and to develop a regional model for the average shear-wave velocity in the top 30 m. The resulting maps of site class indicate that the classification system for the Turkish Seismic Code results in a significant portion of the Ankara Basin being classified as Z4, the softest site class. The International Building Code site classification system results in most of the Ankara Basin being classified as D, stiff soil. These differences are caused by the Turkish Seismic Code incorporating information from only the surface layer, while the International Building Code incorporates information from the top 30 m.     

Slowness–azimuth corrections of teleseismic events for IMS primary arrays in China

The seismic arrays at Hailar (HILR) and at Lanzhou (LZDM) in China are both primary stations of the International Monitoring System for verifying compliance with the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. These two stations became operational in 2002 and have since then provided continuous data. In this study, the so-called slowness–azimuth station corrections (SASC) were derived and used to improve the location accuracy of the two arrays. The SASC are found by comparing the back-azimuth and slownesses obtained from array processing to the theoretical values calculated from the reported event locations and the corresponding seismic velocity model. Events reported by the National Earthquake International Center in the time period 2002 to 2006 were used as reference events, and the IASP91 was used as the theoretical velocity model. Small correction vectors with random orientation were found for HILR. Larger correction vectors with systematic vector biases were found for LZDM. The LZDM correction vectors seem to point to the same direction in a large part of the slowness space and may be attributed to local structure. After introducing the SASC for HILR, the standard deviations of back-azimuth and slowness residuals drop from 7.1° to 4.6° and from 1.0 to 0.6 s/°, respectively. For LZDM, these values drop from 22.3° to 10.2° and from 2.9 to 1.1 s/°, respectively. The variations of back-azimuth and slowness residuals were reduced by 32% and 30.2%, respectively, for HILR after SASC and the reductions were 21% and 40.2% for LZDM. The improvements were 77% in back-azimuth and 67% in slowness location for HILR and were 79% and 81% for LZDM after SASC. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

A magneto-telluric deep crustal study in south-central Portugal

Summary A geothermal anomaly reported to exist in southern Portugal and with heat flow density values as high as 160 mW/m² was studied by the magneto-telluric method. The results of the magneto-telluric survey indicate that the study area is divided into several high electrical resistivity, deep-rooted blocks separated by low electrical resistivity zones. These latter zones coincide with the main trends of the faults that cross the region. The high heat flow density values reported for the area are incompatible with the high electrical resistivities observed in the magneto-telluric survey. Furthermore, heat production values calculated for some of the rocks that crop out in the area of the geothermal anomaly cannot explain the high heat flow density valuss. Since no hydrothermal activity is known for the region and recent volcanism is absent, it is suggested that previous heat flow density calculations for the area covered by the magnetotelluric survey are overestimated.Presented at International Meeting on Terrestrial Heat Flow and the Structure of Lithosphere, Bechyn Castle, Czech Republic, September 2 – 7, 1991.     

Geoeffectiveness of solar flares in magnetic crochet (sfe) production: II—Dependence on the detection method

During magnetic active periods, disturbances in the geomagnetic field can act as natural noise masking other magnetic variations of small amplitude. In this paper, the influence of these perturbations on the observation of the effects on Earth of solar flares (sfe) has been studied. The diurnal and monthly values of detected sfe have been obtained, as well as the temporal variation of the relative occurrence of events. These numbers show how the irregular distribution of the magnetic observatories is an important limitation in the efficiency of the detection method. Some considerations about the actual method used at the International Service on Rapid Magnetic Variations are finally presented.     

A consideration of Hayford's best fitting ellipsoid data using the differential change equations of Vening Meinesz

Summary The relations of the defining parameters of a geodetic system to the deflections of the vertical in this system given byVening Meinesz have been used in the computation of a best fitting ellipsoid. The data was that used byHayford in the computation of the resulting International Ellipsoid. Assuming the undulation (N ₀) at Meades Ranch to be zero, the results are: a=6,378,194 m and l/f=299.9. This a is much nearer to modern values than that of the Internaitonal Ellipsoid. If a flattening of 1/298.24 is fixed andN ₀=+3m,a=6,378,164 m which differs by one meter from a recent determination given byKaula.     

Seismic Attenuation Computed from GLIMPCE Reflection Data and Comparison with Refraction Results

—Instantaneous frequency matching has been used to compute differential t* values for seismic reflection data from the Great Lakes International Multidisciplinary Program on Crustal Evolution (GLIMPCE) experiment. The differential attenuation values were converted to apparent Q ^?1 models by a fitting procedure that simultaneously solves for the interval Q ^?1 values using non-negative least squares. The bootstrap method was then used to estimate the variance in the interval Q ^?1 models. The shallow Q ^?1 structure obtained from the seismic reflection data corresponds closely with an attenuation model derived using instantaneous frequency matching on seismic refraction data along the same transect. This suggests that the effects of wave propagation and scattering on the apparent attenuation are similar for the two data sets. The Q ^?1 model from the reflection data was then compared with the structural interpretation of the reflectivity data. The highest interval Q ^?1 values (>0.01) were found near the surface, corresponding to the sedimentary rock sequence of the upper Keweenawan. Low Q ^?1 values (<0.0006) are found beneath the Midcontinent rift’s central basin. In addition to structural interpretation, seismic attenuation models derived in this way can be used to correct reflection data for dispersion, frequency and amplitude effects, and allow for improved imaging of the subsurface.     

Comparison between IRI predictions and digital ionosonde measurements of hmF2 at New Delhi during low and moderate solar activity

This paper deals with the diurnal and seasonal variations of height of the peak electron density of the F2-layer (hmF2) derived from digital ionosonde measurements at a low–middle-latitude station, New Delhi (28.6°N, 77.2°E, dip 42.4°N). Diurnal and seasonal variations of hmF2 are examined and comparisons of the observations are made with the predictions of the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI-2001) model. Our study shows that during both the moderate and low solar activity periods, the diurnal pattern of median hmF2 reveals a more or less similar trend during all the seasons with pre-sunrise and daytime peaks during winter and equinox except during summer, where the pre-sunrise peak is absent. Comparison of observed median hmF2 values with the IRI during moderate and low solar activity periods, in general, reveals an IRI overestimation in hmF2 during all the seasons for local times from about 06 LT till midnight hours except during summer for low solar activity, while outside this time period, the observed hmF2 values are close to the IRI predictions. The hmF2 representation in the IRI model does not reproduce pre-sunrise peaks occurring at about 05 LT during winter and equinox as seen in the observations during both the solar activity periods. The noontime observed median hmF2 values increase by about 10–25% from low (2004–2005) to high solar activity (2001–2002) during winter and equinox, while the IRI in the same time period and seasons shows an increase of about 10–20%. During summer, however, the observed noontime median hmF2 values show a little increase with the solar activity, as compared to the IRI with an increase of about 12%.     

Noncyclic variation andS q

Summary A method is given of computing estimates of noncyclic variation and Fourier coefficients of the geomagnetic transient daily variationS _q corrected for noncyclic variation.The method may be applied directly to hourly mean values as they occur printed in Magnetic Observatory Yearbooks without the need for preliminary or separate computations to determine the noncyclic variation. As the method uses all 24 hourly mean values, noncyclic variation can be determined for Greenwich International quiet days, at any observatory, and the effect of short period disturbances and day-to-day variability ofS _q on estimates of noncyclic variation is minimized, and no spurious longitude effect is introduced.If only the noncylic variation is required an expression is given using the Fourier coefficients, the first moment and sum of the hourly values for the evaluation of an estimate with the advantages outlined above.The determination of confidence limits is uncomplicated, thus results may be accurately weighted if used in further analyses, spherical harmonic analysis, for example.