Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Seismic Discrimination Problems at Regional Distances

  • Conference paper
Book cover Identification of Seismic Sources — Earthquake or Underground Explosion

Part of the book series: NATO Advanced Study Institutes Series ((ASIC,volume 74))

Abstract

The amplitude ratio of the maximum motion before Sn (Pmax) to the maximum after Sn (Lg) is a good discriminant between earthquakes and explosions at regional distances. Experimental data shows that the ratio is not seriously affected by site or source geology or by event depth. However propagation effects can be severe, especially from the USSR to the South, and can lead to the requirement for regionalization. The amplitude-distance relation for Pmax and Lg is A ~ r−3 in the Western United States (WUS), and r−2.5 and r−2.0 for Pmax and Lg respectively in the EUS and within the USSR. The radial to transverse ratio for Lg does not appear to be a discriminant, being controlled by the local geology. Evidence is presented that there are no useful spectral discriminants in the 1 to 10 Hz band. It appears that spectra of Lg are contaminated by compressional wave coda which can lead to an overestimate of the high frequency energy in the direct Lg wave.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 259.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 329.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Press, F. and M. Ewing: Two slow surface waves across North America, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 42, pp. 219–228, 1952.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Båth, M: The elastic waves Lg and Rg along Euroasiatic paths, Arkiv. für Geofysik, 2 (13), pp. 295–342, 1954.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Lehmann I.: On Lg as read in North American records, Anneli di Geofisica, 10, pp. 1–21, 1957.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Press, F. and B. Gutenberg: Channel P waves in the earth’s crust, Trans. Am. Geophys. Union, 37, pp. 354–356, 1956.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Molnar, P. and J. Oliver: Lateral variation of attenuation in the upper mantle and discontinuities in the lithosphere, J. Geophys. Res., 74, pp. 2648–2682, 1969.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Panza, G. F. and G. Calcagnile: Lg, Li and Rg from Rayleigh modes, Geophys. J. R. Astro. Soc., 40, pp. 475, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Press, F., J. Oliver and M. Ewing: Seismic model study of refraction from a layer of finite thickness, Geophysics, 19, pp. 388–401, 1954.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Sailor, R. V. and A. M. Dziewonski: Measurements and interpretation of normal mode attenuation, GeophyA. J. R. Astr. Soc., 53, pp. 559–581, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Schwab, F. A. and L. Knopoff: Fast surface wave and free mode computations, in Methods in Computational Physics, 11, pp. 87–108, 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Stephens, C. and B. L. Isacks: Toward an understanding of Sn, normal modes of Love waves in an oceanic structure, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 67, pp. 69–78, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Brune, J. N. and J. Dorman: Seismic waves and earth structure in the Canadian Shield, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., pp. 167–210, 1963.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Knopoff, L., F. Schwab, K. Nakanishi, and F. Chang: Evaluation of Lg as a discriminant among different continental crustal structures, Geophys. J. R. Astr. Soc., 39, pp. 41–70, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Molnar, P. and J. Oliver: Lateral variations of attenuation in the upper mantle and discontinuities in the lithosphere, J. Geophys. Res, 74, pp. 2648–2682, 1969.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Oliver, J. and M Ewing: Higher modes of continental Rayleigh waves, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 47, pp. 187–204, 1957.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Oliver, J. and M. Ewing: Normal modes of continental surface waves, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 48, pp. 33–49, 1958.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Oliver, J. and M. Ewing: The effect of surficial sedimentary layers on continental surface waves, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 48, pp. 339–354, 1958.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Saha, B. P.: The seismic Lg waves and their propagation along the granitic layer of the crust of the Indian subcontinent, J. Geophys. Res., 12, pp. 609–618, 1961.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Shurbet, D. H.: The P phase transmitted by crustal rock to intermediate distance, J. Geophys. Res., 65, pp. 1809–1814, 1960.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Mantovani, E., F. Schwab, H. Liao and L. Knopoff: Teleseismic Sn, a guided wave in the mantle, Geophys. J. R. Astr. Soc., 51, pp. 709–726, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Haskell, N. A.: The leakage attenuation of continental crustal P waves, J. Geophys. Res., 71, pp. 3955–3967, 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Bollinger, G.: Travel time study of central Appalachian earthquakes, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 60, pp. 629–637, 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Gumper, F. and P. W. Pomeroy: Seismic wave velocities and earth structure on the African continent, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 60, pp. 651–668, 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Jordan, J. N., W. V. Mickey, W. Helterbran, and D. M. Clark: Travel times and amplitudes from the SALMON explosion, J. Geophys. Res., 71, pp. 3469–3482, 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Massé, R. P. and S. S. Alexander: Compressional velocity distribution beneath Scandinavia and Western Russia, Geophys. J. R. Astr. Soc., 39, pp. 587–602, 1964.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Nersesov, I. L. and T. G. Rautian: Kinematics and dynamics of seismic waves to distance of 3500 km from the epicenter, Akad Nauk SSSR, Trudy Inst. Fiziki Zemli, 32, pp. 63–87. (Translated by A. Ryall, DARPA, 12/8/77).

    Google Scholar 

  26. Pasechnik, I. P.: Characteristics of seismic waves from nuclear explosions and earthquakes, Nauka, Moscow. Translated by C. Shishkevish, Geosciences Bulletin, Series A, Volume 1, Rand Corporation, Washington, D.C., 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Romney, C., B. G. Brooks, R. H. Mansfield, D. S. Carder, J. N. Jordan and D. W. Gordon: Travel times and amplitudes of principal body phases recorded from GNOME, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 52, pp. 1057–1074, 1962.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Ryall, A. and D. J. Stuart: Travel times and amplitudes from nuclear explosions, Nevada Test Site to Ordway, Colorado, J. Geophys. Res., 68, pp. 5821–5835, 1963.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Baker, R. G.: Determining magnitude from Lg, Bull. Soc. Am., 60, pp. 1907–1919, 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Everden, J. F.i Magnitude determination at regional and near-regional distances in the United States, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., pp. 1609–1922, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Gibowicz, S. J.: The relationship between teleseismic body-wave magnitude M and local magnitude ML from New Zealand earthquakes, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 62, pp. 01–11, 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Jones, F. B., L. T. Long, and J. H. McKee: Study of the attenuation and azimuthal dependence of seismic-wave propagation in the Southeastern United States, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 67, pp. 1503–1513, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Nuttli, 0. W.: Seismic wave attenuation and magnitude relations for Eastern North America, J. Geophys. Res., 78, pp. 876–885, 1973.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Press, F.: Seismic wave attenuation in the crust, J. Geophys. Res., 69, pp. 4417–4418, 1964.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Romney, C.: Amplitudes of seismic body waves from underground nuclear explosions, J. Geophys., 64, pp. 1489–1498, 1959.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Ruzaikin, A. I., I. L. Nersesov, V. I. Khalturin, and P. Molnar: Propagation of Lg and lateral variations in crustal structure in Asia, J. Geophys. Res., 82, pp. 307–316, 1977.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Isacks, B. L. and C. Stephens: Conversion of Sn and Lg at a continental margin, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 65, pp. 235–244, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Blandford, R. R., R. A. Hartenberger and R. Naylor: Regional discrimination between earthquakes and explosions, EOS, Trans. Am. Geophys. Union, 59, pp. 1140, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  39. McCowan, D. W.: Sonograms for an Eastern U. S. LRSM profile from the nuclear explosion SALMON, Lincoln Laboratory Semiannual Technical Summary, Seismic Discrimination, June 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Der, Z. A, T. W. McElfresh and C. P. Mrazek: Interpretation of short-period P-wave magnitude anomalies at selected LRSM stations, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 69 (4), pp. 1149–1160, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Dahlman, O. and H. Israelson: Monitoring underground nuclear explosions, Elsevier, pp. 440, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Blandford, R.: Discrimination between earthquakes and under-ground explosions, Ann. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci., 5, pp. 111–122, 1977.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Street, R. L.: Scaling Northeastern United States/Canadian earthquakes by their Lg waves, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 66, pp. 1525–1538, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  44. Werth, G. and P. Randolph: The SALMON seismic experiment, J. Geophys. Res., 71, pp. 3405–3414, 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  45. Gupta, I. N., B. W. Barker, J. A. Burnetti and Z. A. Der: A study of regional phases from earthquakes and explosions in Western Russia, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 70, pp. 851–872, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  46. Archambeau, C. B., E. A. Flinn and D. G. Lambert: Fine structure of the upper mantle, J. Geophys. Rev., 74, pp. 5825–5864, 1969.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Frazier, C. W. and R. M Sheppard: Lg measurements at NORSAR from Soviet explosions and two earthquakes, Lincoln Laboratory Semiannual Technical Summary, Seismic Discrimination, 9 June 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  48. Fitch, T. J. and R. M. Sheppard: Crustal phases recorded on short-period and broad-band systems, Lincoln Laboratory Semiannual Technical Summary, Seismic. Discrimination, June 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  49. Fitch, T. J. and M. W. Shields: Spectra of crustal phases recorded digitally in eastern Canada, Lincoln Laboratory Semiannual Technical Summary, Seismic Discrimination, 8 February 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  50. Nuttli, O. W.: The excitation and attenuation of seismic crustal phases in Iran, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 70, pp. 469– 485, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  51. Landers, T.: The mechanisms of Lg propagation, Lincoln Laboratory Semiannual Technical Summary, Seismic Discrimination, June 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  52. Landers, T. and T. Fitch: Phase velocity of Lg in North America, Lincoln Laboratory Semiannual Technical Summary, Seismic Discrimination, September 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  53. B. W. Barker, Z. A. Der and R. H. Shumway: Phase velocities of regional phases Pn, Sn, Pg, and Lg observed at the Cumberland Plateau Observatory and LASA, AL-80-1, Teledyne Geotech, Alexandria, Virginia, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  54. Mykkeltveit, S., F. Ringdal and H. Bungum: An experimental small subarray within the NORSAR array: Crustal phase velocities and azimuths from local and regional events, Project Report VT/0702/B/PMP, NTNF/NORSAR, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  55. Pomeroy, P. W. and T. A. Nowak: An investigation of seismic wave propagation in eastern North America, Rondout Associates, Inc., Stone Ridge, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  56. Blandford, R. and D. Clark: A note on seismic array designs, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 65, pp. 787–791, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  57. Mrazek, C. P., Z. A. Der, B. W. Barker and A. O’Donnell: Seismic array design for regional phases, In Studies of Seismic Waves at Regional Distances, AL-80-1, Teledyne Geotech, Alexandria, Virginia.

    Google Scholar 

  58. Barley, B. J.: On the use of seismometers arrays to determine azimuth of higher mode Rayleigh waves, AWRE Report, Blacknest, England.

    Google Scholar 

  59. Ringdal, F. and S. Mykkeltveit: An experimental small sub-array within the NORSAR array: Location of local and regional events, Project Report VT/0702/B/PMP, NTNF/NORSAR, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  60. Smart, Eugene: Observations of apparent seismic surface wave scattering in the Western United States, AL-80-1, Teledyne Geotech, Alexandria, Virginia, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  61. Barker, B. W., Z. A. Der and C. P. Mrazek: The effect of crustal structure on the regional phases Pg and Lg at NTS, AL-80-1, Teledyne Geotech, Alexandria, Virginia, 1980, in press J. Geophys. Res..

    Google Scholar 

  62. Richter, C. F.: Elementary Seismology, W. H. Freeman, San Francisco, 1958.

    Google Scholar 

  63. Gupta, I. N. and J. A. Burnetti: An investigation of discriminants for events in Western USSR based on regional phases at a single station, AL-80–1, Teledyne Geotech, Alexandria, Virginia, 1980, in press Bull. Seism. Soc. Am.

    Google Scholar 

  64. Gupta, I. N., B. W. Barker, J. A. Burnetti and Z. A. Der: A study of regional phases from earthquakes and explosions in Western Russia, AL-80-1, Teledyne Geotech, Alexandria, Virginia, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  65. Shields, M. W., T. J. Fitch and R. E. Needham: Pn, Sn, and Lg amplitude-distance relationships for eastern North America, Lincoln Laboratory Semiannual Technical Summary, Seismic Discrimination, June 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  66. Noponen, I. and J. Burnetti: Alaskan regional data analysis, AL-80-1, Teledyne Geotech, Alexandria, Virginia, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  67. Pomeroy, P. W.: Regional seismic wave propagation, Rondout Associates, Inc., Stone Ridge, New York, Report No. 4, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  68. North, R. G.: Propagation of the Lg phase across the Urals and the Baltic, Lincoln Laboratory Semiannual Technical Summary, Seismic Discrimination, June 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  69. Der, Z. A. and.T. W. McElfresh: Short-period P-wave attenuation along various paths in North America as determined from P-wave spectra of the SALMON nuclear explosion, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 66, pp. 1609–1622, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  70. Willis, E. E., J. DeNoyer and J. T. Wilson: Differentiation of earthquakes and underground nuclear explosions on the basis of amplitude characteristics, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 53, pp. 979–987, 1963.

    Google Scholar 

  71. Willis, E. E.: Comparison of seismic waves generated by different types of sources, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., pp. 965– 986, 1963.

    Google Scholar 

  72. Booker, A. and W. Mitronovas: An application of statistical discrimination to classify seismic events, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 54, pp. 961–971, 1964.

    Google Scholar 

  73. Nuttli, O. W.: On the attenuation of Lg waves in western and central Asia and their use as a discriminant between earth-quakes and explosions. Submitted to Bull. Soc. Am., 1980.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Teledyne Geotech, Alexandria, Virginia, USA

    Robert R. Blandford

Authors
  1. Robert R. Blandford
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. NTNF/NORSAR, Kjeller, Norway

    Svein Mykkeltveit

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1981 D. Reidel Publishing Company

About this paper

Cite this paper

Blandford, R.R. (1981). Seismic Discrimination Problems at Regional Distances. In: Husebye, E.S., Mykkeltveit, S. (eds) Identification of Seismic Sources — Earthquake or Underground Explosion. NATO Advanced Study Institutes Series, vol 74. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-8531-5_38

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-8531-5_38

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-009-8533-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-8531-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation