Instrumental group delay for high-frequency and teleseismic P waves

1987 ◽  
Vol 77 (5) ◽  
pp. 1854-1861
Author(s):  
Goetz G. R. Buchbinder

Abstract The instrumental group delay dθ/dω is considered here. First, these delays were calculated for three different recording systems that were used in a precise travel-time monitoring experiment where the delays varied between 10 and 40 msec for the high frequencies of the seismograms involved. A technique is demonstrated by which these delays may be readily accounted for and by which instrumental malfunctions can be readily detected. Second, two of these systems are also currently used for the recording of short-period teleseisms; at the 1-sec period, the group delays are from 0.3 to 0.4 sec, which is significant and must be accounted for. This is particularly important when these systems are used in connection with data from other systems that have different delays, such as the World-Wide Seismograph Station Network and Canadian Seismograph Network stations. Neglecting these delays will create serious problems in seismological tomography and earthquake catalogs. Third, for long-period phases recorded by the SRO-type instruments, the delays for the 10- to 20-sec periods are 6 to 12 sec; again, these are significant and must be accounted for.

1978 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 501-512 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas W. McCowan ◽  
Richard T. Lacoss

Abstract Transfer functions are given for all basic elements of the Seismic Research Observatory (SRO) seismograph system. These include the seismometer, response shaping filters, and anti-alias filters. With these transfer functions the amplitude and phase responses can be calculated at any frequency by the evaluation of a ratio of polynomials in s = iω. Amplitude and phase response plots and impulse responses are given for the most important overall transfer functions. In addition, long- and short-period group delays have been calculated by numerical differentation of phase responses. In the long-period case a simple polynomial approximation to the group delay is given as an aid in interpretation of data. The transfer functions are exact and follow from the integral design of the system.


1978 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles A. Langston

abstract Teleseismic P, SV, and SH waves recorded by the WWSS and Canadian networks from the 1971 San Fernando, California earthquake (ML = 6.6) are modeled in the time domain to determine detailed features of the source as a prelude to studying the near and local field strong-motion observations. Synthetic seismograms are computed from the model of a propagating finite dislocation line source embedded in layered elastic media. The effects of source geometry and directivity are shown to be important features of the long-period observations. The most dramatic feature of the model is the requirement that the fault, which initially ruptured at a depth of 13 km as determined from pP-P times, continuously propagated toward the free surface, first on a plane dipping 53°NE, then broke over to a 29°NE dipping fault segment. This effect is clearly shown in the azimuthal variation of both long period P- and SH-wave forms. Although attenuation and interference with radiation from the remainder of the fault are possible complications, comparison of long- and short-period P and short-period pP and P waves suggest that rupture was initially bilateral, or, possibly, strongly unilateral downward, propagating to about 15 km depth. The average rupture velocity of 1.8 km/sec is well constrained from the shape of the long-period wave forms. Total seismic moment is 0.86 × 1026 dyne-cm. Implications for near-field modeling are drawn from these results.


1984 ◽  
Vol 74 (3) ◽  
pp. 819-842
Author(s):  
Thorne Lay ◽  
Terry C. Wallace ◽  
Don V. Helmberger

Abstract The first cycle (ab amplitude) of teleseismic short-period P waves from underground nuclear explosions at Pahute Mesa (NTS) show a systematic azimuthal amplitude pattern that can possibly be explained by tectonic release. The amplitudes vary by a factor of three, with diminished amplitudes being recorded at azimuths around N25°E. This azimuthal pattern has a strong sin(2φ) component and is observed, to varying degrees, for 25 Pahute Mesa events, but not for events at other sites within the NTS. Events that are known to have large tectonic release have more pronounced sin(2φ) amplitude variations. A synthesis of long-period body and surface wave investigations of tectonic release for Pahute Mesa events shows that, in general, the nonisotropic radiation is equivalent to nearly vertical, right-lateral strike-slip faulting trending from N20°W to due north. Long-period P waves at upper mantle distances demonstrate that there is a significant high-frequency component to the tectonic release. Using the long-period constraints on orientation, moment, and frequency content of the tectonic release, the expected short-period P wave effects are predicted. For models in which the downgoing P wave from the explosion triggers tectonic release within a few kilometers below the shot point, a factor of 2.5 amplitude variation with azimuth is predicted for the short-period ab amplitudes, with the lowest amplitudes expected near N25°E. Rather subtle azimuthal variations in the waveforms are expected, particulary for downward propagating ruptures, which is consistent with the absence of strong variations in the data. The occurrence of the azimuthal pattern, albeit with varying strength, for all of the Pahute Mesa events suggests a tectonic release model in which the shatterzone surrounding the explosion cavity is extended preferentially downward by driving a distributed network of faults and joints underlying the Mesa several kilometers beneath the surface. In this model, all events could have a component of tectonic release which would reflect the regional stress regime, although there may be slight spatial and temporal variations in the tectonic release contribution. Some events may trigger slip on larger throughgoing faults as well. While it is shown that tectonic release can affect teleseismic short-period signals significantly, and may contribute to the Pahute Mesa amplitude pattern, other possible explanations are considered.


1975 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 693-709 ◽  
Author(s):  
Otto W. Nuttli ◽  
So Gu Kim

abstract Body-wave magnitudes, mb, and surface-wave magnitudes, MS, were determined for approximately 100 Eurasian events which occurred during the interval August through December 1971. Body-wave magnitudes were determined from 1-sec P waves recorded by WWSSN short-period, vertical-component seismographs at epicentral distances greater than 25°. Surface-wave magnitudes were determined from 20-sec Rayleigh waves recorded by long-period, vertical-component WWSSN and VLPE seismographs. The earthquakes had mb values ranging from 3.6 to 5.7. Of 96 presumed earthquakes studied, 6 lie in or near the explosion portion of an mb:MS plot. The explosion mb:MS curve was obtained from seven Eurasian events which had mb values ranging from 5.0 to 6.2 and MS values from 3.2 to 5.1. All six anomalous earthquakes were located in the interior of Asia, in Tibet, and in Szechwan and Sinkiang provinces of China. In general, oceanmargin earthquakes were found to have more earthquake-like mb:MS values than those occurring in the continental interior. Neither focal depth nor focal mechanism can explain the anomalous events.


2007 ◽  
Vol 3 (S247) ◽  
pp. 178-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Y. Kolobov ◽  
N. I. Kobanov ◽  
S. A. Chupin

AbstractThe authors analyse sources of false Doppler velocity signals of high frequencies (10 mHz and higher) in observations of filaments. In ground-based observations, spectrograph noise and image shifting at the spectrograph entrance slit are the main causes of the false signal. It is shown that using differential methods and telluric lines as reference lines significantly reduces the influence of the first factor. Periodical image shifting along the spectrograph slit can be compensated for during data reduction. In some cases detected high-frequency oscillations appear to be real.


1983 ◽  
Vol 73 (4) ◽  
pp. 1173-1186
Author(s):  
John R. Evans ◽  
Stephen S. Allen

abstract An algorithm for microprocessor-controlled seismographic recorders is described which reliably detects major phases from earthquakes more than 3° from the sensor but rejects noise events and most earthquakes closer than 3°. Unusually large earthquakes within 3° also are detected. The algorithm is applicable to field studies using triggered seismographs to record teleseismic P waves, to worldwide network automation, and to scanning records for teleseisms. It uses two band-pass filtered data streams evolved from a single short-period vertical-component seismometer to differentiate (low-frequency) teleseisms from other signals; the low-frequency band (0.5 to 2.0 Hz) declares “triggers” while the high-frequency band (3.0 to 8.0 Hz) inhibits any of these triggers generated by broadband signals such as local earthquakes. Locally generated noise is usually high frequency and does not excite the low-frequency band. A 16-bit fixed-word-length implementation of this algorithm detected 82 per cent of good P phases (readable to ±0.25 sec) occurring more than 20° from the seismograph, and 50 per cent of earthquakes between 3° and 20°, in a test data set comprising 23 hr of data in 93 segments. The same implementation of the algorithm rejected most noise and 91 per cent of earthquakes within 3° of the seismograph.


2013 ◽  
Vol 194 (2) ◽  
pp. 834-838 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth A. Day ◽  
Arwen Deuss

Abstract High frequency precursors to P′P′ almost invariably observe a narrow 660 km discontinuity, whereas PP precursor studies at long periods struggle to detect a reflection from the ‘660’ despite its apparent sharpness to P′P′. To investigate these contradictory observations we compare PP and P′P′ precursors in the same region. Using short period P′P′ precursors we observe a sharp 660 km discontinuity, which appears to vary in depth substantially. The apparent topography on the ‘660’ is too large to originate solely from thermal variations, regardless of its cause, therefore indicating chemical variations at the base of the mantle transition zone. Long period P′P′ precursors show no ‘660’ as they are sensitive to a larger area and thus average out the apparent topography, in agreement with long period PP precursors. Instead, we see some evidence in both long period data types for a reflection from 720 km depth, which is likely to correspond to a phase change in the garnet system.


2019 ◽  
Vol 91 (3) ◽  
pp. 1359-1366 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam T. Ringler ◽  
David C. Wilson ◽  
Emily Wolin ◽  
Tyler Storm ◽  
Leo Sandoval

ABSTRACT World-Wide Standardized Seismograph Network (WWSSN) records contain daily calibration pulses that can be used to retrieve the magnification as well as the response of the instrument for a given day record. We analyze a select number of long-period vertical (LPZ) records from WWSSN station ALQ (Albuquerque, New Mexico). Although we find that the response of this instrument varies widely throughout time, we show that in most cases, we are able to estimate a pole-zero response that has a root mean square error of <10%. The variability of responses in historical networks has been reported elsewhere because a large number of adjustments of the galvanometer and seismometer were necessary. Using our derived responses, we estimate noise levels for a number of 1 hr digitized traces. We find that noise levels for the LPZ ALQ records are lower than previously reported, suggesting that these records can resolve smaller amplitude signals than previously suggested. We also find that although care must be taken in the digitization and calibration analysis, we are not limited by noise introduced in the digitization process. Finally, we see that to retrieve the full secondary microseism amplitude, we must use both the LPZ and short-period components because the LPZ component is limited by system noise at periods less than ∼5  s.


1975 ◽  
Vol 65 (6) ◽  
pp. 1667-1680
Author(s):  
Ronald W. Ward ◽  
Keiiti Aki

abstract A wave theory method is used to determine the effect of a sinking lithospheric slab on short-period and long-period waves. We consider a simplified model of the lithospheric slab with a 10 per cent velocity contrast and compute both short-period and long-period theoretical seismograms from a P-wave source located in or near the slab. For this model, the ray-theoretical amplitude agrees quite well with the short-period amplitude. In the ray-theoretical shadow zone the long-period seismograms (15- to 25-sec dominant period) typically have amplitudes 50 per cent (or greater) of the direct P-wave amplitude and exhibit wave-form broadening. Similar wave-form broadening has been attributed to the dynamics of earthquake faulting. The effect of the lithosphere on long-period waves from nearby sources must be taken into account in studies which utilize the observed variation in wave-form broadening to infer earthquake source dynamics.


1982 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
pp. 413-437 ◽  
Author(s):  
John E. Ebel ◽  
Donald V. Helmberger

Abstract Results from a synthetic seismogram analysis of the short-period P waves from the Borrego Mountain earthquake of 9 April 1968 (ML = 6.4) are used to model the strong-motion recording at El Centro. A short-period-long-period deconvolution analysis of the teleseismic P waves suggested that a two-source model would fit the data much better than the single-source model presented by Burdick and Mellman (1976). Forward and inverse modeling of the data demonstrated that two sources, each of less than 2-sec duration, the second occurring 2.2 sec after the first and both being at about 8-km depth, best fit the short-period waveforms. From this model, long-period synthetics were generated which were found to be quite compatible with the data. This source model was also used to synthesize the strong-motion SH displacement, velocity, and acceleration records from El Centro, California. The close match of synthetics and data is used to argue that short-period waveforms contain much information about asperities which play a crucial role in the near-source strong motions from an earthquake. The Borrego Mountain event probably began with the failure of a fault asperity. The evidence for this is the several-hundred-bars stress drops of the two short-period sources and the probable location of these sources in a place where there was almost no aftershock activity or postseismic creep on the fault.


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