Tidal Calibration of Multicomponent Borehole Strainmeters and Validation of the Method Using Surface Waves

We conducted in-situ calibration of fifteen multicomponent borehole strainmeters deployed in and around the expected focal zones of the Nankai megathrust earthquake. The in-situ calibration method compares tidal strain observed by the borehole strainmeters with predicted tidal strains from the solid Earth’s tide and oceanic tidal loading. Then we obtained a calibration matrix to transfer observed strain data to the regional strain field. We estimated the oceanic tidal loading accurately using a Green’s function, which takes the depth of deployment into consideration. We calculated four sets of calibration matrices using combinations of any three of a group of four gauges as well as a calibration matrix using all four gauges. The estimated calibration matrix was validated by comparing observed seismic strain waves after applying the calibration matrix with theoretical seismic strain waves excited by the 2010 Chile earthquake (Mw 8.8). The in-situ calibration was found to be appropriate for all eleven Ishii-type borehole strainmeters and for one of the four Gladwin Tensor Strainmeters (GTSMs). It was also effective with respect to two shear strains for two of the other three GTSMs.