The geoPebble System: Design and Implementation of a Wireless Sensor Network of GPS-Enabled Seismic Sensors for the Study of Glaciers and Ice Sheets

The geoPebble system is a network of wirelessly interconnected seismic and GPS sensor nodes with geophysical sensing capabilities for the study of ice sheets in Antarctica and Greenland, as well as mountain glaciers. We describe our design methodology, which has enabled us to develop these state-of-the art units using commercial-off-the-shelf hardware combined with custom-designed hardware and software. Each geoPebble node is a self-contained, wirelessly connected sensor for collecting seismic activity and position information. Each node is built around a three-component seismic recorder, which includes an amplifier, filter, and 24-bit analog-to-digital converter that can sample incoming seismic signals up to 10 kHz. The timing for each node is available from GPS measurements and a local precision oscillator that is conditioned by the GPS timing pulses. In addition, we record the carrier-phase measurement of the L1 GPS signal in order to determine location at sub-decimeter accuracy (relative to other geoPebble nodes within a radius of a few kilometers). Each geoPebble includes 32 GB of solid-state storage, wireless communications capability to a central supervisory unit, and auxiliary measurements capability (including tilt from accelerometers, absolute orientation from magnetometers, and temperature). The geoPebble system has been successfully validated in the field in Antarctica and Greenland.

Improved Resolution and Cost Performance of Low-Cost MEMS Seismic Sensor through Parallel Acquisition

In earthquake monitoring, an important aspect of the operational effect of earthquake intensity rapid reporting and earthquake early warning networks depends on the density and performance of the deployed seismic sensors. To improve the resolution of seismic sensors as much as possible while keeping costs low, in this article the use of multiple low-cost and low-resolution digital MEMS accelerometers is proposed to increase the resolution through the correlation average method. In addition, a cost-effective MEMS seismic sensor is developed. With ARM and Linux embedded computer technology, this instrument can cyclically store the continuous collected data on a built-in large-capacity SD card for approximately 12 months. With its real-time seismic data processing algorithm, this instrument is able to automatically identify seismic events and calculate ground motion parameters. Moreover, the instrument is easy to install in a variety of ground or building conditions. The results show that the RMS noise of the instrument is reduced from 0.096 cm/s2 with a single MEMS accelerometer to 0.034 cm/s2 in a bandwidth of 0.1–20 Hz by using the correlation average method of eight low-cost MEMS accelerometers. The dynamic range reaches more than 90 dB, the amplitude–frequency response of its input and output within −3 dB is DC −80 Hz, and the linearity is better than 0.47%. In the records from our instrument, earthquakes with magnitudes between M2.2 and M5.1 and distances from the epicenter shorter than 200 km have a relatively high SNR, and are more visible than they were prior to the joint averaging.

Determination of coordinates of the earthquake hypocenter by the method of circles

Objective. The aim of the study is to develop a method for determining the coordinates of the earthquake hypocenter using various combinations of second and fourth order figures as a geo-locus of the hypocenter position points.Method. It is known that the line of intersection of figures of the second and fourth orders, in the case of coincidence of focuses, is a circle. To determine the coordinates of the earthquake source, data from seismographs are used, which are used to construct figures of the second and fourth order, the intersection point of which is the hypocenter. When using data from two seismic sensors, there are two figures, the intersection line of which is a circle. A sphere with a radius equal to the radius of the circle is constructed through the center of this circle. For the other two pairs of seismic sensors, two more spheres are also formed, The intersection point of the three spheres obtained is the sought-for hypocenter of the earthquake.Result. A method has been developed for determining the coordinates of an earthquake source using different shapes of the second and fourth orders for different pairs of seismic sensors.Conclusion. The method allows one to select one of the second or fourth order figures for different pairs of seismic sensors, which makes it possible to reduce the error in determining the source coordinates.

Urban Running Activity Detected Using a Seismic Sensor during COVID-19 Pandemic

Human foot traffic in urban environments provides essential information for city planners to manage the urban resources and urban residents to plan their activities. Compared to camera or mobile-based solutions, seismic sensors detect human footstep signals with fewer privacy concerns. However, seismic sensors often record signals generated from multiple sources, particularly in an urban outdoor environment. In this article, we monitor people’s running activities during COVID-19 pandemic with a seismic sensor in a park in Singapore. We compare the spectra of natural and urban events in the recorded seismic data. For each 3 s seismic data, we define hierarchical screening criteria to identify footsteps based on the spectrum of the signal and its envelope. We derive the cadence of each runner by detecting the primary frequency of the footstep signals. The resulting algorithm achieves higher accuracy and higher temporal resolution for weak and overlapping signals compared to existing methods. Runner statistics based on four-month long seismic data show that urban running activities have clear daily and weekly cycles. Lockdown measures to mitigate COVID-19 pandemic promoted running activities, particularly over the weekends. Cadence statistics show that morning runners have higher cadence on average.

Average error determination in the calculation of earthquake epicenter coordinates

Objective. The study is aimed at determining the dependence of the average error in calculating the epicenter coordinates of an earthquake on errors in measuring the velocities of seismic waves for various methods of seismic event localization. Error distribution investigation for the method for determining the earthquake hypocenter coordinates using the Cassinian oval. Methods. The problem was solved using statistical methods: methods of frequency and regression analyzes, means comparison method, and uniform search method. Results. A relationship between the accuracy of measuring the velocities of seismic waves when determining the coordinates of an earthquake epicenter were established for four different earthquake hypocenter coordinates calculation methods. A method for determining the earthquake hypocenter coordinates using the fourth-order figure of the Cassinian oval was proposed. The error distribution density of the Cassinian oval method was compared with the ones of other methods. Conclusion. The results obtained make it possible to choose one or another method for calculating the hypocenter coordinates depending on the specific area in which a seismic event occurred and the locations of seismic sensors.

Development of a Compact Broadband Ocean-Bottom Seismometer

Studies of very-low-frequency earthquakes and low-frequency tremors (slow earthquakes) in the shallow region of plate boundaries need seafloor broadband seismic observations. Because it is expected that seafloor spatially high-density monitoring requires numerous broadband sensors for slow earthquakes near trenches, we have developed a long-term compact broadband ocean-bottom seismometer (CBBOBS) by upgrading the long-term short-period ocean-bottom seismometer that has seismic sensors with a natural frequency of 1 Hz and is being mainly used for observation of microearthquakes. Because many long-term ocean-bottom seismometers with short-period sensors are available, we can increase the number of broadband seafloor sensors at a low cost. A short-period seismometer is exchanged for a compact broadband seismometer with a period of 20 or 120 s. Because the ocean-bottom seismometers are installed by free fall, we have no attitude control during an installation. Therefore, we have developed a new leveling system for compact broadband seismic sensors. This new leveling system keeps the same dimensions as the conventional leveling system for 1 Hz seismometers so that the broadband seismic sensor can be installed conveniently. Tolerance for leveling is less than 1°. A tilt of up to 20° is allowed for the leveling operation. A microprocessor controls the leveling procedure. Some of the newly developed ocean-bottom seismometers were deployed in the western Nankai trough, where slow earthquakes frequently occur. The data from the ocean-bottom seismometers on the seafloor were evaluated, and we confirmed that the long-term CBBOBS is suitable for observation of slow earthquakes. The developed ocean-bottom seismometer is also available for submarine volcanic observation and broadband seafloor observation to estimate deep seismic structures.

Application of Spatio-Temporal Spectral Analysis for Detection of Seismic Waves in Gravitational-Wave Interferometer

Mixed spatio–temporal spectral analysis was applied for the detection of seismic waves passing through the west–end building of the Virgo interferometer. The method enables detection of a passing wave, including its frequency, length, direction, and amplitude. A thorough analysis aimed at improving sensitivity of the Virgo detector was made for the data gathered by 38 seismic sensors, in the two–week measurement period, from 24 January to 6 February 2018, and for frequency range 5–20 Hz. Two dominant seismic–wave frequencies were found: 5.5 Hz and 17.1 Hz. The presented method can be applied for a better understanding of the interferometer seismic environment, and by identifying noise sources, help the noise–hunting and mitigation work that eventually leads to interferometer noise suppression.

SUBSTANTIATION OF DESIGN PARAMETERS OF COAL DUST EXPLOSION CONTAINMENT SYSTEM

The aim of the paper is to identify the qualitative and quantitative parameters of seismic waves and accelerations on the mine working contour after an explosion of the gas-and-dust mixture. Information about the formation of seismic waves in the rock mass accommodating the mine working was received using modelling in order to improve the means of containment of explosion of further developed dust-air mixture. The parameters of seismic waves, such as propagation velocity and acceleration, amplitude, and frequency of oscillations of mine working walls, were established for the conditions of the experimental structure, which allows to scientifically substantiating the design parameters of the systems protecting the miners against explosion. The energy of the explosion propagates in the rock mass in the form of a series of peak-like pulses and oscillations with smaller amplitude. Modulus of acceleration is an informational indicator, which suits the most for registration by seismic sensors responding, specifically, to the most powerful peak pulses formed by seismic waves. By revealing the qualitative and quantitative indicators of seismic wave propagation on the mine working contour and in the rock mass, the parameters of seismic sensors of the systems protecting the miners against explosion can be substantiated.

Rockfall and vulnerability of mountaineers on the west face of the Aiguille du Goûter (classic route up Mont Blanc, France), an interdisciplinary study

In high alpine environments, climate change leads to an increase in rockfall destabilizations. They represent a threat for sports and tourism activities in high mountain and especially for mountaineering. This danger of rockfall is particularly important on the classic route up Mont Blanc (4,809 m a.s.l., Mont Blanc massif, France), on the west face of the Aiguille du Goûter (3,863 m a.s.l.), and is responsible for at least 29 % of the accidents that occur in this sector. Despite the intensity of the geomorphological processes at work and the vulnerability of climbers, few scientific studies have been carried out on the occurrence of rockfalls and their triggering factors in the Goûter area. Based on a multi-method monitoring system (5 seismic sensors, an automatic digital camera, 3 subsurface temperature sensors, a pyroelectric sensor, a high-resolution topographical survey, 2 weather stations and a rain gauge) the objective of our study is therefore to quantitatively document the occurrence of rockfalls and their triggering factors in the Grand Couloir du Goûter in order to better assess the vulnerability of mountaineers in this sector. Our results show that in the high-Alpine and permafrost-affected Aiguille du Goûter west face, rockfalls are mostly frequent during the snowmelt period which favors the action of thermo-mechanical processes linked to the infiltration of liquid water into the cracks of the rock. During periods when the couloir is completely clear of snow, rockfalls are 2.5 times less frequent, and the thermo-mechanical processes involved in the rockfall triggering are limited by the absence of moisture in the ground. These results also show that climbers' awareness of the risk of rockfalls remains limited. What’s more, they do not adapt – or only slightly – their behavior to this risk, despite a particularly high accident rate. Important work on prevention and dissemination of the knowledge here acquired (newsletters, training for professionals and amateurs, awareness campaigns) among mountaineers is therefore still really necessary.