Estimating a Seismic Station's Detection Capability from Noise. Application to VLPE Stations
Abstract
Since the detection of a seismic event depends on the signal-to-noise ratio at a receiving site or station one may derive detection threshold magnitudes from the ambient noise levels. The statistical distribution of either peak noise amplitudes or RMS noise levels then determine the probability of detecting an event of a given magnitude. The conditions for the validity of this method of estimating detection capabilities, and the parameters involved, are specified. The analysis shows that results obtained from this method should differ little from maximum likelihood direct method estimates. Application of this method to stations of the Very Long Period Experiment (VLPE) confirms the analytical results. As few as 30 reliable daily noise samples yield good 50% detection threshold estimates.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 22, 1974
- Accession Number
- ADA015053
Entities
People
- Rudolf Unger
Organizations
- Texas Instruments