Path-Corrected Body-wave Magnitudes and Yield Estimates of Novaya Zemlya Explosions
Abstract
Along with an extensive data set of worldwide explosions recorded at WWSSN, teleseismic short-period body-wave amplitudes from 28 Novaya Zemlya explosions are measured and analyzed to isolate the propagation characteristics and to derive a better measure of the source size. The separation of path effects from station effects provides direct clues as to how an old fold-belt structure (like Novaya Zemlya) could modulate the short-period P-wave amplitude and travel-time patterns. A strong correlation between P-wave amplitude and L sub g detection at teleseismic distance is also observed. Assuming the basic coupling and the mantle condition at Novaya Zemlya are comparable to those at Eastern Kazakhstan, the m sub b bias relative to NTS at 50KT level using the path-corrected m sub b(P sub max) values is inferred as 0.25 and 0.36 magnitude unit for Novaya Zemlya and Semipalatinsk, respective The m sub b(P sub max) bias of 0.11 between Semipalatinsk and Novaya Zemlya could be largely due to the difference in pP interference at these two test sites. The relative source size determined by Burger et al. (1986) and the theoretical psi infinity:yield scaling are combined to extrapolate our m sub b scaling to the higher end. The resulting yield estimates range from 2 to 2100 KT, with peak values of 550 KT and 65 KT before and after 1976, respectively, which are in reasonable agreement with those in previous studies.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 31, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADA251240
Entities
People
- Robert A. Wagner
- Rong-song Jih