The Effects of Travel Path and Source Structure on the Character of Regional Distance Seismograms from Nuclear Explosions

Abstract

A comprehensive or low-yield threshold test treaty will require monitoring at regional distances, and the seismograms are very difficult to deterministically model. The character of the phases Pg and Lg shows a very strong dependence on travel path. We have conducted a number of observation- based experiments to develop empirical path corrections or scaling relations for regional phase excitation and propagation. The gross crustal structure of the western syntaxis was determined and the blockage of Pg and Lg in the region was studied empirically. Eighteen events from the 1986 Chalfant Valley earthquake sequence were used to examine the effects of source magnitude, depth, and rock properties on the regional distance spectra of Pg, Lg, and Pn. For all three variables, the spectral ratios discriminant behaves in a linear fashion. We also reviewed the effects of tectonic release on seismic body waves generated by underground nuclear explosions.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 27, 1991
Accession Number
ADA256678

Entities

People

  • Terry C. Wallace

Organizations

  • University of Arizona

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Earth Sciences
  • Earthquakes
  • Explosions
  • Geography
  • Geology
  • Geophysics
  • Love Waves
  • Materials
  • Near Field
  • New York
  • Nuclear Explosions
  • Observation
  • Planetary Sciences
  • Rayleigh Waves
  • Seismic Waves
  • Surface Waves
  • United States

Readers

  • Seismology