Corner Frequency Scaling of Regional Seismic Phases for Underground Nuclear Explosions at the Nevada Test Site

2007 ◽  
Vol 97 (3) ◽  
pp. 977-988 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. D. Fisk
Keyword(s):  
Test Site ◽  
Corner Frequency ◽  
Nevada Test Site ◽  
Frequency Scaling ◽  
Underground Nuclear Explosions ◽  
Nuclear Explosions

Lg magnitudes and yield estimates for underground Novaya Zemlya nuclear explosions

1988 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
pp. 873-884
Author(s):  
Otto W. Nuttli
Keyword(s):  
Large Range ◽  
Test Site ◽  
Nevada Test Site ◽  
P Values ◽  
Underground Nuclear Explosions ◽  
Nuclear Explosions ◽  
Novaya Zemlya ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Lg Wave ◽  
Range Of Values

Abstract Lg-wave amplitudes of 30 Novaya Zemlya underground nuclear explosions, as recorded by short-period seismographs in Denmark, Finland, Germany, Norway, Spitsbergen, and Sweden, are used to determine mb(Lg) values. Assuming that the mb(Lg) versus explosion yield relation derived from Nevada Test Site data applies to all continental areas, the yields of the explosions are estimated. They cover a large range of values, from 2.5 to 4900 kt. The largest explosion since April 1976 had an estimated yield of 145 kt. The mb(Lg) values, when subtracted from the mb(P) values, can be used to estimate the mb(P) bias between two test sites. In this way, the mb(P) bias between Novaya Zemlya and the Nevada Test Site is estimated to be 0.20 magnitude units.

Seismic magnitudes of underground nuclear explosions

1973 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. W. Basham ◽  
R. B. Horner
Keyword(s):  
Computational Procedure ◽  
Test Site ◽  
P Wave ◽  
Nevada Test Site ◽  
Underground Nuclear Explosions ◽  
Nuclear Explosions ◽  
Novaya Zemlya ◽  
Yield Information ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Propagation Effects

abstract Using an Ms computational procedure that minimizes path-propagation effects, and with Ms values found to be empirically independent of test site and detonation medium among consolidated rock explosions, available yield information is employed to illustrate that the seismic scaling of explosions in realistic detonation environments produces teleseismic Rayleigh-wave displacements proportional to the 1.2-power of yield over the range from low yields to greater than three megatons. Ms values independent of network, path, and site can be employed to estimate unknown yields at uncalibrated test sites to within average errors judged to be about 20 per cent. P-wave magnitudes, in the form of a calibrated teleseismic measure of short-period P-wave displacements, show a theoretically supported dependence of displacement on the 1.1-power of yield over the range from 6 kt to 1 mt. Studied explosions separate into two categories: the Nevada Test Site granite explosions, LONG SHOT, the Sahara February 1965 explosion and (by empirical inference) Novaya Zemlya and Eastern Kazakh explosions exhibit P-wave displacements about a factor of 3 greater than explosions of the same yield in tuff, rhyolite, and shale. P-wave magnitudes of explosions are subject to such a diversity of source, propagation, and measurement phenomena that any estimation of unknown yields without a closely controlled site and network calibration can be subject to large errors.

Earthquakes caused by underground nuclear explosions on Pahute Mesa, Nevada Test Site

1972 ◽  
Vol 62 (5) ◽  
pp. 1319-1341
Author(s):  
R. M. Hamilton ◽  
B. E. Smith ◽  
F. G. Fischer ◽  
P. J. Papanek
Keyword(s):  
Test Site ◽  
Geological Structure ◽  
Earthquake Activity ◽  
Nevada Test Site ◽  
Fault Plane Solutions ◽  
Fault Movement ◽  
Underground Nuclear Explosions ◽  
Nuclear Explosions ◽  
Earthquake Sequences ◽  
Frequency Magnitude

Abstract The underground nuclear explosions BENHAM, PURSE, JORUM, and HANDLEY, detonated on Pahute Mesa, initiated earthquake sequences lasting approximately 70, 10, 20, and 60 days, respectively. Earthquakes of magnitude 2.0 or larger in these sequences numbered 2012, 24, 159, and 231, respectively; earthquake magnitudes were all less than 5. The explosion PIPKIN, also detonated on Pahute Mesa, had no apparent effect on seismicity. Ninety-four per cent of the earthquakes with well-determined focal depths occurred at depths shallower than 5 km, and 95 per cent of the located earthquakes were within 14 km of ground zero of the preceding explosion. There is no evidence for explosion-stimulated earthquake activity extending outside the area of Pahute Mesa. The spatial distribution of earthquakes seems to be largely controlled by geological structure; however, the epicenter distribution can be correlated with observed fault movement only for aftershocks of HANDLEY. Fault-plane solutions indicate predominant dip-slip movement in the northern part of the Pahute Mesa area for aftershocks of BENHAM, JORUM, and HANDLEY. In the southern part, dextral strike-slip movement was found for aftershocks of BENHAM and HANDLEY. The frequency-magnitude relations are similar for earthquakes following BENHAM, PURSE, JORUM, and HANDLEY.

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