Seismic source summary for U. S. underground nuclear explosions, 1961-1970

1971 ◽  
Vol 61 (4) ◽  
pp. 1073-1098 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald L. Springer ◽  
Ross L. Kinnaman
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Source ◽  
Seismic Sources ◽  
Transmission Characteristics ◽  
Underground Nuclear Explosions ◽  
Nuclear Explosions ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Source Data ◽  
Surface Collapse

abstract A summary of information is presented for all announced U. S. underground nuclear explosions detonated during the 1961-1970 time period. The data include detonation times, locations, and depths of burial, as well as information about shot media and surface collapse (subsidence) phenomena. This summary is intended to furnish all available source data for studies of seismic sources, as well as studies of seismic transmission characteristics of the Earth.

Seismic source summary for U.S. underground nuclear explosions, 1971-1973

1975 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 343-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald L. Springer ◽  
Ross L. Kinnaman
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Source ◽  
Underground Nuclear Explosions ◽  
Nuclear Explosions ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Surface Collapse

abstract A summary of information is presented for all announced U.S. underground nuclear explosions detonated during the 1971-1973 time period. The data include detonation times, locations, and depths of burial, as well as information about shot media and surface collapse (subsidence) phenomena. This summary is an addendum to a previous publication which covered the period 1961-1970, and includes some additions and corrections to that work.

Seismic-source energies of underground nuclear explosions

1972 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 763-774 ◽  
Author(s):  
William R. Perret
Keyword(s):  
Free Field ◽  
Seismic Source ◽  
Elastic Response ◽  
Seismic Sources ◽  
Porous Rocks ◽  
Seismic Region ◽  
Underground Nuclear Explosions ◽  
Nuclear Explosions ◽  
Order Of Magnitude ◽  
Total Energies

Abstract Records of particle velocity in the free-field geological environment near underground nuclear explosions may be interpreted to yield the energy flux at a measuring station near or within the region of elastic response of the rock. Such data from 21 events in several types of rock have yielded energy fluxes. Total energies associated with the motion propagated into the seismic region have been derived from all but seven of these. The total energies are a measure of the seismic-source strength, and the ratios of these energies to those released by the explosion are measures of the energy coupled into the Earth as seismic motion. Explosions in granite, dolomite, or wet tuff produce seismic sources of the order of 2 per cent of the explosively released energy. Similar explosions in porous rocks such as dry tuff and desert alluvium provide seismic sources an order of magnitude weaker than those in hard or wet rock.

Seismic source and transmission functions from underground nuclear explosions

1974 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 1275-1293
Author(s):  
Ola Dahlman
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Source ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Test Site ◽  
Distance Curve ◽  
Underground Nuclear Explosions ◽  
Nuclear Explosions ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Source Models ◽  
Function Models ◽  
Relative Differences

abstract A model is presented for the simultaneous detemination of the relative variation in transmission properties to different stations and of the relative differences between the seismic sources for closely spaced underground nuclear explosions recorded by a fixed seismological station network. The model is applied to short-period data reported from 24 globally distributed stations from 12 underground nuclear explosions with known yields at Nevada Test Site. The obtained transmission functions vary within a factor of 10 between the different stations and show a weak decrease with epicenter distance and little correlation with the Gutenberg amplitude-distance curve. The relative source functions for 10 explosions in tuff and rhyolite, with yields in the range 16 to 1,200 kt, are with good correlation proportional to explosion yield to 0.9. Two theoretical source-function models, one by Haskell (1967) and one by Mueller and Murphy (1971a), are compared with each other and they agree well for frequencies around 1 Hz and for yields in the range 3 to 300 kt. The Haskell model for tuff is modified to be more compatible with the models for salt, granite and alluvium. The Haskell model predicts stronger variation of the source functions with frequency and yield than the Mueller-Murphy model. The observed relative source functions are compared with the theoretical source functions obtained from the two source models. The agreement is fairly good but the relative decrease of the source functions at yields above 300 kt predicted by the theoretical models is not observed.

scholarly journals Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty – a peace-keeping initiative with scientific impact

1969 ◽  
Vol 23 ◽  
pp. 49-52
Author(s):  
Tine B. Larsen ◽  
Peter H. Voss ◽  
Trine Dahl-Jensen ◽  
Søren Gregersen
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Test ◽  
Frequency Content ◽  
Similar Frequency ◽  
Scientific Impact ◽  
Underground Nuclear Explosions ◽  
Nuclear Explosions ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Earthquake Research ◽  
Test Ban

Any major shaking of the Earth can be recorded on a seismograph regardless of the nature of the source. Earthquakes and large explosions generate waves with similar frequency content. This fact has been used for decades to construct systems to monitor detonations of underground nuclear explosions. The quality of the monitoring system has increased significantly in recent years, and we demonstrate here that the data are useful in Danish earthquake research.

The Qaanaaq airburst as an analog of seismic source in extraterrestrial atmospheres: seismic and infrasound investigation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Foivos Karakostas ◽  
Nicholas Schmerr ◽  
Samuel Hop Bailey ◽  
Daniella Dellagiustina ◽  
Namrah Habib ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Shock Wave ◽  
Wave Propagation ◽  
Solar System ◽  
Seismic Waves ◽  
Seismic Source ◽  
Shock Wave Propagation ◽  
Tectonic Activity ◽  
Seismic Sources ◽  
The Earth

<p>On July 25, 2018, a meteoroid-associated airburst occurred near the Qaanaaq town, in Greenland, at approximately 22:00 UTC (20:00 local time). The event generated seismic waves that were recorded by two stations of the Danish Seismological Network (TULEG and NEEM) and the bolide trajectory was consequently calculated by the NASA Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS). The total impact energy, calculated by CNEOS was 2.1 kT of TNT and the brightest point on its trajectory corresponds to an altitude of around 43 km, at a distance of about 50 km S of the Qaanaaq town and 50 km N of the TULEG station and the Thule Air Force Base [1].</p> <p>An airburst occurring over the icy surface of Greenland is a rare terrestrial analog for regions of the Solar System, where both an atmosphere and an icy surface exist. In the past, a variety of works had indicated the presence of ice on Titan, the biggest moon of Saturn (e.g. [2] and more recently [3]) and more precisely, the icy composition of mountains which are formed by tectonic activity [4]. Titan has a relatively thick atmosphere, compared to those of other moons in the Solar System, composed mainly (94%) of nitrogen [5]. The characterization of atmospheric meteoroid-associated seismic sources for Titan has a particular interest, as it is found that, contrary to other moons of the solar system, the presence of craters on its surface is extremely low (only about 0.4% according to [3]). The reason for this low cratering of the surface is the presence of the thick atmosphere, into which many of the meteoroids are entirely ablated into dust. Therefore, a methodology for the characterization of airbursts as seismic sources and the modeling of the associated generated seismic waves is necessary for a future seismic experiment, as any recorded signal will either be a direct atmospheric wave (nonlinear shock wave, or linear acoustic wave) or a seismic wave generated through the coupling of the atmospheric and solid/ice part.<br /> <br />In the present study, our aim is to perform a seismic investigation of the Greenland ice shell with the use of the airburst-associated seismic source. The performed tasks into which this effort has been divided, include the application of a technique which approaches the bolide as an atmospheric seismic source, the calculation of the distance of shock wave propagation in the atmosphere, the description of the mechanism of generation of the seismic waves in the atmosphere and the solid-icy part.</p> <p>When the bolides enter the atmosphere of the Earth or that of any other body, shock waves are generated along the trajectory of the meteoroid. These waves are characterized by the overpressure that they generate, which create a clear pressure discontinuity in the atmosphere, referred to as the nonlinear part of the shock wave propagation. The propagation distance of this nonlinear wave is associated to the ratio of the meteoroid speed to the ambient sound speed, also known as the Mach number, as well as the physical diameter of the meteoroid. In this work, we compute this distance for the Earth case and for the known trajectory of the detected and examined bolide [1][6].</p> <p>The methodology developed in this study can serve the seismic investigation of structures covered by ice on planets or planetary bodies with a relatively thick atmosphere, where airbursts can occur due to the friction of the meteoroid with the ambient atmospheric material. An ideal example of this case are the icy mountains of Titan, which are known to be formed by tectonic activity on the Saturn’s moon [4]. The future Dragonfly mission to Titan will carry a seismometer as part of the DraGMet (Dragonfly Geophysics and Meteorology Package) payload [7]. Even if the primary goal of the mission is the characterization of the regolith properties, an eventual airburst and collection of seismic data near these mountainous icy structures, will be a great opportunity to investigate, through the identification of the associated waves and thus the investigation of the coupled seismic waves, the properties of this icy cover, its depth and composition.</p> <p>References: [1] https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/fireballs/ [2] Sohl, F. et al. (1995) Icarus, 115, 278–294 [3] Lopes R.M.C. et al. (2019) Nat Astron, [4] Radebaugh J. et al. (2007) Icarus, 192, 77-91, [5] Niemann H.B. et al. (2005) Nature, 438, 779–784 [6] Schmerr, N. et al. (2018) Abstract P21E-3406, AGU Fall Meeting 2018, Washington DC [7] Lorenz R. et al. (2018) Johns Hop- kins APL Technical Digest, 34, 3</p>

Seismic source characteristics from explosion-generated P waves

1968 ◽  
Vol 58 (6) ◽  
pp. 1833-1848 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynn D. Trembly ◽  
Joseph W. Berg
Keyword(s):  
High Frequency ◽  
Transfer Functions ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Seismic Energy ◽  
Seismic Source ◽  
Propagation Path ◽  
P Waves ◽  
Nuclear Explosions ◽  
Source Characteristics ◽  
The Earth

ABSTRACT Signals from nuclear explosions were used to calibrate seismograph stations (near-regional, regional, and teleseismic ranges) by determining the transfer functions of the lumped source-propagation path-receiver systems. Recorded signals other than those used for calibration purposes were used to derive the characteristics of the sources. It was found that source functions could be derived from distant signals when the frequencies of the output signals were reliably related to the source. For the output data used in this research, the low-frequency cutoff was 0.2 cps at all stations and the high-frequency cutoffs were 4.0, 3.0, and 2.0 cps at the near-regional, regional, and teleseismic distances, respectively. The low-frequency cutoff was due mainly to the recording instruments, and the high-frequency cutoffs were due to the attentuation of the seismic energy by the Earth. The most reliable results were obtained when three half-cycles of the observed output signals (first arrivals) were used. When explosions in granite were used as calibration sources, the energies derived for explosions in tuff, alluvium, and dolomite media were 88, 65, and 12 per cent of the respective “observed” source energies.

A seismic source summary for Soviet peaceful nuclear explosions

1999 ◽  
Vol 89 (3) ◽  
pp. 640-647 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. D. Sultanov ◽  
J. R. Murphy ◽  
Kh. D. Rubinstein
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Data ◽  
Seismic Source ◽  
Nuclear Explosions ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Research Studies

Abstract A summary of information is presented for 122 Soviet peaceful nuclear explosions (PNE) detonated during the 1965 to 1988 time period. The data presented include detonation times, locations, explosion yields, and depths of burial, as well as summary information regarding the explosion configurations and source emplacement media. This summary is intended to provide a concise reference for use in research studies of the seismic data recorded from this unique set of explosion sources.

Review of seismic source models for underground nuclear explosions

1981 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 1249-1268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert P. Massé
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Source ◽  
Source Model ◽  
Underground Nuclear Explosions ◽  
Nuclear Explosions ◽  
Thrust Faulting ◽  
Seismic Source Models ◽  
Regional Source ◽  
Source Models ◽  
Strain Release ◽  
Wave Conversion

abstract A number of seismic source models for underground nuclear explosions have been developed over the past 2 decades. These models include the spherically symmetric compressional source model, the wave conversion source model, the tectonic strain release source model, the spall slapdown source model, and the near-regional source model. These model are reviewed in this study and are shown to be inconsistent with various geophysical data associated with underground nuclear explosions. In particular, the Rayleigh and Love wave signals generated by underground nuclear explosions have not been explained satisfactorily by any of these source models. To explain the observed explosion data, it may be necessary to model the explosion seismic source as a sequence of mechanisms producing seismic signals. These mechanisms all act within the first few seconds following the explosion detonation. One of the most important of these mechanisms is probably explosion-induced thrust faulting.

scholarly journals The effect of earthquakes on the ERP during 1977–1985

1988 ◽  
Vol 128 ◽  
pp. 399-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard S. Gross
Keyword(s):  
Earth Rotation ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Earth Rotation Parameters ◽  
Rotation Parameters ◽  
Large Earthquakes

The effect on the Earth Rotation Parameters (ERP) of all the large earthquakes that occurred during 1977–1985 is evaluated. It is found that they cannot have caused the variations observed in the ERP during this time period.

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