Characteristics of rockbursts for use in seismic discrimination. Final report, November 1991-October 1993

Technical Report · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:104182

Bennett, T J; Marshall, M E; Barker, B W; Murphy, J R

As a result of changing emphases in nuclear explosion monitoring, alternative types of seismic sources have become significant. This research program was designed to investigate the identification of one such source type - rockbursts. Development of a reliable scheme to separate these sources from other events is important for CTBT and non-proliferation monitoring. Our research has found that rockbursts occur in many seismic and aseismic regions throughout the world. In many areas rockbursts are frequent and they may be large (M > 5). Seismic waveform databases were assembled for two geographical regions: Central Europe and South Africa. Discrimination analyses, including comparisons of time domain and spectral measurements of signals for different source types, have been performed on selected events. Because of the nature of rockbursts, some traditional discriminants, such as those related to focal depth, cannot be used. The most promising characteristics of rockburst seismic signals for discrimination seem to be spectral behavior and complexity. With regard to evasion the predictability of rockburst occurrence and size may offer the potential for concealment of a small or decoupled nuclear explosion test.

• Research Organization: Maxwell Labs., Inc., San Diego, CA (United States)
• OSTI ID: 104182
• Report Number(s): AD-A--290881/2/XAB; SSS-FR--93-14382; CNN: Contract F19628-91-C-0186
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

35 ARMS CONTROL
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
ARMS CONTROL
EVALUATION
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
PROGRESS REPORT
ROCK BURSTS
VERIFICATION