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Modelling infrasound signal generation from two underground explosions at the Source Physics Experiment using the Rayleigh integral

Journal Article · · Geophysical Journal International
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggu433· OSTI ID:1426909
 [1];  [2];  [2]
  1. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
  2. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
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For this study, we use the Rayleigh integral (RI) as an approximation to the Helmholtz–Kirchoff integral to model infrasound generation and propagation from underground chemical explosions at distances of 250 m out to 5 km as part of the Source Physics Experiment (SPE). Using a sparse network of surface accelerometers installed above ground zero, we are able to accurately create synthetic acoustic waveforms and compare them to the observed data. Although the underground explosive sources were designed to be symmetric, the resulting seismic wave at the surface shows an asymmetric propagation pattern that is stronger to the northeast of the borehole. This asymmetric bias may be attributed to the subsurface geology and faulting of the area and is observed in the acoustic waveforms. We compare observed and modelled results from two of the underground SPE tests with a sensitivity study to evaluate the asymmetry observed in the data. This work shows that it is possible to model infrasound signals from underground explosive sources using the RI and that asymmetries observed in the data can be modelled with this technique.
Research Organization:
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000
OSTI ID:
1426909
Report Number(s):
SAND2013--9173J; 534069
Journal Information:
Geophysical Journal International, Journal Name: Geophysical Journal International Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 200; ISSN 0956-540X
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (6)

A seismoacoustic study of the 2011 January 3 Circleville earthquake: Seismoacoustic study: Circleville earthquake journal March 2012
Anomalous infrasound propagation in a hot stratosphere and the existence of extremely small shadow zones: ANOMALOUS INFRASOUND PROPAGATION journal March 2012
Discrimination of near-field infrasound sources based on time-difference of arrival information journal September 2006
The IMS Infrasound Network: Design and Establishment of Infrasound Stations book November 2009
Interpolating implicit surfaces from scattered surface data using compactly supported radial basis functions conference January 2005
Chemical Explosion Experiments to Improve Nuclear Test Monitoring journal July 2013

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Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
Acoustic properties
Controlled source seismology
Seismic monitoring and test-ban treaty verification
Time-series analysis
Wave propagation