Proximal Observations of Epicentral Infrasound Generated by Shallow Low-Magnitude Earthquakes in the Permian Basin, West Texas

Schaible, Loring Pratt; Dannemann Dugick, Fransiska; Bowman, Daniel C.; McCabe, Cooper; Savvaidis, Alexandros

doi:10.1785/0120240033

Proximal Observations of Epicentral Infrasound Generated by Shallow Low-Magnitude Earthquakes in the Permian Basin, West Texas

Journal Article · Thu Aug 29 00:00:00 EDT 2024 · Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1785/0120240033· OSTI ID:2447344

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Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States)

Infrasound generated by earthquakes and explosions is generally detected at receivers at epicentral distances of hundreds to thousands of kilometers. However, proximal (<50 km) observations are especially important for low-magnitude earthquakes and low-yield explosions that may not generate signals capable of being detected at great ranges. Here, in this study, we present on the signals detected on an infrasound array 3 km away from two M_L 2.9 earthquakes in the Permian Basin of west Texas. Local infrasound (LIS), generated at receivers during the passage of seismic waves, was detected following each earthquake. Epicentral infrasound (EIS), created at or near the epicenter and propagating away as a sound wave, was also detected. Array processing methods show that the EIS signals arrive from the same direction as the earthquake epicenters and at acoustic speeds. To our knowledge, these are the first observations of laterally propagating EIS at proximal ranges following an earthquake of any magnitude.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation

Grant/Contract Number:: NA0003525

OSTI ID:: 2447344

Report Number(s):: SAND--2024-12329J

Journal Information:: Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, Journal Name: Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 114; ISSN 0037-1106

Publisher:: Seismological Society of AmericaCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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