Statistical analysis and interpretation of surface-wave anelastic attenuation data for the stable interior of North America

Journal Article · Wed Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1975 · Bull. Seismol. Soc. Am., v. 65, no. 5, pp. 1115-1128

OSTI ID:4137885

Herrmann, R B; Mitchell, B J

As a byproduct of determining the source characteristics of some earthquakes and underground nuclear explosions, a body of fundamental-mode Rayleigh- and Love-wave anelastic attenuation values is available for propagation paths in the stable interior of North America in the 5- to 50-sec-period range. The anelastic attenuation values were obtained from four earthquakes occurring in the New Madrid seismic region, one earthquake in the northern Hudson Bay region, and three underground nuclear explosions in the western United States. In obtaining the anelastic attenuation data, a simple statistical test was applied to test the reliability of the observations. The anelastic attenuation coefficients are presented together with their 95 percent confidence levels. A stochastic form of the Backus-Gilbert inverse formalism was applied to a subset of these data to yield a Q/sub beta/ model for the stable interior of North America. The model is characterized by relatively low Q/sub beta/ values for the upper crust and a rapid transition to much higher values for the lower crust. (auth)

• Research Organization: St. Louis Univ.
• NSA Number: NSA-33-002960
• OSTI ID: 4137885
• Journal Information: Bull. Seismol. Soc. Am., v. 65, no. 5, pp. 1115-1128, Journal Name: Bull. Seismol. Soc. Am., v. 65, no. 5, pp. 1115-1128; ISSN BSSAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

*EARTHQUAKES-- SEISMIC DETECTION
*NUCLEAR EXPLOSION DETECTION-- SEISMIC DETECTION
*SEISMIC WAVES-- WAVE PROPAGATION
450300* --Explosions & Explosives--Explosion Detection
ATTENUATION
CANADA
EARTH CRUST
GROUND MOTION
N42510* --Engineering--Nuclear Explosions--Detection Systems
RELIABILITY
STATISTICAL MODELS
STATISTICS
UNDERGROUND EXPLOSIONS
USA