Test ban treaty verification with regional data: a review

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1982 · Bull. Seismol. Soc. Am.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6848950

Pomeroy, P W; Best, W J; McEvilly, T V

This paper summarizes the use of regional (..delta.. less than or equal to 30 /sup 0/) seismic data in a test ban context for detecting, locating, identifying, and determining the yield of underground nuclear explosions. In many areas of the world (Eastern North America, Africa, Eastern USSR), Lg is the largest amplitude wave recorded on standard seismograph systems and thus is the most appropriate phase for monitoring small magnitude events. Excellent location capability for near-regional events has been demonstrated at the Norwegian small aperture array (NORESS) using Lg and P waves. Lg and other regional phases may contain information on source depth, but such information has not been exploited to date. Fifteen classes of regional discriminants are listed. Most have been tested only on limited data, usually from one geographic region and only one or two recording stations. No systematic analyses have been done to determine the best individual discriminant or combination of them. Preliminary evaluation of the use of Lg for yield determination suggests that regional waves hold promise in this application. Theoretical studies have contributed significantly to the understanding of propagation characteristics of regional waves but further studies are required emphasizing modeling for realistic anisotropic sources. The major conclusion of this study is that a systematic and comparative evaluation of all the proposed regional discriminants is now required, utilizing a common data base derived from all present-day test sites. This evaluation would suggest the optimal discrimination procedure using regional waves, and would also define areas of needed research. Without such an integrated evaluation, it is still possible to speculate, using existing results, on the most promising regional discriminants.

• OSTI ID: 6848950
• Journal Information: Bull. Seismol. Soc. Am.; (United States), Journal Name: Bull. Seismol. Soc. Am.; (United States) Vol. 72:6; ISSN BSSAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
450300* -- Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense-- Nuclear Explosion Detection
DETECTION
EXPLOSIONS
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
OPTIMIZATION
SEISMIC DETECTION
SEISMIC SURVEYS
SEISMIC WAVES
SURVEYS
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
TREATIES
UNDERGROUND EXPLOSIONS
VERIFICATION
YIELDS