Path-corrected body-wave magnitudes and yield estimates of Novaya Zemlya explosions. Scientific report, 1 Aug 90-31 Jul 91

Technical Report · Sat Aug 31 04:00:00 EDT 1991

OSTI ID:7278010

Jih, R S; Wagner, R A

Along with an extensive data set of worldwide explosions recorded at WWSSN, teleseismic short-period body-wave amplitudes from 28 Novaya Zemlya explosions are measured and analyzed to isolate the propagation characteristics and to derive a better measure of the source size. The separation of path effects from station effects provides direct clues as to how an old fold-belt structure (like Novaya Zemlya) could modulate the short-period P-wave amplitude and travel-time patterns. A strong correlation between P-wave amplitude and L sub g detection at teleseismic distance is also observed. Assuming the basic coupling and the mantle condition at Novaya Zemlya are comparable to those at Eastern Kazakhstan, the m sub b bias relative to NTS at 50KT level using the path-corrected m sub b(P sub max) values is inferred as 0.25 and 0.36 magnitude unit for Novaya Zemlya and Semipalatinsk, respective The m sub b(P sub max) bias of 0.11 between Semipalatinsk and Novaya Zemlya could be largely due to the difference in pP interference at these two test sites. The relative source size determined by Burger et al. (1986) and the theoretical psi infinity: yield scaling are combined to extrapolate our m sub b scaling to the higher end. The resulting yield estimates range from 2 to 2100 KT, with peak values of 550 KT and 65 KT before and after 1976, respectively, which are in reasonable agreement with those in previous studies.

• Research Organization: Teledyne Geotech, Alexandria, VA (United States). Alexandria Labs.
• OSTI ID: 7278010
• Report Number(s): AD-A-251240/8/XAB; TGAL--91-09; CNN: F19628-90-C-0158
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
450200* -- Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense-- Nuclear Explosions & Explosives
ASIA
DATA ANALYSIS
DETECTION
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
EARTH MANTLE
EUROPE
EXPLOSIONS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
NUCLEAR EXPLOSION DETECTION
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
P WAVES
PARTIAL WAVES
SEISMIC ARRAYS
SEISMIC DETECTION
SEISMIC WAVES
TEST FACILITIES
UNDERGROUND EXPLOSIONS
USSR
WAVE PROPAGATION
YIELDS