E-field-ratio telluric techniques applied to cavity detection for OSI operations
Verification of compliance to a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) may require an On-Site Inspection (OSI) of an area in the USSR where an underground nuclear test may have been conducted. As one of the possible technologies that may be applied by an OSI team, the E-field-ratio telluric method for cavity detection is examined. This method utilizes naturally occurring earth currents which are induced by ionospheric and tropospheric electromagnetic activity - no electric field source is provided by the user, thus reducing equipment requirements. Two test surveys were made at the Nevada Test Site. Underground cavities at these locations are expected to have lateral extents of the order of a few 10's of meters and depths less than 300 meters. Telluric measurements indicate that an electrically resistive anomaly exists where the cavity is expected. The anomaly associated with the cavity could be detected even when the survey line did not cross directly over the expected cavity location. Although these experiments do not define the limitations of the method, they do show strong evidence that cavities and chimney formations from an underground nuclear explosion can be detected. Specific goals for further research are suggested.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 6174763
- Report Number(s):
- UCID-19780; ON: DE83010983
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions are illegible in microfiche products. Original copy available until stock is exhausted
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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