Infrasound signatures from buried chemical explosions during the SPE Phase 1
- Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Strong ground motion induces acoustic waves in the atmosphere that can be detected at great distances. These waves provide a record of acceleration at the epicenter of the subterranean event. While this information is valuable for nuclear monitoring purposes, a systematic study of the variation in acoustic parameters with explosive yield and depth has not yet been conducted. Here, we provide a survey of low frequency sound waves generated during the Source Physics Phase 1 experiment, in which six chemical explosions were detonated in granite. We found that pressure amplitudes increase with explosion size but decrease with depth as expected. Pressure amplitude variability increased with signal magnitude. Surprisingly, peak frequency appears to increase with depth. A possible directional signal was identified for one of the events as well. The results presented here may aid the nuclear monitoring community in developing means of determining event depth and yield using acoustic methods. This will complement existing algorithms based on seismic radiation.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000; NA0003525
- OSTI ID:
- 1490754
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-2019-0114R; 671339
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
An Overview of the Source Physics Experiment at the Nevada National Security Site (SPE-N)
Infrasound From a Buried Chemical Explosion Recorded on a Balloon in the Lower Stratosphere