Quick Search:    advanced search

GSW Home   GeoRef Home   My GSW Alerts   Contact GSW   About GSW   Journals List   Help

This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by BURGER, R. W. Articles by BURDICK, L. J. Search for Related Content GeoRef GeoRef Citation

Average Q and yield estimates from the Pahute Mesa test site

WOODWARD-CLYDE CONSULTANTS, 566 EL DORADO STREET, PASADENA, CALIFORNIA 91101
^b DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGICAL SCIENCES UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN 48109

Abstract

Attenuation models, with and without frequency dependence, have been developed through analysis of time-domain amplitude measurements and teleseismic spectral shape data from Pahute Mesa nuclear explosions. The time-domain analysis is based on a near-field to far-field amplitude comparison. The near-field amplitude information is incorporated in two parameterized explosion source models (Mueller-Murphy and Helmberger-Hadley) based on analyses of near-field data. The teleseismic amplitude observations are from a large data set of WWSSN short-period analog recordings. For the narrow-band time-domain data, the various source and attenuation models are indistinguishable. We utilize the spectral shape data in the 0.5- to 4-Hz band as a constraint on the source-attenuation models at higher frequencies, concluding that either source model, when convolved with the appropriate frequency-dependent Q model, can be consistent with both the near-field and far-field time-domain amplitudes and the spectral shape data. Given the trade-off between source and attenuation models and the similarity of the different source models in the 0.5- to 4-Hz band, it is difficult to prefer clearly one source model over the other. The Mueller-Murphy model is more consistent with surface wave amplitude measurements because of larger predicted long-period energy levels. Whether or not frequency dependence is included in the attenuation model, the value of t* near 1 Hz is about 1.0 sec (assuming the Mueller-Murphy source model) or 0.8 sec (assuming the Helmberger-Hadley source model). This 0.2 sec difference results from greater 1-Hz energy levels for the Mueller-Murphy source model. Adopting an average attenuation model, predicted amplitudes and yields are shown to be within the uncertainty of the data for all the events analyzed.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				D. S. Sharrock, I. G. Main, and A. Douglas Observations of Q from the northwest Pacific subduction zone recorded at teleseismic distances Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, February 1, 1995; 85(1): 237 - 253. [Abstract] [PDF]

				H. HOUSTON and H. KANAMORI Comparison of strong-motion spectra with teleseismic spectra for three magnitude 8 subduction-zone earthquakes Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, August 1, 1990; 80(4): 913 - 934. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. R. MURPHY Network-averaged teleseismic P-wave spectra for underground explosions. Part II. Source characteristics of Pahute Mesa explosions Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, February 1, 1989; 79(1): 156 - 171. [Abstract] [PDF]

				Z. A. DER Comments on "Average Q and yield estimates from the Pahute mesa test site" by R. W. Burger, T. Lay, and L. J. Burdick Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, October 1, 1988; 78(5): 1834 - 1834. [PDF]