Publications

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As part of the Source Physics Experiment (SPE) Phase I shallow chemical detonation series, multiple surface and borehole active-source seismic campaigns were executed to perform high-resolution imaging of seismic velocity changes in the granitic substrate. Cross-correlation data processing methods were implemented to efficiently and robustly perform semi-automated change detection of first-arrival times between campaigns. The change detection algorithm updates the arrival times, and consequently the velocity model, of each campaign. The resulting tomographic imagery reveals the evolution of the subsurface velocity structure as the detonations progressed.

We invert far-field infrasound data for the equivalent seismoacoustic timedomain moment tensor to assess the effects of variable atmospheric models and source phenomena. The infrasound data were produced by a series of underground chemical explosions that were conducted during the Source Physics Experiment (SPE), which was originally designed to study seismoacoustic signal phenomena. The first goal of this work is to investigate the sensitivity of the inversion to the variability of the estimated atmospheric model. The second goal is to determine the relative contribution of two presumed source mechanisms to the observed infrasonic wavefield. Rather than using actual atmospheric observations to estimate the necessary atmospheric Green’s functions, we build a series of atmospheric models that rely on publicly available, regional-scale atmospheric observations. The atmospheric observations are summarized and interpolated onto a 3D grid to produce a model of sound speed at the time of the experiment. For each of four SPE acoustic datasets that we invert, we produced a suite of three atmospheric models for each chemical explosion event, based on 10 yrs of meteorological data: an average model, which averages the atmospheric conditions for 10 yrs prior to each SPE event, as well as two extrema models. To parameterize the inversion, we assume that the source of infrasonic energy results from the linear combination of explosion-induced surface spall and linear seismic-to-elastic mode conversion at the Earth’s free surface. We find that the inversion yields relatively repeatable results for the estimated spall source. Conversely, the estimated isotropic explosion source is highly variable. This suggests that 1) the majority of the observed acoustic energy is produced by the spall and/or 2) our modeling of the elastic energy, and the subsequent conversion to acoustic energy, is too simplistic.

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We invert far-field infrasound data for the equivalent seismoacoustic time-domain moment tensor to assess the effects of variable atmospheric models and source phenomena. The infrasound data were produced by a series of underground chemical explosions that were conducted during the Source Physics Experiment (SPE), which was originally designed to study seismoacoustic signal phenomena. The first goal is to investigate the sensitivity of the inversion to the variability of the estimated atmospheric model. The second goal is to determine the relative contribution of two presumed source mechanisms to the observed infrasonic wavefield. Rather than using actual atmospheric observations to estimate the necessary atmospheric Green’s functions, we build a series of atmospheric models that rely on publicly available, regional-scale atmospheric observations. The atmospheric observations are summarized and interpolated onto a 3D grid to produce a model of sound speed at the time of the experiment. For each of four SPE acoustic datasets that we invert, we produced a suite of three atmospheric models for each chemical explosion event, based on 10 yrs of meteorological data: an average model, which averages the atmospheric conditions for 10 yrs prior to each SPE event, as well as two extrema models. To parameterize the inversion, we assume that the source of infrasonic energy results from the linear combination of explosion-induced surface spall and linear seismic-to-elastic mode conversion at the Earth’s free surface. We find that the inversion yields relatively repeatable results for the estimated spall source. Conversely, the estimated isotropic explosion source is highly variable. This suggests that 1) the majority of the observed acoustic energy is produced by the spall and/or 2) our modeling of the elastic energy, and the subsequent conversion to acoustic energy, is too simplistic.

As part of the Source Physics Experiment (SPE) Phase I shallow chemical detonation series, multiple surface and borehole active-source seismic campaigns were executed to perform high resolution imaging of seismic velocity changes in the granitic substrate. Cross-correlation data processing methods were implemented to efficiently and robustly perform semi-automated change detection of first-arrival times between campaigns. The change detection algorithm updates the arrival times, and consequently the velocity model, of each campaign. The resulting tomographic imagery reveals the evolution of the subsurface velocity structure as the detonations progressed.

We perform a joint inversion of absolute and differential P and S body waves, gravity measurements, and surface wave dispersion curves for the 3-D P- and S-wave velocity structure of the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) and vicinity. Data from earthquakes, past nuclear tests, and other active source chemical explosive experiments, such as the Source Physics Experiments (SPE), are combined with surface wave phase and group speed measurements from ambient noise, source interferometry, and active source experiments to construct a 3-D velocity model of the site with resolvable structures as fine as 6 km horizontal and 2 km vertically. Results compare favorably with previous studies and expand and extend the knowledge of the 3-D structure of the region.

Many earth materials and minerals are seismically anisotropic; however, due to the weakness of anisotropy and for simplicity, the earth is often approximated as an isotropic medium. Specific circumstances, such as in shales, tectonic fabrics, or oriented fractures, for example, require the use of anisotropic simulations in order to accurately model the earth. This report details the development of a new massively parallel 3-D full seismic waveform simulation algorithm within the principle coordinate system of an orthorhombic material, which is a specific form of anisotropy common in layered, fractured media. The theory and implementation of Pararhombi is described along with verification of the code against other solutions.

This report shows the results of constructing predictive atmospheric models for the Source Physics Experiments 1-6. Historic atmospheric data are combined with topography to construct an atmospheric model that corresponds to the predicted (or actual) time of a given SPE event. The models are ultimately used to construct atmospheric Green's functions to be used for subsequent analysis. We present three atmospheric models for each SPE event: an average model based on ten one-hour snap shots of the atmosphere and two extrema models corresponding to the warmest, coolest, windiest, etc. atmospheric snap shots. The atmospheric snap shots consist of wind, temperature, and pressure profiles of the atmosphere for a one-hour time window centered at the time of the predicted SPE event, as well as nine additional snap shots for each of the nine preceding years, centered at the time and day of the SPE event.

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The Large-N array of the Source Physics Experiment (SPE) consisted, in part, of 496 vertical component geophones that recorded the seismic wave field produced by the SPE-5 buried chemical explosion. Preliminary observations of the data showed a large degree of azimuthally dependent seismic scattering, particularly for post-P wave arrivals, hindering surface wave analysis. We document and quantify the azimuthal dependence of the wave field scattering in order to guide future coherent wave field processing methods. Specifically, we form three linear arrays, with different nominal source-receiver azimuths, by extracting a subset of the Large-N stations. For each linear array, we evaluate wave field coherence as a function of frequency and inter-station distance. For P waves, we observe that there is a strong azimuthal dependence of wave coherence, with the highest degree of scattering occurring in a northwest/southeast propagation direction. This suggests that there are structural elements beneath the Large-N array that affect the direct source to receiver body wave ray path. We also observe that the scattering of the post-P energy displays a coherence that is dependent on both frequency and azimuthal direction. This energy is preferentially coherent in the southwest-to-northeast propagation direction, consistent with the strike of the steeply dipping fault (Boundary fault) adjacent to the northeast side of the Large-N array, but only at low frequencies (<10 Hz). At higher frequencies, the azimuthally dependent wave coherence diminishes, suggesting that the scattering of high frequency portion of the post-P wave field is independent of the large-scale geologic structure at this site.

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This document serves to guide a researcher through the process of predicting atmospheric conditions in a region of interest utilizing the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. This documentation is specific to WRF and WRF Preprocessing System (WPS) version 3.8.1. WRF is an atmospheric prediction system designed for meteorological research and numerical atmospheric prediction. In WRF, simulations may be generated utilizing real data or idealized atmospheric conditions. Output from WRF serves as input into the Time-Domain Atmospheric Acoustic Propagation Suite (TDAAPS) which performs staggered-grid finite difference modeling of the acoustic velocity pressure system to produce Green's functions through these atmospheric models.

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This document serves to guide a researcher through the process of running the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model and incorporating observations into coarse resolution reanalysis products to model atmospheric conditions at high (50 m) resolution. This documentation is specific to WRF and the WRF Preprocessing System (WPS) version 3.8.1 and the Objective Analysis (OBSGRID) code released on April 8, 2016. Output from WRF serves as an input into the Time-Domain Atmospheric Acoustic Propagation Suite (TDAAPS) which performs staggered-grid finite difference modeling of the acoustic velocity pressure system to produce Green's functions through these atmospheric models.

Waves propagating through natural materials such as ocean water encounter spatial variations in material properties that cannot easily be predicted or known in advance. Deterministic wave simulation algorithms must assume that all properties throughout the model space are precisely known. However, a stochastic wave simulation tool can parameterize the material as a stochastic medium with a certain probability distribution and correlation length. This report documents the addition of spatial stochastic variability into Paracousti-UQ, Sandia Geophysics Department's 3-D full waveform acoustic algorithm within stochastic media. The ability of the code to replicate Monte Carlo solutions in 1-D spatially variable media is also evaluated.

Many earth materials and minerals are seismically anisotropic; however, due to the weakness of anisotropy and for simplicity, the earth is often approximated as an isotropic medium. Specific circumstances, such as in shales, tectonic fabrics, or oriented fractures, for example, require the use of anisotropic simulations in order to accurately model the earth. This report details the development of a new massively parallel 3-D full seismic waveform simulation algorithm within the principle coordinate system of an orthorhombic material, which is a specific form of anisotropy common in layered, fractured media. The theory and implementation of Pararhombi is described along with verification of the code against other solutions.