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High Frequency Ground Motion and Electrical Calibrations of Seismometers Used at IMS Stations

Description: 

Calibration of seismometers used in nuclear explosion monitoring systems, such as the International Monitoring System (IMS), is important for providing confidence in the measurements of ground motion and the resulting analysis that is performed on the waveform time series data. In this study, six models of seismometers widely used at IMS stations have been calibrated using high precision vertical and horizontal shake tables. The calibration procedure follows the ISO 16063-11 standard for primary vibration calibration by laser interferometry. The sensors are evaluated from 0.1Hz to 50Hz and the calibration results are directly compared to the sensors’ nominal response models provided by the manufacturers. Electrical calibrations are then performed on the same sensors which mimics how fielded IMS seismometers are calibrated. The sensors’ response to ground motion, measured with the shake tables, is removed from the electrical calibration data so that the performance of the electrical calibration system itself can be determined. This measured calibration system response is then directly compared to manufacturers’ specifications.

Results from this study offer insight into the higher frequency performance of seismometers used in the IMS and also demonstrate how primary ground motion calibrations can be used to verify sensor performance and identify issues that relative calibration methods may not detect.

Session: Network Seismology: Recent Developments, Challenges and Lessons Learned [Poster Session]

Type: Poster

Date: 5/1/2024

Presentation Time: 08:00 AM (local time)

Presenting Author: Bion

Student Presenter: No

Invited Presentation: 

Authors