Performance of Earthscope Transportable Array in Alaska

Session: Recent Advances in Very Broadband Seismology
Type: Oral
Date: 4/30/2020
Time: 10:45 AM
Room: 215 + 220
Description: 

The Alaska Transportable Array stations were deployed across Alaska and western Canada to collect high quality, broadband seismic data at even spacing and in remote, previously unmonitored regions. For the Alaska-specific station design, broadband seismometers were emplaced in a 2-3 meter cased posthole with grout bonding the casing to the surrounding ground. This emplacement method was used across a wide range of ground types including solid bedrock, fractured rock, unconsolidated soil and permafrost. We examine several years of data collected while the network was fully deployed between 2017 and 2019 using metrics from the IRIS DMC MUSTANG service. Results show that this emplacement method resulted in high quality, low noise recordings at both upgraded stations and new installation locations. The lowest noise stations of the Alaska Transportable Array can reach background noise levels within a few decibels of the performance of benchmark Global Seismographic Network stations at long periods making the data especially useful to a number of analytical techniques. In this presentation we will address the performance of the new and upgraded Alaska Transportable Array stations using this posthole emplacement design, the impact of different ground types, seasonal characteristics, identified noise sources, known station issues and lessons learned from the deployment and operation of this network. These results will be compiled in greater detail for an article intended for publication as well as a full report that will be made available on the IRIS website at: https://www.iris.edu/hq/publications/proposals_and_reviews

Presenting Author: Kasey Aderhold

Authors