Abstract
Abstract
The rapid detection and source characterization of any type of seismic events including nuclear explosions is one of the major objectives for national data centres (NDC) and seismological laboratories. Most often, the used techniques are based on phase picking and amplitude measurements for detecting and locating events, and for estimating magnitudes. From these parameters, event screening is then done empirically, and this may lead to misinterpretations of the source nature. However, it is known that seismic waveform inversion for the determination of the moment tensor has been proven as a reliable source physics-based method for event characterization. Here, we present a technique already used for earthquake monitoring in tectonically active regions, and we test it on the seismicity recorded in the vicinity of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), and in particular on the DPRK nuclear explosions. From a grid of potential locations and by scanning continuous seismic waveforms, it is possible to implement a rapid detector of seismic events providing the full information of the sources (origin time, location, magnitude, mechanism). We show its overall performances on all past DPRK nuclear tests and regional earthquakes. From such approach fast event screening is achieved and source uncertainties can be estimated.
Publisher
Research Square Platform LLC