Estimation of location errors for local seismic network in an area with intense and weak seismicity

Abstract

SUMMARYWe have modified a method for estimation of location errors distribution for local seismic networks in area with intense shallow seismicity. We have used the variance-covariance matrices in a regular grid of points. The traveltime residuals variance is calculated as a function of source–receiver distance, while the new idea is to estimate the detection range of seismic stations on the basis of the probability of detection plots. In consequence, the method enables the evaluation of the applied velocity models during the analysis of traveltime residuals, as well as evaluation of the usefulness of individual stations with the use of probability plots. Ultimately, it provides assessment of the station configuration by analysing the distribution of location errors. The data needed for the analysis are a seismic catalogue containing earthquakes locations together with traveltime residuals and the velocity model, as well as stations metadata. The method is tested on using the real data which come from the LUMINEOS local seismic network, the network used for induced seismicity monitoring in the Legnica–Głogow Copper District in Poland.