TY - JOUR
T1 - Remotely imaging seismic ground shaking via large-N infrasound beamforming
AU - Anderson, Jacob F.
AU - Johnson, Jeffrey B.
AU - Mikesell, T. Dylan
AU - Liberty, Lee M.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023, The Author(s).
PY - 2023/12
Y1 - 2023/12
N2 - Seismic ground motion creates low-frequency atmospheric sound (infrasound) that is detectable at remote sensor arrays. However, earthquake infrasound signal analysis is complicated by interference between multiple waves arriving at sensors simultaneously, reducing the accuracy and detail of ground motion detection. Here we show that individual waves in complicated wavefields can be resolved by recording infrasound on large-N arrays and processing with CLEAN beamforming. Examining both a local (ML3.5, purely tropospheric infrasound propagation) and regional earthquake (ML6.5, upper-atmospheric returns), we detect infrasound from tens of km away and up to several hundred km away respectively. Source regions span arcs of approximately 90°, indicating that although detection bias does occur (most likely from atmospheric winds) the recorded infrasound sources are widely dispersed and not simply epicentral. Infrasound-based remote detection of ground motion over wide areas can complement point measurements by seismometers and spur innovations in earthquake research and real-time hazard monitoring.
AB - Seismic ground motion creates low-frequency atmospheric sound (infrasound) that is detectable at remote sensor arrays. However, earthquake infrasound signal analysis is complicated by interference between multiple waves arriving at sensors simultaneously, reducing the accuracy and detail of ground motion detection. Here we show that individual waves in complicated wavefields can be resolved by recording infrasound on large-N arrays and processing with CLEAN beamforming. Examining both a local (ML3.5, purely tropospheric infrasound propagation) and regional earthquake (ML6.5, upper-atmospheric returns), we detect infrasound from tens of km away and up to several hundred km away respectively. Source regions span arcs of approximately 90°, indicating that although detection bias does occur (most likely from atmospheric winds) the recorded infrasound sources are widely dispersed and not simply epicentral. Infrasound-based remote detection of ground motion over wide areas can complement point measurements by seismometers and spur innovations in earthquake research and real-time hazard monitoring.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85175709854&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1038/s43247-023-01058-z
DO - 10.1038/s43247-023-01058-z
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85175709854
VL - 4
JO - Communications Earth and Environment
JF - Communications Earth and Environment
IS - 1
M1 - 399
ER -