Application of network-averaged teleseismic P-wave spectra to seismic yield estimation of underground nuclear explosions

A set of procedures is described for estimating network-averaged teleseismi c P-wave spectra for underground nuclear explosions and for analytically in verting these spectra to obtain estimates of m(b)/yield relations and indiv idual yields for explosions at previously uncalibrated test sites. These pr ocedures are then applied to the analyses of explosions at the former Sovie t test sites at Shagan River, Degelen Mountain, Novaya Zemlya and Azgir, as well as at the French Sahara, U.S. Amchitka and Chinese Lop Nor test sites . It is demonstrated that the resulting seismic estimates of explosion yiel d and m(b)/yield relations are remarkably consistent with a variety of othe r available information for a number of these test sites. These results lea d us to conclude that the network-averaged teleseismic P-wave spectra provi de considerably more diagnostic information regarding the explosion seismic source than do the corresponding narrowband magnitude measures such as m(b ), M-s and m(b)(Lg), and, therefore, that they are to be preferred for appl ications to seismic yield estimation for explosions at previously uncalibra ted test sites.