Repeatability of testing a small broadband sensor in the Albuquerque Seismological Laboratory Underground Vault
Variability in seismic instrumentation performance plays a fundamental role in our ability to carry out experiments in observational seismology. Many such experiments rely on the assumed performance of various seismic sensors as well as on methods to isolate the sensors from nonseismic noise sources. We look at the repeatability of estimating the self‐noise, midband sensitivity, and the relative orientation by comparing three collocated Nanometrics Trillium Compact sensors. To estimate the repeatability, we conduct a total of 15 trials in which one sensor is repeatedly reinstalled, alongside two undisturbed sensors. We find that we are able to estimate the midband sensitivity with an error of no greater than 0.04% with a 99th percentile confidence, assuming a standard normal distribution. We also find that we are able to estimate mean sensor self‐noise to within ±5.6 dB with a 99th percentile confidence in the 30–100‐s‐period band. Finally, we find our relative orientation errors have a mean difference in orientation of 0.0171° from the reference, but our trials have a standard deviation of 0.78°.
Citation Information
Publication Year | 2017 |
---|---|
Title | Repeatability of testing a small broadband sensor in the Albuquerque Seismological Laboratory Underground Vault |
DOI | 10.1785/0120170006 |
Authors | Adam T. Ringler, Austin Holland, David C. Wilson |
Publication Type | Article |
Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
Series Title | Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America |
Index ID | 70188378 |
Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
USGS Organization | Geologic Hazards Science Center |