Seismic Results from DOE’s Non-Proliferation Experiment: A Comparison of Chemical and Nuclear Explosions

Abstract

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Regional Seismic Signals from Chemical Explosions, Nuclear Explosions and Earthquakes: Results from the Arizona Source Phenomenology Experiment

“…The regional seismic records were found to be essentially identical, as shown in Figure 1, other than an overall chemical/nuclear yield amplitude scaling factor (e.g. Walter et al, 1994;Denny et al, 1997). Regional discriminants classified the NPE as a nuclear explosion (Walter et al, 1995).…”

Regional Small-Event Identification Using Networks and Arrays of Seismic and Acoustic Sensors

“…Special consideration must be given to chemical explosions which are large and impulsive in nature since it is not possible to distinguish single-fired chemical and nuclear explosion sources (Denny, 1994). Typically mining explosions are delay-fired and thus distribute the seismic energy from their individual explosions over a time window that can range from several hundred milliseconds to several seconds.…”

Broadband Seismology and the Detection and Verification of Underground Nuclear Explosions

“…The source spectrum of NPE is approximately twice that for a nuclear explosion of similar yield and detonated in similar material (Goldstein and Jarpe, 1994;Denny et al, 1996). This occurs due to the fact that chemical explosions are much more efficient with coupling energy into the ground (Denny et al, 1996).…”

“…This occurs due to the fact that chemical explosions are much more efficient with coupling energy into the ground (Denny et al, 1996). However, in a discrimination setting, yields will not be reported and must be determined seismically or via other instrumentation.…”

“…However, in a discrimination setting, yields will not be reported and must be determined seismically or via other instrumentation. Thus, the scaled source spectra of NPE to a similar nuclear explosion were analyzed and found to be vinually identical (Denny et al, 1996) especially at higher frequencies (Goldstein and Jarpe, 1994). At local and regional distances, the waveform data between NPE and similar nuclear explosions is remarkably similar (Smith, 1994;Walter et al, 1994).…”