Relative azimuth inversion by way of damped maximum correlation estimates

Computers & Geosciences
By: , and 

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Abstract

Horizontal seismic data are utilized in a large number of Earth studies. Such work depends on the published orientations of the sensitive axes of seismic sensors relative to true North. These orientations can be estimated using a number of different techniques: SensOrLoc (Sensitivity, Orientation and Location), comparison to synthetics (Ekstrom and Busby, 2008), or by way of magnetic compass. Current methods for finding relative station azimuths are unable to do so with arbitrary precision quickly because of limitations in the algorithms (e.g. grid search methods). Furthermore, in order to determine instrument orientations during station visits, it is critical that any analysis software be easily run on a large number of different computer platforms and the results be obtained quickly while on site. We developed a new technique for estimating relative sensor azimuths by inverting for the orientation with the maximum correlation to a reference instrument, using a non-linear parameter estimation routine. By making use of overlapping windows, we are able to make multiple azimuth estimates, which helps to identify the confidence of our azimuth estimate, even when the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is low. Finally, our algorithm has been written as a stand-alone, platform independent, Java software package with a graphical user interface for reading and selecting data segments to be analyzed.
Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Relative azimuth inversion by way of damped maximum correlation estimates
Series title Computers & Geosciences
DOI 10.1016/j.cageo.2012.02.025
Volume 43
Year Published 2012
Language English
Publisher Elsevier
Contributing office(s) Albuquerque Seismological Laboratory
Description 6 p.
First page 1
Last page 6
Country United States
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