Comparison of co-recorded analog and digital systems for characterization of responses and uncertainties

Seismological Research Letters
By: , and 

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Abstract

One of the most prominent challenges related to legacy seismic data is determining how these data can be appropriately used in modern research applications. The wide variety of instrumentation used in the analog era, the format of recording on paper wrapped around a helicorder drum, and limited metadata information introduces ambiguities that are not typical of modern digital data. Therefore, techniques must be developed to help characterize uncertainties in legacy data. This article presents an analysis that compares corecorded signals from two instruments—a Trillium Compact or Press‐Ewing (PE) seismometer for sensing ground motion and two recording systems: a modern Q330 digitizer or heated‐stylus system. Analyses of the recordings in both time and frequency domains indicate time uncertainty on the order of one second, identify a flat response in a 10–60 s band for the PE and drum recorder, and highlight how specific features of scans and paper seismograms (e.g., repeated portions of scans and line thickness) can cause timing jumps or reduced trace amplitude.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Comparison of co-recorded analog and digital systems for characterization of responses and uncertainties
Series title Seismological Research Letters
DOI 10.1785/0220230129
Volume 94
Issue 5
Year Published 2023
Language English
Publisher Seismological Society of America
Contributing office(s) Geologic Hazards Science Center
Description 12 p.
First page 2301
Last page 2312
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