SCEC Award Number 12193 View PDF
Proposal Category Collaborative Proposal (Data Gathering and Products)
Proposal Title Dense Distributed Seismic Sensing with Optical Fibers: Tests Using Data from an Existing System
Investigator(s)
Name Organization
Duncan Agnew University of California, San Diego Mark Zumberge University of California, San Diego Frank Wyatt University of California, San Diego
Other Participants
SCEC Priorities 6c, 6a, 1c SCEC Groups Seismology
Report Due Date 03/15/2013 Date Report Submitted N/A
Project Abstract
 We have pursued measurements of seismic signals with fiber optics on two fronts. One method uses a distributed strain sensor system (Fiber-optic Distributed Acoustic Sensing developed commercially) by OptaSense that allows measurements of strain every 10 m along a standard telecommunications cable. We have analyzed data from a deployment of this system at the Nevada Test Site, where a 110-element array 1.6 km long recorded ground motions 15 km from a magnitude 1.2 earthquake: The data show spatial coherence for frequencies from 2 to 40 Hz, with moveout from surface waves clearly visible, and consistent amplitudes. The other activity has been the installation of a horizontal fiber-optic strainmeter at Pinon Flat Observatory in parallel with one of the laser strainmeters there: initial results indicate good agreement for teleseismic signals, and for coseismic strain changes.
Intellectual Merit We have contributed to the development and application of new seismic and geodetic sensors using optical fibers. One allows use of existing fiber-optic cables as seismic arrays, potentially offering an unparalleled level of spatial resolution of seismic waves. The other uses new technology to construct low-cost near-surface long-base strainmeters, giving the prospect of using such instruments for calibration of other sensors and for studies of the propagation of surface waves in complex environments.
Broader Impacts By developing new fiber-optic strain sensors, this project is contributed to the development of new kinds of seismogeodetic infrastructure.
Exemplary Figure Figure 1: Record section from the FDAS sensor deployed at the Nevada Test Site (two ends at 37.0989N, 116.0911W and 37.0976N, 116.0719W), for a magnitude 1.2 earthquake (depth 6.6 km) approximately 15 km away. The red line shows a moveout of 950 m/s.
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