Crustal structure in Nevada and southern Idaho from nuclear explosions

L. C. Pakiser; D.P. Hill

doi:10.3133/70039184

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Crustal structure in Nevada and southern Idaho from nuclear explosions

L. C. Pakiser·D.P. Hill

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Abstract

The time of first arrival of seismic waves generated by 4 underground nuclear explosions at the Nevada Test Site (NTS) and recorded along a line extending north into southern Idaho is expressed as T 0 = 0. 00 + Δ/3.0 (assumed), T 1 = 0 .40 + Δ/6.03, and T 2 = 6.15 + Δ/7.84, where time is in seconds and the shot-detector distance (Δ) is in km. Assuming constant velocities and horizontal layers, crustal thickness in the vicinity of NTS was determined to be 28 km. Delays in the traveltime segment T 2 , which represents P n , indicate that the crust may thicken to 32 km in northern Nevada. A third phase, expressed as T 3 = 14.48 + Δ/7.84, was also recognized and has arrival times appropriate for SPS. Amplitudes of P n were determined at 7 places from recordings of seismic waves from one underground nuclear explosion (ANTLER).

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L. C. Pakiser, D.P. Hill. 1962. Crustal structure in Nevada and southern Idaho from nuclear explosions. https://doi.org/10.3133/70039184

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