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U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 77-844

Frequency Response of the USGS Short Period Telemetered Seismic System and its Suitability for Network Studies Of Local Earthquakes

By J.P. Eaton

Introduction

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The USGS telemetered seismic system was intended primarily to record small to moderate earthquakes (magnitude 0 to 4) at distances of a few km to several hundred km. Its frequency response is such that the recorded background noise at a moderately quite Coast Range site has a relatively flat "record" spectrum from about 1/3 Hz to about 20 Hz. With the system magnification set so that the background noise is clearly recorded (about 1 mm peak-to-peak) one can anticipate that any seismic signal that exceeds background noise appreciably in this spectral region will be large enough to be seen on the seismogram. This response represents the highest sensitivity and broadest bandwidth that we were able to attain with a 1-Hz seismometer, a simple amplifier VCO employing very low-power integrated circuits, and an 8-channel constant-bandwidth FM subcarrier multiplex system for use with commercial voice-grade phone lines.

Last modified December 17, 2010
First released in paper form 1977

  • This report is available only on the Web.

For additional information:
Contact Information, Earthquake Science Center, Menlo Park Science Center
U.S. Geological Survey
345 Middlefield Road, MS 977
Menlo Park, California 94025
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/

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Suggested citation:

Eaton, J.P., 1977, Frequency response of the USGS short period telemetered seismic system and its suitability for network studies of local earthquakes: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 77-844, 45 p.



Contents

I. Description of the System

II. Suitability of the System's Response for Network Studies of Local Earthquakes

III. Spectral Characteristics of Records of Some Illustrative Earthquakes

IV. Concluding Remarks

References


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