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Seismic-refraction measurements of crustal structure between Nevada Test Site and Ludlow, California

Crustal Studies Technical Letter 26
In cooperation with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
By:  and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/70043887

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Abstract

Seismic-refraction measurements from nuclear and chemical explosions were made along a line from the Nevada Test Site (NTS) to Ludlow, California, and additional recordings from nuclear explosions were made southward toward Calexico, California. The time of first arrivals from the Ludlow shotpoint is expressed as T0 = 0.00 + Δ/2.50 (assumed), T1 = 1.00 + Δ6.10, T2 = 2.81 + Δ/6.80, and T3 = 5.48 + ~7.76, where T is in seconds and distance Δ is in km. First arrival times from NTS fit the lines T1 = 0.74 + Δ/6.10, T2 = 2.81 + Δ/6.80 (assumed), T3 = 6.70 + Δ/8.04 to a distance of 265 km, beyond 265 km T3 = 5.83 + Δ/7.75. The difference in the apparent velocities of the Pn (T3) arrival is caused by variations in the dip of the Mohorovicic discontinuity. The thickness of the successive layers at NTS are H0 s 1.0 km (V0 ~ 2.5 km/sec), H1 = 13 km (v1 = 6.1 km/sec), and H2 = 20 km (v2 = 6.8 km/ sec); the total crustal thickness is 34 km. The successive crustal layers at Ludlow have a thickness of H0 = 1.4 km, H1 = 13 km, and H2 = 13 km; the total crustal thickness is 27 km.

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Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Unnumbered Series
Title Seismic-refraction measurements of crustal structure between Nevada Test Site and Ludlow, California
Series title Crustal Studies Technical Letter
Series number 26
DOI 10.3133/70043887
Year Published 1964
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Earthquake Science Center, Menlo Park Science Center
Description iii, 30 p.
State Arizona;California;Nevada
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
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