ISC origin times for announced and presumed underground nuclear explosions at several test sites

Announced data for US and French underground nuclear explosions indicate that nearly all detonations have occurred within one or two tenths of a second after the minute. This report contains ISC origin-time data for announced explosions at two US test sites and one French test site, and includes similar data for presumed underground nuclear explosions at five Soviet sites. Origin-time distributions for these sites are analyzed for those events that appeared to be detonated very close to the minute. Particular attention is given to the origin times for the principal US and Soviet test sites in Nevada and Eastern Kazakhstan. The mean origin times for events at the several test sites range from 0.4 s to 2.8 s before the minute, with the earlier mean times associated with the Soviet sites and the later times with the US and French sites. These times indicate lower seismic velocities beneath the US and French sites, and higher velocities beneath the sites in the USSR 9 figures, 8 tables

Optimum frequencies for regional detection of cavity-decoupled explosions

The natures of compressional (P) waves that originate in the crust, propagate in the crust and upper mantle, and are observed as Pg, Pn, and anti P waves at regional distances are examined. The discussion includes the observed variations of amplitude with epicentral distance for these waves as well as an estimate of values for the specific dissipation function Q/sub ..cap alpha../ in different regions. Studies were made on theoretical source and propagation functions for direct, reflected, and head waves as approximations for the observed Pg, anti P, and Pn, respectively. It was concluded that the classical (critically refracted) head wave is not very significant in regional observations, and that the related interference head wave and diving wave are more likely observed as Pn. Using an assumed seismic noise spectrum and the constant Q/sub ..cap alpha../ model for seismic attenuation, relations were derived for the frequencies corresponding to maximum signal-to-noise ratio for the classical and interference head waves and for the direct, reflected, and diving waves. The relations among seismic frequency, epicentral distance, anelastic attenuation, and explosion yield are illustrated for a simple source and propagation model

Mass conservation for instantaneous sources in FEM3 simulations of material dispersion

This report presents the results of a systematic study in which it is shown that the numerical integration errors in determining material mass content are negligible; the material phase-change model by itself is not a cause of material mass variation; and a linear relation between fractional mass change and fractional density change at the source center for given mesh and source geometries exists over a range of values from 10/sup -5/ to 10/sup -1/. This suggests that the omission of the par. delta rho/par. deltat term from the mass conservation equation is the cause of the observed non-conservation of mass by FEM3. It is shown that these mass variations can be minimized by minimizing the initial density gradients in the source region. 5 refs., 18 figs., 4 tabs

Elastic-wave radiation from spherical sources

The radiation of spherical compressional waves from a spherical cavity in an ideal elastic solid is treated. The equations for the radiation source and field are written in terms of the reduced-displacement potential. The source equation is studied in terms of characteristic frequencies, corresponding periods and wavelengths, and damping. The field equations for the stresses, strains, radial displacement, etc., are reviewed with regard to the transitions between the near and far fields. The natural parameters for defining the dynamic source and field characteristics are 2b/R and b/a in some cases and a/R in others, where a is the compressional-wave velocity, b the shear-wave velocity, and R the cavity radius. Transient solutions for stresses, strains, radial displacement, etc., include damped sinusoidal oscillations. The initial- and final-value theorems for the Laplace transform are used to obtain solutions for tau (reduced time) ..-->.. 0 + (high-frequency, farfield) and tau ..-->.. infinity (zero-frequency, near-field). 14 figures, 4 tables

Inelastic processes in seismic wave generation by underground explosions

Theories, computer calculations, and measurements of spherical stress waves from explosions are described and compared, with emphasis on the transition from inelastic to almost-elastic relations between stress and strain. Two aspects of nonspherical explosion geometry are considered: tectonic strain release and surface spall. Tectonic strain release affects the generation of surface waves; spall closure may also. The reduced-displacement potential is a common solution (the equivalent elastic source) of the forward and inverse problems, assuming a spherical source. Measured reduced-displacement potentials are compared with potentials calculated as solutions of the direct and inverse problems; there are significant differences between the results of the two types of calculations and between calculations and measurements. The simple spherical model of an explosion is not sufficient to account for observations of explosions over wide ranges of depth and yield. The explosion environment can have a large effect on explosion detection and yield estimation. The best sets of seismic observations for use in developing discrimination techniques are for high-magnitude high-yield explosions; the identification problem is most difficult for low-magnitude low-yield explosions. Most of the presently available explosion data (time, medium, depth, yield, etc.) are for explosions in a few media at the Nevada Test Site; some key questions concerning magnitude vs yield and m/sub b/ vs M/sub s/ relations can be answered only by data for explosions in other media at other locations

Evaluation of two semi-analytical techniques in air quality applications Avaliação de duas técnicas semi-analíticas em aplicações na qualidade do ar

In this article an evaluation of two semi-analytical techniques is carried out, considering the quality and accuracy of these techniques in reproducing the ground-level concentration values of passive pollutant released from low and high sources. The first technique is an Eulerian model based on the solution of the advection-diffusion equation by the Laplace transform technique. The second is a Lagrangian model based on solution of the Langevin equation through the Picard Iterative Method. Turbulence parameters are calculated according to a parameterization capable of generating continuous values in all stability conditions and in all heights of the planetary boundary layer. Numerical simulations and comparisons show a good agreement between predicted and observed concentrations values. Comparisons between the two proposed techniques reveal that Lagrangian model generated more accurate results, but Eulerian model demands a lesser computational time.<br>Neste artigo é realizada uma avaliação de duas técnicas semi-analíticas, considerando a qualidade e a exatidão destas técnicas em reproduzir valores de concentração ao nível da superfície de poluentes passivos emitidos a partir de fontes baixas e altas. A primeira técnica é um modelo Euleriano baseado na solução da equação advecção-difusão através da técnica de transformada de Laplace. A segunda é um modelo Lagrangiano baseado na solução da equação de Langevin através do Método Iterativo de Picard. Parâmetros da turbulência são calculados de acordo com uma parametrização capaz de gerar valores contínuos em todas as condições de estabilidade e em todas as alturas na camada limite planetária. Simulações numéricas e comparações mostram uma boa concordância entre valores de concentração previstos e observados. Comparações entre as duas técnicas revelam que o modelo Lagrangiano gera resultados mais precisos, mas o modelo Euleriano exige um menor tempo computacional

Difusão de contaminantes em condições de vento fraco empregando um modelo estocástico Lagrangeano Difusion of contaminants in low wind conditions employing a Lagrangian stochastic model

Um modelo estocástico Lagrangeano é utilizado para simular a dispersão e o transporte de contaminantes, sob condições estáveis, com velocidade do vento fraco, no experimento traçante realizado no Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL). Neste trabalho é testada uma nova parametrização dos parâmetros que representam as freqüências associadas ao fenômeno de meandro do vento, presentes nas equações de Langevin para as componentes do vento horizontal. Esta nova parametrização é descrita em termos de uma quantidade adimensional que controla a freqüência de oscilação de meandro do vento e da escala de tempo, associada às estruturas coerentes em uma turbulência bem desenvolvida. As simulações demonstram que o modelo Lagrangeano considerado, incorporando esta nova parametrização, reproduz corretamente a difusão de escalares passivos em uma camada limite atmosférica estável com velocidade do vento fraco.<br>A Lagrangian stochastic particle model is utilized to simulate the dispersion and the transport of contaminants under low wind stable conditions in the tracer experiment carried in the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL). In this work a new parameterization for the parameters representing the frequencies associated to the meandering phenomenon is tested. The new parameterization is expressed in terms of a non-dimensional quantity that controls the frequencies of the meandering oscillation and of the time scale associated to a coherent structure in a fully developed turbulence. The simulations show that the considered Lagrangian model, incorporating this new parameterization, reproduces correctly the diffusion of passive scalars in a low wind speed stable atmospheric boundary layer