Seismic rotation waves: basic elements of theory and recording

Returning to the old problem of observed rotation effects, we present the recording system and basic elements of the theory related to the rotation fi eld and its association with seismic waves. There can be many different causes leading to observed/recorded rotation effects; we can group them as follows: generation of micro-displacement motion due to asymmetry of source processes and/or due to interaction between seismic body/surface waves and medium structure; interaction between incident seismic waves and objects situated on the ground surface. New recording techniques and advanced theory of deformation in media with defects and internal (e.g., granular) structure make it possible to focus our attention on the fi rst group, related to microdisplacement motion recording, which includes both rotation and twist motions. Surface rotations and twists caused directly by the action of emerging seismic waves on some objects situated on the ground surface are considered here only in the historical aspects of the problem. We present some examples of experimental results related to recording of rotation and twist components at the Ojcow Observatory, Poland, and L'Aquila Observatory, Italy, and we discuss some prospects for further research

Measurement of Rotational Events in Regions Prone to Seismicity: A Review

On the basis of the explanation of rotational seismology as an area of study, a modern approach to the seismic rotation in various continuum models is summarized. The aim of this chapter is to formulate the fundamental requirements for rotational seismometer. Consequently, a review of all existing technologies of rotational seismometers including mechanical, electrochemical, magnetohydrodynamical, as well as optical type solutions is discussed. The analysis of their parameters that considers technical requirements enforced by rotational seismology has indicated an optical instrument using a Sagnac interferometer as the best solution. Fibre-Optic System for Rotational Events & phenomena Monitoring (FOSREM) with its main parameters and features is described as an example of such solution. Moreover, the example of rotational events recorded in Książ observatory, Poland, using mechanical rotational seismometers and FOSREM is presented. There are data for M = 3.8 earthquake near Jarocin, Poland on the 2012.01.06 at 15:37:56 at a distance of about 200 km from Książ. Although the used devices have totally different designs, the results obtained using FOSREM and the results calculated by mechanical devices show compatibility in rotational signals

A test performance of optical fibre sensors for real-time investigations of rotational seismic events: a case study in laboratory and field conditions

Preliminary results of laboratory and field tests of fibre optic rotational seismographs designed for rotational seismology are presented. In order to meet new directions of the research in this field, there is clearly a great need for suitable and extremely sensitive wideband sensors. The presented rotational seismographs based on the fibre optic gyroscopes show significant advantages over other sensor technologies when used in the seismological applications. Although the presented results are prepared for systems designed to record strong events expected by the so-called “engineering seismology”, the described system modification shows that it is possible to construct a device suitable for weak events monitoring expected by basic seismological research. The presented sensors are characterized, first and foremost, by a wide measuring range. They detect signals with amplitudes ranging from several dozen nrad/s up to even few rad/s and frequencies from 0.01 Hz to 100 Hz. The performed Allan variance analysis indicates the sensors main parameters: angle random walk in the range of 3 ∙ 10−8–2 ∙ 10−7 rad/s and bias instability in the range of 2 ∙ 10−9–2 ∙ 10−8 rad/s depending on the device. The results concerning the registration of rotational seismic events by the systems located in Książ Castle, Poland, as well as in the coalmine “Ignacy” in Rybnik, Poland were also presented and analysed

Fibre Optic System for Monitoring Rotational Seismic Phenomena

We outline the development and the application in a field test of the Autonomous Fibre-Optic Rotational Seismograph (AFORS), which utilizes the Sagnac effect for a direct measurement of the seismic-origin rotations of the ground. The main advantage of AFORS is its complete insensitivity to linear motions, as well as a direct measurement of rotational components emitted during seismic events. The presented system contains a special autonomous signal processing unit which optimizes its operation for the measurement of rotation motions, whereas the applied telemetric system based on the Internet allows for an AFORS remote control. The laboratory investigation of such two devices indicated that they keep an accuracy of no less than 5.1 × 10−9 to 5.5 × 10−8 rad/s in the detection frequency band from 0.83~106.15 Hz and protect linear changes of sensitivity in the above bandpass. Some experimental results of an AFORS-1 application for a continuous monitoring of the rotational events in the Książ (Poland) seismological observatory are also presented