FOIA: Characteristics of seismic sources and structures in Iran and the Caucasus

SEISMIC_PROGRAM_ARRAY_DATA.pdf
Characteristics of seismic sources and structures in Iran and the Caucasus
The characteristics of the seismic sources and structures in Iran and the Caucasus from Joint Seismic Program array along the Former Soviet Union for nuclear monitoring.
Document date: 1997-04-01
Department: Geology Dept., University of Kansas
Author: Geoffrey A. Abers
Document type: report
pages: 47


Archivist's Notes: Good quality document. Unclassified, unlimited public distribution. Form 298 document page.

This 47 page document is titled:
Seismic Sources and Structure in Iran and the Caucasus from Joint
Seismic Program array data.
– Final technical report.
April 1997.
PI: Geoffrey A. Abers from Geology Department of Kansas University.
Sponsoring Agency: Air Force of Scientific Research.

The contents of the document includes:
Objective, Research Accomplished (Attenuation in Caucasus and Russian Field, Long-path Data Analysis, Amplitude Fluctuations along Intermediate Paths), Conclusions and
Recommendations, References, Publications from Project, Figures, Tables.

The objective is to evaluate and characterize seismic data in and around the Former Soviet Union, so that there can be provided new constraints on seismic wave propagation characteristics in the Caucasus Ranges, Middle East and Iranian Plateau.

The research has shown severe changes in wave behaviour between the Caucasus and other Alpine-Himalayan mountain belts, which represent substantial attenuation of phases often used to discriminate explosions from earthquakes and to estimate size and type of event. Other facilities also feeding digital seismograms are Geyokcha and Turkmenistan arrays.

This is a document for the scientists…the second half is graphs and data.
The conclusions and recommendations appear to be focused on future instrumentation and collecting data from other networks and arrays. There is no obvious discussion about nuclear activity or other military applications, though the implication is there in the beginning that there is the capability to make such observations.

When analyzing this data they look at the amplitude, frequencey, medium traveled through, and distance traveled. Seismic activity will generate P Waves (travel through anything) and S Waves (travel through elastic mediums such as water). This methods used were quite complex and difficult to follow at times, however one thing does stand out..

Even after the fall of the Soviet Union, the US didn't consider giving up intensively spying on that region of the world. Plus the Soviets inability to account for all of their nuclear weapons gives the US concern that they might fall into the hands of others (like Iran). Keep your friends close and your enemy's seismic data even closer.

[edit on 9-12-2007 by Scramjet76]