Quarterly Report to the Harry Reid Center

UCCSN-DOE Cooperative Agreement

Task 12: Seismic Monitoring

PI: James N. Brune

UNR Seismological Laboratory

Report Period: 10/01/2002 – 12/31/2002

Progress:

During this reporting period (Oct.-Dec. 2002), we have maintained seismic operations with 30 real-time SGBDSN stations under the QA procedures that have been established with the HRC. Data collection has been above 99.7% overall.

The FY01 seismicity report, finished in June, is waiting only for completion of a Technical Assessment of two datasets (Oct.-Dec. 1992 and Jan.-Sep. 1995 earthquake catalogs) used in preparation of that report. This assessment has been reviewed and is in final preparation for submittal.

At the end of this quarter, we have completed analyzing the earthquakes in the YM vicinity through September 17. Completion of analysis on a delayed basis is acceptable because the entire set of station triggers is reviewed within 2-3 days and because all events larger than roughly M 2 are always analyzed within these 2-3 days. The backlog is still due to the occurrence of the M 4.4 earthquake near Little Skull Mountain on June 14. Over 2500 aftershocks of this event have already been located through September 17. This number alone is greater than the average number of events per year since the SGBDSN started.

The accelerometers for the three boreholes on the pad of the proposed Waste Handling Building, delivered in early October, were returned to Kinemetrics for correction of sensor outputs. Meanwhile we then completed the testing of the Q330 recording units according to IPR-021. We also received on-site training from Kinemetrics on the configuration of the Q330’s on December 12-13. Preliminary setup for the testing of the sensors according to IPR-021 has been done. At the three boreholes, the concrete pads were constructed by Bechtel; and we have installed the solar panels and batteries on the pads at all three sites.

We have had discussions with the RPC in this quarter concerning the updating of their media that contain seismic data. They are currently developing a sole-source RFP for us to continue work on preserving the seismic data collected in the southern Great Basin since 1978. Also, in this past quarter, we have completed the organization of a large waveform dataset for all the events located with the SGBDSN from 1995-1999 (roughly 10000 earthquakes). This dataset will be submitted on DVD media to the HRC TDA in early January.

An organizational meeting on the kappa project was held at UNR on December 16. The scientific aims were set at this meeting, and a discussion of all QA impacts on the work was held. An IPR for the field work is in initial stages of drafting.

Problems:

The backlog of events to be analyzed following the June 14, 2002, earthquake has grown to roughly three months. This can be gradually reduced, provided no more significant earthquakes occur in the network. However, this has delayed our processing of the final catalog of earthquakes for FY2002.

The delay in acquiring the instruments for the tunnel and for the boreholes has pushed out the finish dates for these subtasks. The complexity of the Kinemetrics Q330 recording units has also caused delays due to a significant learning curve.

Status of Funds:

We have expended approximately $253K of our $1336 funding through December 31. This is only 19% of the funds, while a straight-line projection would be 33%. We are thus significantly under-running. The reasons for this are largely due to three unfilled job positions (computer system administrator, seismic technician, and a post-doc). The protracted nature of job searches within the UNR system has delayed our hiring. We intend to have at least two of the positions filled by the end of January. Another reason for the under-run is that the subcontract to UCSD for support on the kappa project is being put in place just now in early January.

Plans:

We will complete the hiring of three more personnel in this quarter: computer system administrator, field technician, and a post-doc. These positions are key factors in completing our workscope in FY03.

We will complete the installation of surface recording equipment at the three WHB pad boreholes in January, followed by installation of the downhole accelerometers later in the quarter. The equipment for three ESF sites will installed and the Antelope recording setup will be placed in the “data shack” on the north portal in the Jan.-Mar. quarter.

We will deliver the long-delayed FY01 seismicity report in January and begin work on the FY02 report also in January.

We will work on the numerous subtasks for which we have been funded in FY03, notably attenuation, stress-drop, and focal-mechanism efforts.