Evaluation of Saudi National Seismic Network (SNSN) detectability

Abstract

In this paper, we present the first detailed study of earthquake detection capabilities of the Saudi National Seismic Network (SNSN), which is operated since 2006 by National Center of Earthquakes and Volcanoes, Saudi Geological Survey (SGS). Seismic monitoring in Saudi Arabia has a great improvement after the installation of the Saudi National Seismic Network and upgrading the previous analog telemetry networks. The spatial distribution of the seismic stations covers most of Saudi Arabia and concentrated mainly in the Western part. Since the operation of the network, a significant number of local, regional, and teleseismic events are located by manually and automatic processing. Consequently, the data was revised and archived in the databases. The detection-location capability of the Saudi National Seismic Network has been estimated for the period 2016–2017. The obtained maps show that the network in this time period has the ability to detect and locate earthquakes occurred in Saudi Arabia and its surroundings. For the present network configuration and stations characteristics, the technique determines the lowest magnitude of events that the seismic network is able to detect, locate, and estimate errors in both location and origin time for different magnitudes. According to the obtained results in this study, all Harrats (volcanic) regions and recent active areas as Jazan, North Umluj, and the Gulf of Aqaba indicate that the detectability level is less than magnitude (ML) < 1.0, and have adequate seismic stations. While Harrat layyniar volcanic region has a superior detectability level that can detect events with negative magnitude down to − 0.3 ML. The middle and the northern parts of Saudi Arabia are covered with reasonable number of seismic stations; therefore, they have a moderate completeness of magnitudes ML 2.7. As a final result, the SNSN with its current status is capable to detect all events occur inside the Saudi Arabia and its surroundings, except the Rub’ al Khali region, because it has no seismic stations installed.