Path Calibration of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea 3 September 2017 Nuclear Test

Abstract

Abstract The recovery of seismic source parameters requires the use of calibrated velocity models. Although at long periods it is possible to use relatively simple plane-layered models, calibration is still needed to better constrain source parameters. For the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) nuclear tests, this is particularly true when considering the use of seismic stations in Japan where paths cross the Sea of Japan. In this study, we perform forward waveform modeling to calibrate velocity structures. We show that we can arrive at a set of models that minimizes Rayleigh group-velocity anomaly at stations located in China, South Korea, and Japan. Overall moment tensor capability with the new models is improved such that cross-correlation analysis of the 20–50 s period waveforms recovers the true time alignment of the data, enabling better automated source analysis. We performed source-type inversions for the moment tensor jointly for long-period regional waveforms and regional and teleseismic P-waves polarity data for the latest and largest DPRK nuclear test and examine event discrimination/screening capability, scalar moment, and yield estimates with uncertainty. We present the models for improved seismic source modeling of the region.