Seismometer self-noise estimation using a single reference instrument

Abstract

A new method is presented for the self-noise estimation of a seismometer using a single, side-by-side, reference instrument and taking into consideration the misalignment in the orientation of both seismometers. The self-noise of seismometers is extracted directly from the measurements without using any information relating to the transfer functions. This procedure can be applied if the self-noise of the reference seismometer is well known and defined, or if the self-noise of the reference seismometer is sufficiently below the self-noise of the tested instrument and can be neglected. The latter case applies to this study. An algorithm is also developed where we apply self-noise data in order to determine the orientation misalignment between two seismometers, which is then resolved in three-dimensional space. This new method provides an estimate of the self-noise and can also be used to extract some parameters of the installed seismic system in comparison with the reference seismic system, such as generator constants and seismometer orientation or to eliminate unwanted noise sources, which have their origin in the seismic station’s design. The new technique was applied to the CMG-3ESPC and CMG-40T seismometers, where an STS-2 instrument served as the reference seismometer.