Yield Estimation of the 11 May 1998 Indian Nuclear Test Using Relative Static Source Strength

Abstract

The predicted total yield of the Indian nuclear tests at Pokhran on May 11, 1998 (POK2) ranges from 12 to 60kt according to the literature. A factor of about five in the uncertainties of yield estimation motivated this study. Based on the broadband seismic body wave data from the Global Seismic Network, we inverted for the effective source model parameters and estimated the seismic yield of event POK2. We found that the empirical equation between the relative static strength and yield in Nevada test site (NTS) obtained by Lay[1] is appropriate for estimating the Indian nuclear test. Our result of 36kt for event POK2 supports the point of view that the yield of POK2 is significantly less than 60kt.