I have recently added a Russian ASMET -1V MET broadband seismometer to =
my setup. As I live near the coast the microseism level was dominating =
the noise backgrond to the extent that earthquakes of interest were =
being lost in the " noise". The microseism spectrum is very distinct and =
I felt its elimination would not seriously effect the earthquake =
detection capability .
I have developed a simple filter based on switched capacitor technology =
that virtualy eliminates the microseism background. The filter has no =
critical componants or capacitors and is tuned by a clock frequency. =
The Q is 0.5 which gives roughly an octave bandwidth centered at 0.015 =
hz or 6.6 seconds . Since the center frequncy is clock dependant it can =
be shifted arbitarily but 6.6 seconds seems to work very well. The =
filter is placed directly ahead of the A/D at the highest voltage swing =
level in the system to avoid adding noise. Just two wires -- in and out =
(plus power of course).
The results are very good, the harmonic like signal from microseism is =
gone and the effective signal to noise ratio of eathquakes is =
significantly better. The spectrum has a deep null at 6.6 seconds =
instead of a dominant peak .
I know this kind of spectrum shaping can be easily done in software but =
that is usually beyond the scope of an amateur or computer dum- dum like =
me. The whole thing is two IC's and a 15 hz clock generator. ( 100 =
times the center frequency)
The Russian seismometer is truely amazing. Virtually plug and play -- =
four wires ,no adjustments or critical setup. The respose is advertised =
to 20 seconds but seems to respond well to over 100 seconds on the low =
end and too well to be useful ,given the urban background noise ,at the =
high frequency end. I have another swiched capacitor low pass filter =
switchable to 5, 2.5 and 1.25 hz. to control the high end cutoff.
My setup also includes 3 axes of short period based on HS-10-1 1 hz =
seismometers that I found in a surplus store. I am using Amaseis and =
experimenting with Seismowin for analysis and display.
I am a retired aerospace engineer who spent too much of my career in =
management and I am having a ball doing the seismology thing.Good to be =
back doing some development and putting the old brain to work. I intend =
to do some seismometer development as my next project -- I have some =
ideas for some different ,but not outrageous, concepts which may ( or =
may not ) work.=20
I would be glad to correspond with anyone interested in or commenting on =
what I am doing.
I have recently added a =
Russian ASMET -1V MET=20
broadband seismometer to my setup. As I live near the coast the =
microseism level=20
was dominating the noise backgrond to the extent that earthquakes of =
interest=20
were being lost in the " noise". The microseism spectrum is very =
distinct and I=20
felt its elimination would not seriously effect the =
earthquake=20
detection capability .
I have developed a simple filter =
based on=20
switched capacitor technology that virtualy eliminates the microseism=20
background. The filter has no critical componants or capacitors =
and is=20
tuned by a clock frequency. The Q is 0.5 which gives roughly an =
octave=20
bandwidth centered at 0.015 hz or 6.6 seconds . Since the center =
frequncy is=20
clock dependant it can be shifted arbitarily but 6.6 seconds seems to =
work very=20
well. The filter is placed directly ahead of the A/D at the highest =
voltage=20
swing level in the system to avoid adding noise. Just two =
wires --=20
in and out (plus power of course).
The results are very good, the harmonic =
like signal=20
from microseism is gone and the effective signal to noise ratio of =
eathquakes is=20
significantly better. The spectrum has a deep null at 6.6 seconds =
instead=20
of a dominant peak .
I know this kind of spectrum shaping =
can be easily=20
done in software but that is usually beyond the scope of an amateur =
or=20
computer dum- dum like me. The whole thing is two IC's and a 15 hz =
clock=20
generator. ( 100 times the center frequency)
The Russian seismometer is truely =
amazing.=20
Virtually plug and play -- four wires ,no adjustments or critical setup. =
The=20
respose is advertised to 20 seconds but seems to respond well to over =
100=20
seconds on the low end and too well to be useful ,given the=20
urban background noise ,at the high frequency end. I have another =
swiched=20
capacitor low pass filter switchable to 5, 2.5 and 1.25 hz. to control =
the high=20
end cutoff.
My setup also includes 3 axes of short =
period based=20
on HS-10-1 1 hz seismometers that I found in a surplus store. I am =
using=20
Amaseis and experimenting with Seismowin for analysis and =
display.
I am a retired aerospace engineer who =
spent too=20
much of my career in management and I am having a ball doing the =
seismology=20
thing.Good to be back doing some development and putting the old brain =
to work.=20
I intend to do some seismometer development as my next project -- I have =
some=20
ideas for some different ,but not outrageous, concepts which =
may ( or=20
may not ) work.
I would be glad to correspond with =
anyone=20
interested in or commenting on what I am doing.
Dave Nelson ( California =
not New=20
Zealand)