From: Thomas Dick=20 Sent: Saturday, July 14, 2012 12:38 AM To: psnlist@................. Subject: Re: diamagnetic levitation seismometer possibility On 7/13/2012 5:55 PM, Dave Nelson wrote: The number of possible seismic instrument configurations which will = provide some response to seismic motions is vast. The question is the = practicality/utility of a given configuration. The key figure of merit for any instrument configuration is the = instrument self noise and response as a function of frequency. This = directly determines the minimum seismic motion the instrument is capable = of detecting and then providing useful data for analysis. If one is willing to wait for that rare magnitude 7 or 8 event the = simplest / noisiest instrument may do the job in some contexts, such as = classroom demonstrations .=20 The amateur astronomer community has evolved to the point where it = provides useful ( if not essential) information to the astronomy = scientific community. I believe the amateur seismology community could = do a similar service but not with inadequate instrumentation.=20 The goal should be to develop amateur instruments with = characteristics near the performance of professional instruments and = then operating them in reasonably low noise sites. (An instrument in a = residential basement will work reassembly well if carefully done.)=20 Larry Cochrane has already provided us with excellent equipment to = handle the sensor data and connect it to a network. Some work needs to = be done in this area but we have a good start. My challenge is to include instrument self noise and generator = constant, both as a function of frequency, as a FIRST PRIORITY when = evaluating the utility of an instrument concept.=20 Just another gadget that will respond if you shake it is not where we = want to spend our efforts and resources. I do NOT mean to imply there are not some truly innovative and = possibly revolutionary ideas out there but we should look at each of = them carefully to determine early whether they justify significant = effort or belong in the "that was interesting" stack. =20 Just where determination is made is a personal choice but it should be = based on some form of analysis and/or test. Comments Please.=20 Dave Nelson Rolling Hills Estates, California My impression is that most academia and professional seismologists hold = the amateur in very low esteem.=20 Yes Thomas you are probably correct.=20 Respect from the professional community must be earned through = instrumentation and associated systems operated by amateurs which = provide data worthy of analysis. The amateur astronomers don't look at = the sky with binoculars. We need to take a much different approach to = our hobby if we want to achieve respect for our measurements and = measurement systems. It will take a totally different approach and more = investment in time ,money and technical skills. I admit there may not = be enough enthusiasm for seismology at the amateur level to make it = happen but it is worth a serious discussion. =20 Dave=20From: Thomas DickSent: Saturday, July 14, 2012 12:38 AMSubject: Re: diamagnetic levitation seismometer=20 possibilityOn 7/13/2012 5:55 PM, Dave Nelson = wrote:The number of = possible seismic=20 instrument configurations which will provide some response to = seismic=20 motions is vast. The question is the practicality/utility of a given=20 configuration.The key figure of=20 merit for any instrument configuration is the instrument = self noise=20 and response as a function of frequency. This directly determines the = minimum=20 seismic motion the instrument is capable of detecting and then = providing=20 useful data for analysis.If one is willing = to wait for=20 that rare magnitude 7 or 8 event the simplest / noisiest instrument = may do the=20 job in some contexts, such as classroom demonstrations .=20The amateur = astronomer=20 community has evolved to the point where it provides useful ( if = not=20 essential) information to the astronomy scientific community. I = believe=20 the amateur seismology community could do a similar service but not = with=20 inadequate instrumentation.The goal = should be to=20 develop amateur instruments with characteristics near the performance of professional instruments and then = operating =20 them in reasonably low noise sites. (An instrument in a residential = basement=20 will work reassembly well if carefully done.)Larry Cochrane has = already provided us with excellent equipment to = handle=20 the sensor data and connect it to a network. Some work needs to be = done in=20 this area but we have a good start.My=20 challenge is to include instrument self noise and generator constant, = both as=20 a function of frequency, as a FIRST PRIORITY when evaluating the = utility=20 of an instrument concept.Just another = gadget that will=20 respond if you shake it is not where we want to spend our efforts = and=20 resources.I do = NOT mean=20 to imply there are not some truly innovative and possibly = revolutionary=20 ideas out there but we should look at each of them = carefully to=20 determine early whether they justify significant effort or belong in = the "that=20 was interesting" stack.Just where = determination is=20 made is a personal choice but it should be based on some form of = analysis=20 and/or test.Comments Please. =Dave = NelsonRolling Hills = Estates,=20 CaliforniaMy impression is that most academia and professional seismologists = hold the=20 amateur in very low esteem.
Yes = Thomas you are=20 probably correct.Respect from the professional community = must be=20 earned through instrumentation and associated systems operated by = amateurs=20 which provide data worthy of analysis. The amateur astronomers = don't look=20 at the sky with binoculars. We need to take a much different approach to = our=20 hobby if we want to achieve respect for our measurements and measurement = systems. It will take a totally different approach and more = investment in=20 time ,money and technical skills. I admit there may not = be=20 enough enthusiasm for seismology at the amateur level to make it = happen=20 but it is worth a serious discussion.Dave