Combining an Underground Explosive Source Model with the Rayleigh Integral to Predict Acoustic Signals from the Source Physics Experiment

Acoustic signatures from underground explosions are the result of seismic waves propagating from the underground source to the surface where ground motion produces acoustic signatures via pumping of the atmosphere. The relation between the ground acceleration and the resulting acoustic signal can be modeled using a Rayleigh integral analysis. Coupling the Rayleigh integral with a model for the ground motion induced by an underground explosion may provide a means to estimate explosive yield, depth, or other characteristics of the source from the acoustic signals. Ground motion and acoustic observations from the Source Physics Experiment will be presented and used to demonstrate a combined seismoacoustic analysis of the underground explosive source with emphasis on accurately forward modeling recorded acoustic signals and explaining several cases in which acoustic signals were not observed.