Mapping the broadband and discrete components of the seismo-acoustic background noise in the Continental US

The seismo-acoustic (SA) background noise is the result of the superposition of signals generated by natural and anthropogenic sources at different source-receiver distances. This noise includes signals with broadband and discrete spectral components (tonal and non-tonal). The characterization of the temporal distribution of broadband and discrete elements of the SA noise can provide information to assess the performance of SA instrumentation for the detection of explosive and non-explosive signals. We are using data from the USArray Transportable Array (TA) to develop and test a framework for the identification and classification of noise based on temporal and spectral characteristics. The TA was deployed across the contiguous US between 2004 and 2014, and comprised around 1800 stations with three-component broadband seismic sensors and a subset of stations with infrasound sensors. The interstation distance was around 75 km with each station deployed for around 2 years. We are using the results of our analysis to assess the geographical (local, regional, or global) and temporal (transient or continuous) characteristics of SA noise and their effect in the performance of individual SA instrumentation for signal detection.