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AGU: Geophysical Research Letters

 

Keywords

  • seismic noise
  • ocean wind

Index Terms

  • Seismology: Body waves
  • Oceanography: Physical: Air/sea interactions
  • General or Miscellaneous: New fields (not classifiable under other headings)

Abstract

GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 36, L09302, 5 PP., 2009
doi:10.1029/2009GL037761

High‐frequency P‐wave seismic noise driven by ocean winds

Jian Zhang

Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA

Peter Gerstoft

Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA

Peter M. Shearer

Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA

Earth's background vibrations at frequencies below about 0.5 Hz have been attributed to ocean‐wave energy coupling into the ground and propagating as surface waves and P‐waves (compressional waves deep within the Earth). However, the origin and nature of seismic noise on land at frequencies around 1 Hz has not yet been well studied. Using array beamforming, we analyze the seismic noise fields at two remote sites (Parkfield and the Mojave Desert) in California, for durations of one and six months respectively. We find that (1) the seismic background noise at about 0.6–2 Hz consists of a significant amount of continuous P‐waves originating offshore, and (2) the power of the P‐wave noise is highly correlated with the offshore wind speed, demonstrating that these high‐frequency P‐waves are excited by distant ocean winds. Our result suggests a land‐based seismological proxy for monitoring oceanic weather.

Received 13 February 2009; accepted 7 April 2009; published 5 May 2009.

Citation: Zhang, J., P. Gerstoft, and P. M. Shearer (2009), High‐frequency P‐wave seismic noise driven by ocean winds, Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L09302, doi:10.1029/2009GL037761.

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