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Backazimuth estimation reliability using surface wave polarization
Author(s) -
Baker G. Eli,
Stevens Jeffry L.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2004gl019510
Subject(s) - seismogram , polarization (electrochemistry) , surface wave , rayleigh wave , rayleigh scattering , geology , algorithm , computer science , seismology , optics , physics , telecommunications , chemistry
Backazimuth estimates derived from surface wave polarization can be used to test association of an observed surface wave with a seismic event. However, commonly used techniques for estimating the backazimuth are subject to a number of errors and are often inaccurate. We evaluate the performance of a new algorithm for determining Rayleigh wave propagation direction from the cross‐correlation of the horizontal and Hilbert transformed vertical seismograms. This proves to be more accurate and much less error‐prone than current automatic processing procedures, and the cross‐correlation value provides a good measure of the reliability of the backazimuth estimate. Consequently, the new algorithm will permit more reliable event association at a lower magnitude threshold.