Accurate azimuth estimates from a large aperture hydrophone array using T‐phase waveforms

A simple method is described whereby station‐to‐source azimuths are estimated by fitting a plane wave to envelope functions of T‐phases observed on a 5‐element hydrophone array around Ascension Island, South Atlantic Ocean. When applied to a data set of 55 earthquakes of known location ranging between 2 and 45 degrees distance from Ascension Island, estimated azimuths have a standard deviation of 3.3 degrees from reference azimuths when 3 or more hydrophone elements are used. The standard deviation decreases to 1.8 degrees if T‐phase data from all 5 hydrophone elements are used. We also investigate variations in predicted errors for different array geometries and arrival azimuths. This simple method is amenable to automation and can easily be incorporated into a global monitoring system.