Analysis of the Influence of Wind Turbine Noise on Seismic Recordings at Two Wind Parks in Germany

We recorded continuous seismic noise close and around two wind parks with different geological site conditions in order to investigate the effects of wind turbines on seismic signals in the frequency interval between 1 and 10 Hz. In wind park Fraureuth-Beiersdorf (5 turbines, 11 km south from Zwickau, Saxony), we used small seismic networks, with 3 to 5 stations for 1 - 2 weeks. In Heinde (2 turbines, close to Hildesheim, Lower Saxony), we recorded 1 week with one station around 1 km away from the wind turbines and some additional stations for several hours only. With the spectrogram analysis of the data, we clearly identify the diurnal variation on the spectral amplitude separately from the noise generated by the turbines. The turbine noise appears at certain frequency bands around 2.2, 2.7, 3.3, 4.5, 5.2 and 6.6 Hz. A linear relation between the spectral amplitudes of these frequency bands and the wind velocity or rotation velocity of the turbines is clearly identified. The seismic signals produced by the operation of the wind turbines are not peaks at single frequencies, but look more like frequency bands with increased noise amplitudes. They could be identified up to at least 10 km in the case of Fraureuth-Beiersdorf. These bands depend on numerous parameters, i.e. wind turbine height, weight and construction, number of turbines, geology, etc. In both wind parks we also recorded along profiles with increasing distances from the wind turbines. With the analysis of these data, we propose an amplitude attenuation model for the wind park Fraureuth-Beiersdorf to a distance of 9 km, and for Heinde to a distance of 4 km. The attenuation models for both wind parks are quite different, depending probably on the local geology and topography.

Study of characteristics of long-period ground motion response spectra by using broad-band records of the Chinese Digital Seismograph Network

Broad band and very broad band (BB and VBB) records of Chinese Digital Seismograph Network (CDSN) from 65 earthquakes are used to calculate the horizontal relative displacement, relative velocity and absolute acceleration response spectra with critical damping ratio ζ =0.005, 0.01, 0.02, 0.05 and 0.10, respectively. The results show that it is insufficient to obtain the credible characteristics of long-period ground motion response spectra only with the common ground acceleration records in engineering, while the broad band records of CDSN, as an important supplementary to ground acceleration records, can be used to study the characteristics of long-period ground motion response spectra.

Fault-zone trapped waves at Muyu in Wenchuan earthquake region

Trapped waves in the Qingchuan fault zone were observed at Muyu near the northeastern end of the fractured zone of the Wenchuan Ms8. 0 earthquake. The results indicate a fault-zone width of about 200 m and a great difference in physical property of the crust on different sides of the fault. The inferred location of crustal changes is consistent with land-form boundary on the surface

Exploration of fault-zone trapped waves at Pingtong Town,in Wenchuan earthquake region

Pingtong Town is located on the fractured zone of the Wenchuan 8.0 earthquake, and is seriously damaged by the earthquake. Our observation line is centered at an earthquake exploration trench across the fractured zone in the NW-SE direction, and is about 400 m long. The results reveal trapped waves in the rup- tured fault zone of the earthquake, and indicate a great difference in physical property between the media inside and outside the fault zone. The predominant frequency of the fault-zone trapped waves is about 3 -4 Hz. The wave amplitudes are larger near the exploration trench. The width of the fault zone in the crust at this location is estimated to be 200 m. In some records, the waveforms and the arrival times of S waves are quite different between the two sides of the trench. The place of change coincides with the boundary of uplift at the surface.

Simulation of strong earthquake characteristics of a scenario earthquake(M_(S)7.5)based on the enlightenment of 2022 M_(S)6.9 earthquake in Menyuan

The Menyuan area is an important transportation hub in the Hexi Corridor.The Menyuan M_(S)6.9 earthquake that occurred on January 8,2022 had a major impact on the local infrastructure and transportation of this region.Due to the high possibility of similar strong earthquakes occurring in this area in the future,preliminary assessment of the seismic intensity characteristics of destructive earthquakes in this region is essential for effective disaster control.This paper uses the empirical Green′s function(EGF)method as a numerical simulation tool to predict the ground motion intensity of Datong Autonomous County under the action of the scenario earthquake(M_(S)7.5).Seismic records of aftershocks of the 2016 Menyuan M_(S)6.4 earthquake were used as Green’s functions for this simulation.The uncertainties associated with various source parameters were considered,and 36possible earthquake scenarios were simulated to obtain 72 sets of horizontal ground motions in Datong County.The obtained peak ground acceleration(PGA)vs.time histories of the horizontal ground motion were screened using the attenuation relationships provided by the fifth-edition of China’s Seismic Ground Motion Parameter Zoning Map and the NGA-West2dataset.Ultimately,32 possible acceleration-time histories were selected for further analysis.The screened PGA values ranged from 78.8 to 153 cm/s^(2).The uncertainty associated with the initial rupture point was found to greatly affect the results of the earthquake simulation.The average acceleration spectrum of the selected acceleration-time history exceeded the expected spectrum of a intermediate earthquake,which means that buildings in Datong County might sustain some damage should the scenario earthquake occur.This research can provide reliable ground motion input for urban earthquake damage simulation and seismic design in Datong County.Growing the dataset of small earthquakes recorded in this region will facilitate the large-scale simulation of ground motions under different earthquake scenarios.

Study on the method for comprehensive discrimination of small earthquakes

In the paper, we apply the theory of modern digital signal processing to analysis 3-component digital seismic data recorded in Datong area of Shanxi Province by digital seismographs developed by the Institute of Geophysics, CSB in November 1999 and study the auto-discrimination of the recorded digital seismic signals. The result shows that the method for comprehensive discrimination in connection with ratios between average values of long-time and shorttime signals, spectral analysis, and wavelet analysis can be used to auto-discrimination of seismic signals through alternate man-computer processing. Many ML>2.0 earthquakes were discriminated better.

Fault zone trapped waves at Longmenshan fault belt

Trapped waves in different sections of Longmenshan fault belt were observed, and the results show the difference between the northern and southern portions of this fault belt. Guanzhuang and Leigu surveying lines are located at the northern portion of the fault belt, and the result indicates that the width of the rupture zone underground in this area is about 160 - 180 m. The center position of rupture zone underground corresponds to the surface breaking trace, and is equally distributed at the edges of the two fault walls. However, Hongkou surveying line is located at the southern portion of the fault belt, and the result indicates that the width of the rupture zone underground in this area is about 180 -200 m. The rupture zone underground is mainly distributed below fault scarp. The Wenchuan MsS. 0 earthquake and Lushan Ms7.0 earthquake both occurred at the Longmenshan fault belt. The results will provide information for the structure background of the two violent earthquakes.