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National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention (NIED)
3-1 Tenno-dai, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 305-0006, Japan
[Received August 10, 2014; accepted November 24, 2014]
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology implements a program on seismic and tsunami
network development. It also plans to expand the
Philippine seismic network (PSN), commission new
stations, rehabilitate and improve existing stations,
and repair and maintain the PSN. The PSN consists
of 70 stations, 12 of which use broadband seismometers. Stations are strategically located to maximize
the use of data from stations. The broadband seismic
network is being developed to monitor earthquakes
in and around the Philippines and to provide more
accurate data for calculating earthquake parameters.
Using data obtain from broadband records, the system will immediately calculate earthquake parameters
useful for making decisions that provide highly accurate, timely warnings and information. PSN performance is evaluated in this study to ensure this. We consider background noise by analyzing station locations
and conditions and their data contribution to SWIFT
CMT solutions. We also use power spectral density
(PSD) to compare station noise levels to global standards and study data gaps and their causes. Based on
the above parameters and using a scale of poor-goodbest, the broadband seismic network is currently performing well.
Keywords:
PHIVOLCS
2. Seismic Network
The PSN consists of 70 seismic stations (Fig. 1), 12
of which use the broadband seismometers. Ten of these
12 stations are part of the JICA-SATREPS project (Fig. 2)
and are being upgraded. Stations are strategically located
to maximize the use of data gathered from these stations.
2.1. Locations
Broadband sensors placed in existing PSN stations as
follows:
(1) Basco, Batanes, northernmost part of the Philippines
(2) San Manuel, Pangasinan in Luzon mainland
(3) Lubang Island, Occidental Mindoro, Western Philippines
(4) El Nido, Palawan, Western Philippines
(5) Brookes Point, Palawan, Western Philippines
1. Introduction
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), a government agency, studies Philippines earthquakes and volcanoes and implements a program for developing seismic and tsunami networks, and
is working to expand the Philippine seismic network
(PSN). PHIVOLCS also commissions new seismic stations, rehabilitates and improves existing seismic stations,
and repairs and maintains the PSN. The PSN consists
2.2. Seismometers
Broadband seismic stations use the Trillium 240 manufactured by Nanometrics of Canada [1], considered one of
the highest performing seismic sensors. The Trillium 240
has a response flat to velocity from 240 seconds to 35 Hz
and noise below the new low noise model (NLNM) from
100 seconds to 10 Hz [1]. Its advanced thermal design reduces effects of significant temperature fluctuations, minimizing requirements for external thermal insulation. Its
low power consumption of 650 mW [1] is an advantage
for remote installations using solar panel batteries. In addition to the sensors cost effectiveness, it complements
the existing electronics and power system.
2.3. Vault Configuration
The 10 broadband sensor vaults were constructed for
this purpose within the perimeters of existing PSN staJournal of Disaster Research Vol.10 No.1, 2015
Melosantos, A. A. et al.
Fig. 4. Power Spectral Density (PSD) plot of the 10 broadband stations. Stations (thin line) comparing to the PSD of
global NLNM (dash line) and global NHNM (bold line).
a national road about 1 km from a river away from populated areas. PVCP PSD results show that it falls below
the NHNM, except for periods exceeding 100 seconds to
the east and above the NLNM.
Journal of Disaster Research Vol.10 No.1, 2015
The PAGZ is located in an open area on top of a mountain of about 1 km from communication towers. The
PAGZ is underlain by pre-quaternary volcanics [9] and
is located 130 m from a feeder road about 5 km from the
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Melosantos, A. A. et al.
Fig. 4. Continued.
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Table 2. Start of operation, data availability per year, and date of satellite migration for each station.
Station code Start of operation Data availability for the year Date of satellite migration Remarks on data gaps
2010 2011 2012 2013
PVCP
November, 2010 55% 64% 88% 96%
August, 2011
-Setting configuration
-Replacement of defective
Trident digitizer
PAGZ
November, 2010 53% 95% 83% 97%
August, 2011
BATP
December, 2010 51% 95% 82% 91%
July, 2011
GUIM
December, 2010
93% 95% 96%
July 2011
LUBP
December, 2010
58% 73% 80%
August, 2011
-Satellite migration
-Delay in identifying the issue on satellite communication interference
MATI
November, 2011
99% 75% 96%
August, 2011
BESP
November, 2011
99% 93% 99%
September, 2011
ENPP
December, 2011
86% 92% 98%
August, 2011
BBPS
June, 2012
97% 56%
June, 2012
-Damaged by Typhoon
SMPP
September, 2012
99% 99%
September, 2012
Melosantos, A. A. et al.
Fig. 5. Continued.
4. Discussion
We analyzed station locations and conditions and data
contribution to SWIFT CMT solutions though location
and instrument selection that already considered the back-
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Fig. 5. Continued.
5. Conclusions
We installed 10 broadband seismic stations as part of
the Philippine seismic network to contribute to earthquake
monitoring in the Philippines. We selected station loca-
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Melosantos, A. A. et al.
Fig. 5. Continued.
determine seismic station performance and could be useful for reference in the installation of seismic stations.
Based on considered parameters used in this performance
evaluation and using a scale of poor-good-best, the broadband seismic network of the Philippines is performing
well.
Regional seismic network and source analysis is very
important in rapidly determining earthquake source information. The current upgrade of PSN with broadband
seismic stations and the use of SWIFT help provide focal
mechanisms and understanding of recent large damaging
earthquakes [3]. Current PSN broadband stations provide
data for regional source analysis using SWIFT, in which
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SWIFT CMT solutions were found to be mostly consistent with the GCMT [5]. These thus indicate that the upgraded PSN is performing well and could be further improved by making a denser and more uniform broadband
seismic network.
Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge the helpful support extended by the
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), and SATREPS. We would
also like to acknowledge the support of PHIVOLCS and NIED
partners who joined the team during installation of broadband sta-
tions. Some figures were generated using REDAS software. Seismic vault design was by Engr. Angelito Lanuza, licensed civil
engineer.
References:
[1] www.nanometrics.ca [accessed August, 2014]
[2] www.rfwireless-world.com/Articles/VSAT system overview.html
[accessed August, 2014]
[3] B. J. T. Punongbayan, H. Kumagai, N. Pulido, J. D. Bonita, M.
Nakano, T. Yamashina, Y. Maeda, H. Inoue, A. A. Melosantos, M.
F. Figueroa, P. C. M. Alcones, K. V. C. Soriano, I. C. Narag, and R.
Solidum, Jr., Development and Operation of a Regional Moment
Tensor Analysis System in the Philippines: Contributions to the Understanding of Recent Damaging Earthquakes, Journal of Disaster
Research, Vol.10, No.1, 2015 (this issue).
[4] http://jjeqvol.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/swift/swift top.html [accessed
August, 2014]
[5] J. D. Bonita, H. Kumagai, and M. Nakano, Regional Moment
Tensor Analysis in the Philippines: CMT Solutions in 2012.2013,
Journal of Disaster Research, Vol.10, No.1, 2015 (this issue).
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[7] G. Ekstrom, M. Nettles, and A. M. Dziewonski, The Global CMT
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[8] J. Peterson, Observations and Modeling of Seismic Background
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[9] Land Geological Survey Division, DENR-MGB, Geological Map
of the Philippines, 1:1000000, 1963.
Name:
Arnaldo A. Melosantos
Affiliation:
Supervising Science Research Specialist, Seismological Observation and Earthquake Prediction Division, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology
Address:
PHIVOLCS Bldg., Carlos P. Garcia Ave., University of the Philippines
Diliman Campus, Diliman, Quezon City, the Philippines
Brief Career:
1989 Joined the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology
Selected Publications:
Instrumentation Seismology
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