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Principles of Broadband Seismometry

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Encyclopedia of Earthquake Engineering

Synonyms

Weak-motion sensor; Very broadband seismometer

Introduction

There are many different types of instruments which can be used to detect ground motion. Broadband seismometers belong to a class of sensors called inertial sensors. In contrast, methods of sensing ground motion such as strainmeters and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) are not considered inertial sensors.

In this entry the principles of operation of broadband seismometers are discussed and contrasted with those of passive seismometers. The criteria for selecting a seismometer are discussed. Particular attention is paid to noise-generating mechanisms, including self-noise generated within the sensor, environmental sensitivities, and installation-related noise.

Applications

Broadband seismometers are very versatile instruments which have many applications in the field of earthquake engineering, including:

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nanometrics, Inc, 250 Herzberg Road, K2K 2A1, Kanata, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    Nick Ackerley

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  1. Nick Ackerley
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Correspondence to Nick Ackerley .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Risk & Uncertainty, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom

    Michael Beer

  2. Institute for Risk and Uncertainty, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom

    Ioannis A. Kougioumtzoglou

  3. Institute for Risk & Uncertainty, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom

    Edoardo Patelli

  4. Institute for Risk & Uncertainty, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom

    Ivan Siu-Kui Au

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Ackerley, N. (2014). Principles of Broadband Seismometry. In: Beer, M., Kougioumtzoglou, I., Patelli, E., Au, IK. (eds) Encyclopedia of Earthquake Engineering. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-36197-5_172-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-36197-5_172-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-36197-5

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