The seismic disturbance on 1986 August 1 near Novaya Zemlya: a source of concern?

• Published in: Geophysical Journal International
• Main Authors: Marshall, P. D., Stewart, R. C., Lilwall, R. C.
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford University Press 1989
• Subjects: Articles; Novaya Zemlya
• Online Access: http://gji.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/98/3/565; https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-246X.1989.tb02290.x

On 1986 August 1 a small seismic disturbance occurred to the east of a Soviet nuclear test site at Novaya Zemlya. Reported attempts to identify the nature of the source using only short-period seismological data recorded at regional distances were unsuccessful. However, by using teleseismic P-wave data it is possible to identify the source as an earthquake which occurred within the crust at a depth of 24 km. The source is shown to have a double-couple mechanism with a well-constrained fault-plane solution. The identification as an earthquake is supported by the m b : M s , evidence.