Discrimination Between Small Earthquakes and Quarry Blasts in Egypt Using Spectral Source Characteristics

Abstract Source parameters calculated from displacement spectra of both P and S waves are used to discriminate between earthquakes quarry blasts in three regions Egypt during the 2009–2015 period. We use vertical component seismograms 440 450 explosions with M D 1.5 3.3 calculate source parameters, including scalar moments corner frequencies. The o (P,S) vs. f c P- S-wave frequency (P)/ (S) ratios distinguish earthquakes. A comparison for demonstrates that had significantly lower frequencies than earthquakes, particularly spectra. In contrast Northern Central regions, Southern Egyptian region provides a perfect separation S-waves. empirically derived average ratio is 1.28, 1.26 Northern, respectively. For explosions, 1.89, 1.86 2.0 According these findings, (P) higher those implying differences enhance ability approach explosions. Based on w whole Egypt, observed discrimination threshold value separating 1.51–1.52.