1. Preliminary Results of Localization and Characterization of Steady Infrasound Source as Detected by I31KZ
A. Smirnov1, V. Kunakov1, A. Le Pichon2, J. Guilbert2, D. Ponceau2
1 Institute of Geophysical Researches, NNC, Kazakhstan
2 CEA/DASE, BP12, Bruyères-le-Châtel, France

2. Previous investigations
First, signals from the studied source were detected in 2006 when analyzing the IS31’s PMCC automatic bulletins. A permanent source was found at ° azimuths. This source generated (and is generating) the vast majority of the station registered detections.
The satellite images show that the signals come from the area where the Zhanazhol oil and gas field’s flares are situated. We could not determine exactly that the Zhanazhol flares generate these signals using the IS31 data only (Smirnov, ITW2006).

3. Objectives
Confirmation of the source origin via:
Installation of the temporary infrasound array
apart of IS31
Installation of single microbarometer close to
source
Ray-tracing modeling and comparing with the
observations

4. Temporary array site survey
Requirements:
Array has to be installed at the first stratospheric bounce (~200 km) to the east;
It has to be at a significant distance from IS31 to ensure reliable source
localization (the angle between rays from the stations to the source has to be
neither too acute nor too obtuse).
The Akbulak seismic array, a part of the Kazakh National Nuclear Center’s monitoring system, was chosen for temporary array installation. The array position perfectly satisfied the requirements. Another positive moment is that power supply, protection, etc. are available at the station sites.

5. Temporary array installation

6. Temporary array configuration
Akbulak seismic array

8. Source localization

9. Flair detections on the arrays and the wind speed
Azimuth (°)
I13KZ: D = 212 km, qtho = 187°
Azimuth (°)
Akbulak: D = 188 km, qtho = 243°
Wind speed (m/s)

10. PSD from Akbulak & I31KZ

11. Coherency between channels from Akbulak

12. Single Station Installation
Distance from Zhanazhol to IS31 is km
Distance from Zhanazhol to ABKAR is km

13. Zhanazhol flare system
Click onto pictures to view clips

16. Color scale?

17. Color scale?

18. May be we show wind model too?
Sign of the azimuth deviation is opposite with one on the slides 15 and 16

19. More studies

20. Conclusion

21. Bonus Explosion in Koktau quarry
IS31: :49: :50: |1|1|1|1|1|1|1|1
AKB: :52: :55: |1|1|1|1
Explosion in Koktau quarry