DESIGNING AN OPTIMAL REGIONAL SEISMOGRAPH NETWORK USING ARMENIA AS AN EXAMPLE

Abstract

A numerical design of an optimal regional seismograph network is discussed using Armenia as an example. The geometry of the seismic network operating in Armenia was analyzed and found to be imperfect. This impedes the solution of many problems now facing contemporary seismology, such as the assessment of earthquake hazard and seismic risk, problems of structural seismology and several other applied problems that are important for the country. A nonstatistical approach to the design of physical experiments was used to derive an optimal seismograph network for Armenia. The optimal network is here understood to be one that would report all small (K = 8) earthquakes and provide the best locations of their hypocenters.