Mueller-Murphy seismic model

A 1971 analytical framework used to predict the seismic source functions and spectral scaling of underground nuclear explosions across diverse geological media.

Engineered by R.A. Mueller and J.R. Murphy, this model defines the relationship between explosive yield and the resulting seismic waveforms. It uses specific parameters (burial depth and rock density) to calculate the reduced velocity potential (RVP) for detonations in media like granite, salt, and tuff. Monitoring agencies like the CTBTO rely on these calculations to distinguish nuclear tests from earthquakes by analyzing high-frequency spectral content. The model remains a gold standard for nuclear forensics, providing the precise scaling laws needed to estimate kiloton yields from distant seismometer data.

https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/ssa/bssa/article/61/6/1675/116900/Seismic-characteristics-of-underground-nuclear