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Session: Sensing Technologies and their Latest Developments

Type: Oral

Date: 10/8/2024

Time: 09:30 AM

Room: Stanley Park Ballroom

Comprehensive Evaluation of DAS Performance: Instrument Response, Noise Floor, and Amplitude Saturation

Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) can convert optical fibers into dense arrays of strainmeters. Amplitudes in DAS recordings, particularly for pre-existing telecommunication cables with uncertain fiber-ground coupling, have not been fully quantified. By calibrating with co-located seismometers, we systematically assessed the performance of three DAS arrays in California and one DAS array at the South Pole. Our results indicate that the average DAS amplitude of earthquake signals aligns with seismometer data, showing fluctuations within an order of magnitude across channels and frequencies from 0.01 to 10 Hz. The noise floor of DAS, crucial for detecting weak signals, is comparable to strong-motion stations within this frequency range but exceeds broadband stations below 0.1 Hz. The saturation amplitude of DAS, essential for capturing strong signals, is adjustable by modifying pulse repetition rate and gauge length, although this adjustment comes with trade-offs regarding array length and data quality. Our comprehensive evaluation highlights the potential of using both DAS phase and amplitude data in seismic studies.

Presenting Author: Qiushi

Additional Authors