The Organization of Permanent Seismic Observations in Remote Areas of the Russian Arctic on the Example of Novaya Zemlya: Challenges and Possible Solutions

Abstract

The installation of permanent seismic stations in remote areas of the Russian Arctic faces challenges caused by logistical and technical difficulties and Arctic climate features. Considering that organizing permanent seismic observations within scientific academic projects is economically reasonable near accessible and well-developed infrastructural objects (e.g., meteorological stations), among all the steps of organizing seismic observation points, an important one is the selection of a place for seismometer installation that will allow for recording seismic data of the highest possible quality. It is well known that such geological medium features as paleotectonic faults, sand lenses or fractured rocks in the vicinity of the seismic station can decrease the seismic observation quality because of signal scattering. In that case, to minimize the impact of all possible aspects, information about the structural features of the local geological environment under possible installation places is important along with knowledge about the ambient noise level in the vicinity of possible seismological observation points. Since detailed geological information for hard-to-reach areas is scarce or absent, an express way to obtain useful information “on the field” is needed. In this study, we describe a way to select the most optimal place for seismometer installation by analyzing spectral characteristics of ambient noise and qualitative information about structural features of the local geological environment obtained by the set of passive seismic methods as well as some aspects and challenges we faced in the permanent seismic observation organization on the Novaya Zemlya archipelago.