Passive Seismic Data Collected for the Horizontal-to-Vertical Spectral Ratio (HVSR) Method, Pinnacles National Park, California, 2018-2020

This dataset contains passive seismic data collected using a three-component seismometer during 2018-2020 at Pinnacles National Park, California. The data were acquired for the purpose of estimating depth to the bedrock surface underlying alluvial deposits, using the horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) technique. Data were collected along ten transects, with 3 to 14 points collected along each transect, and at the locations of 6 existing or abandoned wells. A total of 81 passive seismic measurements were collected and the raw data are included in this dataset. The passive seismic data record ambient seismic noise in the range of approximately 0.1 to 1 Hertz (Hz), which is caused by ocean waves, large regional storms, and tectonic sources. The HVSR method analyzes the spectral ratio of the vertical and horizontal components of the passive seismic data to determine the fundamental seismic resonance frequency (f0), which is induced in unconsolidated sediments when there is a substantial contrast (greater than 2 to 1 ratio) in shear-wave acoustic impedance between these sediments and the bedrock. The thickness of the sediments is a function of f0.

Data and Resources

Field Value
accessLevel public
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datagov_dedupe_retained 20220722134805
identifier USGS:60818df2d34e8564d68660e5
metadata_type geospatial
modified 20210517
old-spatial {"type": "Polygon", "coordinates": [[[-121.177, 36.4705], [-121.177, 36.518], [ -121.127, 36.518], [ -121.127, 36.4705], [-121.177, 36.4705]]]}
publisher U.S. Geological Survey
publisher_hierarchy Department of the Interior > U.S. Geological Survey
resource-type Dataset
source_datajson_identifier true
source_hash 661a61c6a4707ba5e8b276f810b7e41ca5ef3d3a
source_schema_version 1.1
spatial {"type": "Polygon", "coordinates": [[[-121.177, 36.4705], [-121.177, 36.518], [ -121.127, 36.518], [ -121.127, 36.4705], [-121.177, 36.4705]]]}
theme {geospatial}
Groups
  • AmeriGEOSS
  • National Provider
  • North America
Tags
  • amerigeo
  • amerigeoss
  • california
  • ckan
  • geo
  • geophysics
  • geoss
  • groundwater
  • horizontal-to-vertical-spectral-ratio
  • national
  • north-america
  • paicines
  • passive-seismic
  • pinnacles-national-park
  • san-benito
  • seismic-methods
  • seismology
  • united-states
  • usgs-60818df2d34e8564d68660e5
isopen False
license_id notspecified
license_title License not specified
maintainer Claire Tiedeman
maintainer_email tiedeman@usgs.gov
metadata_created 2025-11-19T15:09:27.926425
metadata_modified 2025-11-19T15:09:27.926432
notes This dataset contains passive seismic data collected using a three-component seismometer during 2018-2020 at Pinnacles National Park, California. The data were acquired for the purpose of estimating depth to the bedrock surface underlying alluvial deposits, using the horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) technique. Data were collected along ten transects, with 3 to 14 points collected along each transect, and at the locations of 6 existing or abandoned wells. A total of 81 passive seismic measurements were collected and the raw data are included in this dataset. The passive seismic data record ambient seismic noise in the range of approximately 0.1 to 1 Hertz (Hz), which is caused by ocean waves, large regional storms, and tectonic sources. The HVSR method analyzes the spectral ratio of the vertical and horizontal components of the passive seismic data to determine the fundamental seismic resonance frequency (f0), which is induced in unconsolidated sediments when there is a substantial contrast (greater than 2 to 1 ratio) in shear-wave acoustic impedance between these sediments and the bedrock. The thickness of the sediments is a function of f0.
num_resources 2
num_tags 19
title Passive Seismic Data Collected for the Horizontal-to-Vertical Spectral Ratio (HVSR) Method, Pinnacles National Park, California, 2018-2020