Magnitude 4.0 event near Lop Nor, China - earthquake or nuclear test?

Last updated: 2006-10-12 13:05:28 PDT

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A large earthquake, preliminary estimate mb=4.04 ms=3.08, occurred near the Lop Nor nuclear test site for China. These tests were recorded by the Kyrgyzstan Seismic Network (KNET) situated approximately 1200 km away with a back azimuth of 90°. Preliminary analysis suggests this is an eathquake and not a man-made explosion.

This map shows the mainshock as a red star. KNET array stations are yellow triangles. Pakistan and Indian nuclear test sites are yellow diamonds. Blue lines are major rivers and red lines are international borders.

Event Map

China & KNET map

The figure below shows the vertical components for 10 KNET stations (click here for an enlarged image).

KNET vertical traces for this event

Event Parameters

Event solution

The following origin is preliminary:

Latitude Longitude Depth Origin Time mb ms Author
41.9434 88.4513 96.720km 1/27/1999(027), 06:25:03.4 4.04 3.08 UCSD: Vladik
41.6258 88.4711 18.80km 1/27/1999 (027) 06:25:01.5 3.9 3.4 REB

Arrival times at KNET stations

Station Channel Arrival Time Phase SNR Delta Azimuth
AAK BHZ 1/27/1999 6:27:30.101 P 6.73 10.336 89.10
KBK BHZ 1/27/1999 6:27:25.700 P 40.03 10.003 89.51
KZA BHZ 1/27/1999 6:27:23.270 P 19.80 9.800 86.35
TKM2 BHZ 1/27/1999 6:27:19.388 P 19.49 9.529 91.51
UCH BHZ 1/27/1999 6:27:30.545 P 14.74 10.337 86.88
ULHL BHZ 1/27/1999 6:27:12.304 P 5.92 9.057 87.80
USP BHZ 1/27/1999 6:27:29.737 P 3.73 10.342 92.57
CHM BHZ 1/27/1999 6:27:27.415 P 2.23 10.149 91.30
EKS2 BHZ 1/27/1999 6:27:37.178 P 2.77 10.863 88.81
AML BHZ 1/27/1999 6:27:38.478 P 3.26 10.948 86.02
UCH BHN 1/27/1999 6:29:28.023 S -1.00 10.337 86.88
ULHL BHE 1/27/1999 6:28:52.996 S -1.00 9.057 87.80
TKM2 BHE 1/27/1999 6:29:06.197 S -1.00 9.529 91.51
KZA BHE 1/27/1999 6:29:14.069 S -1.00 9.800 86.35
AAK BHN 1/27/1999 6:29:26.365 S -1.00 10.336 89.10
CHM BHE 1/27/1999 6:29:21.270 S -1.00 10.149 91.30
KBK BHN 1/27/1999 6:29:18.073 S -1.00 10.003 89.51

KNET is ideally situated to record events at many test sites in the area. Last May we recorded the nuclear tests conducted by both Pakistan and India. Click here to view a map showing a close-up of the KNET array.

Visit our pages on the Pakistan and India nuclear tests.

URL: http://eqinfo.ucsd.edu/special_events/nuclear_tests/china/1999-01-27.php [Last updated: 2009-10-21 (294) 18:02:39 UTC]