Northern California Seismic Network

Please see note on Timing problem at Mammoth analog stations 01/22/2015 - 01/27/2015

Since 1967 the U.S. Geological Survey has operated the Northern California Seismic Network (NCSN) to provide earthquake data for a wide range of research topics and hazard-reduction activities. The NCSN is designed to detect all local earthquakes having signal strength above the background level of microseisms. The network configuration was motivated by the need to monitor active faults and volcanoes with a station density sufficient to determine the focal depth of shallow (0-15 km) crustal earthquakes. Depending on the concentration of stations in a region, the magnitude (M) level at which earthquake detection is complete varies from approximately 1.0 in parts of the central Coast Ranges to 2.6 in the Klamath Mountain range. However, earthquakes with M<1.0 are routinely detected throughout the network.

The NCSN operates 580 stations in northern and central California and records an additional 159 stations maintained by the Southern California Seismic Network, Pacific Gas & Electric, the University of Nevada Reno, the California Department of Water Resources, Calpine/LBNL, and the California Geological Survey. It records a total of 1850 channels of data using a mix of digital and analog systems. Nearly 60% of the stations in the network are now digital, and 24 of the digital stations have broadband sensors, 333 have strong-motion sensors, and 10 are borehole installations. The remainder of the stations are mostly comprised of short-period vertical-component sensors. The NCSN telemetry system utilizes local collection nodes which are linked to Menlo Park via a microwave system between Geyser Peak above Geyserville and Black Mountain near San Luis Obispo, satellite telemetry, and leased digital circuits. The network also utilizes direct radio telemetry to Menlo Park, cellular data services, and operates an extensive LAN that links urban stations located in the San Francisco Bay region.

Network Code: NC (also includes the Southern Hayward Fault Network)

Typical Station Equipment

NCSN stations generally fall into 4 categories: short-period, broadband, strong-motion, and borehole. Each station type has its own equipment.

Short-period stations of the NCSN
  • Vertical-component velocity sensor (Mark Products L-4)
  • Central site digitization and timing if analog
  • Continuous telemetry to the USGS Menlo Park
  • Backup power supply

Strong-motion sensors of the NCSN

  • 3-component accelerometer (Kinemetrics EpiSensor or GeoSIG AC-63)
  • Vertical-component velocity sensor (Mark Products L-4)
  • Kinemetrics K2/Basalt, GeoSIG NetQuakes, Nanometrics Taurus/Trident, Reftek 130
  • Continuous and triggered telemetry to the USGS Menlo Park
  • Backup power supply

Broadband stations of the NCSN

  • 3-component broadband seismometer (Guralp CMG-3ESP, Streckheisen STS-2, Nanometrics Trillium Compact)
  • Nanometrics Taurus, Reftek 130
  • Continuous telemetry to the USGS Menlo Park
  • Backup power supply

Borehole stations of the NCSN

  • 3-component geophone seismometer (Oyo HS1)
  • 3-component accelerometer (Wilcoxon)
  • Kinemetrics Basalt, Nanometrics Taurus, Reftek 130
  • Continuous telemetry to the USGS Menlo Park
  • Backup power supply


Typical Recorded Channels

Sensor SEED Channels Rate (samples/sec) Sampling Mode FIR Filter
Broadband seismometer HHZ, HHN, HHE 100.0 Continuous Acausal
Accelerometer HNZ, HNN, HNE 100.0 or 200.0 Continuous and Triggered Causal
Short-period seismometers EHZ, EHN, EHE 100.0 Continuous Causal


Station and Channel Information



Data Access

An earthquake catalog is produced from analysis of the NCSN data. Locations, magnitude, phases, coda durations, and first-motion mechanisms are available using the earthquake catalog search.

Several tools provide access to SEED format data at the NCEDC, both in terms of querying the archives and allowing data requests.



Collaborations

The NCSN records and exchanges seismic data with several other institutions.

More information

If you have additional questions on the Northern California Seismic Network, you may contact Lind Gee lgee@usgs.gov.