npeval

npeval calculates and reports network performance parameters related to the ability to locate earthquakes.

Description

npeval evaluates and reports the station status and network performance parameters based on network geometry and real-time waveform quality. It generates reports of station status and waveform quality (QC) parameters which can be reported to external applications, e.g. to GDS [1] for dissemination.

Features

  1. Computes network performance parameters including

    • The minimum time required to locate seismic events in an area,

    • The minimum magnitude of seismic events in an area for which the network is expected to deliver a location.

    • The number of stations available for detecting events within a configured distance around the events or for a configurable minimum magnitude.

    • The S-P travel times from events in a grid to configurable points of interest (POI).

  2. Considers only stations which are used for the actual event detection based on configurable bindings or stations defined in CSV tables.

  3. Dynamically considers enabled or disabled stations and excludes stations given in a file.

  4. Dynamically considers changes in the station quality control (QC) parameters.

  5. Computation is triggered by significant changes in station status.

  6. Writes computed parameters to Surfer grid files, BNA polygons which can be evaluated on SeisComP maps, PNG images or CSV files.

  7. Station status can be reported to external applications.

  8. Configurable are among others:

    • detection module from a specific processing pipeline or explicit station lists,

    • minimum number of stations for locating earthquakes,

    • region, grid interval and depths for considering earthquakes,

    • delay added to the stations considering data transfer and processing,

    • travel-time table and interface,

    • random station removal simulating stations not having picks (command-line option),

    • intervals and colors of contour lines and fill properties,

    • directory for output,

    • minimum update interval,

    • format of generated files: GRD, BNA, PNG, CSV,

    • output processing script.

Methods and Setup

The basic requirement for making an event location and a magnitude estimation is the detection of seismic phases. In a pipeline system, several instances of a picker, e.g., scautopick [8] can be applied to different sets of stations. In order to make npeval specific to a particular pipeline, the involved picker instance must be specified by the parameter setupName. npeval will only consider stations which have bindings for this module and for which the data quality control (QC) parameters are within the ranges defined by the qc.parameters. Therefore npeval can be configured for separate pipelines involving different instances of scautopick.

The station layout is typically read from the SeisComP database. Then, only stations matching setupName, i.e., they have the configured bindings, are considered internally for further computations. However, the layout can be overridden by input from a station file (see section Getting Started).

The minimum number of stations configured by stations.stationCount providing potential arrivals to event location must be met for computing any of the configured values. Additionally, networks and stations to be considered or to be excluded can be defined in separate files defined by the parameters stations.file and stations.exclude-file, respectively.

The grid parameters grid.region, grid.spacing and grid.depths define the considered source locations. Only one region at a time can be taken into account. Create module aliases for considering multiple regions. Module aliases can be generated and configured separately, e.g., for a region named r1:

seiscomp alias create r1npeval npeval

Storing the calculated parameters is controlled by the output control parameters.

In real-time conditions a typical minimum configuration includes:

Quality control parameters

All QC parameters configured by qc.parameters must be available for the minimum number of stations. The QC parameters can be received in two ways:

  1. From the database during startup and updating by the parameters received from the messaging system. When reading from the database npeval may by slow during the startup depending on the size of the database.

  2. Only from the messaging system (default). When only using QC parameters from the messaging, the initial grid generation depends on the availability of the QC parameters. It is then typically delayed and the grid may be updated several as QC parameters for more and more stations arrive during the first minutes of operating npeval.

Only stations with QC parameters inside the configured ranges and with a matching setupName are considered internally for further computations.

Note

Real-time QC parameters are ignored in offline mode.

Triggering and Timing

npeval re-computes the grids by the configured methods or generates reports if the internally considered status of one or more stations changes. This may be when:

  • npeval is started. The internally considered status is initially set to disabled.

  • Significant changes in waveform QC parameters are found. That is the QC parameters of stations enter or leave the ranges configured in qc.parameters.

  • Stations are actively enabled or disabled.

Repeated re-computation in short time intervals may be computational expensive. Set the parameter grid.update to a reasonable interval to control the timing and to optimize the load.

Methods

npeval provides methods for computing performance parameters that characterize seismic monitoring networks:

  • Minimum time: The minimum time which is required for locating events.

  • Minimum magnitude: The minimum magnitude of events that can be located.

  • Number of stations: The number of stations available for detecting events within a configured distance around the events.

  • S-P travel times: The difference of travel times between P and S phases observed at a point of interest.

related to the network geometry and the data quality. The methods are applied to the same region simultaneously.

The performance parameters are calculated for grid points within a configurable region. npeval considers the configured station setup and a configurable minimum of stations. It takes into account waveform QC parameters which determine the station status. Changes in station status trigger the re-computation of the performance parameters. The Earth model parameters can be adjusted.

Upon computation of the parameters

  • The output parameters can be stored as surfer GRD, PNG image, BNA or CSV files. For visualizing the grid files dynamically on maps, the plugin mapmultigrid [5] has been developed.

Minimum location time

Computing the minimum times to locate events by a network can be deactivated or activated by times.compute.

Important parameters configurable in the times section are:

  1. times.file: The base name of the output files. For output in GRD and PNG format, .grd and .png suffixes will be added. For BNA, a sub-directory in the output.directory is created containing the different levels.

  2. Set the parameters for computing the travel times.

  3. times.dataDelay: The time added to the computed travel times considering the data delay measured by scqc [10]. To read the delay from the SeisComP database and to receive dynamic updates

    times.dataDelay = -1.0

    Otherwise a static delay is considered.

  4. times.processingDelay Data processing time to be added to computed traveltimes accounting for delays due to the data processing by SeisComP modules, e.g. the detector or the locator. The amount considers the default time window for AIC for phase picking and the default time window for calculating amplitudes for the mB magnitude used by scautopick as well as the processing required by scautoloc [7] or scanloc [6]. times.processingDelay must be therefore be changed when adjusting those window lengths or module configurations.

../_images/npeval_scmv_times.png

Figure 1: Minimum expected times for locating events in SE-Asia by the GE network.

Minimum magnitude

Computing the minimum magnitude of events expected to be located by a network can be deactivated or activated by minimumMagnitude.compute. Different methods for computing minimum are available.

Important parameters configurable in the minimumMagnitude section are:

  1. minimumMagnitude.compute: The base name of the output files. For output in GRD and PNG format, .grd and .png suffixes will be added. For BNA, a sub-directory in the output.directory is created containing the different levels.

  2. minimumMagnitude.type: The Types considered for computations. Currently, supported types are:

    • MDD (magnitude-detection-distance)

    • LF (low-frequency approximation of the source spectrum, experimental)

    • GMPE (Ground Motion Prediction Equation, experimental).

Types:

Warning

The types LF and GMPE are currently experimental and may produce results with large uncertainties.

  • MDD - magnitude-detection distance Considered when minimumMagnitude.type = MDD. The method assumes that for a given magnitude, P and S phases can be detected up to some hypocentral distance. The magnitude-distance relation is given by (Valtonen et al. [22]):

    M = b * log10(D) + a * D + c

    where:

    The parameters may be determined from optimization [22] based on reference events for the area of interest. The default values originate from Valtonen et al. [22] for a site in Finnland. Examples from previous optimizations are:

    region

    a

    b

    c

    Finland [22]

    0.001514

    0.9327

    -1.306

    Chile [a]

    0.001272

    0.887049

    -0.065408

    Germany/Vogtland [a]

    0.001639

    1.297967

    -1.28476
    ../_images/npeval-minmag-mdd-vogtland.png

    Figure 2: Parameter optimization based on events in Germany/Vogtland [a].

    [a] (1,2,3)

    Unpublished testbed studies by gempa GmbH [4].

  • LF - low-frequency-approximation: Considered when minimumMagnitude.type = LF. Results are specifically sensitive to:

    *. minimumMagnitude.minSnr defining the minimum signal-to-noise

    ratio (SNR) which the data must exceed for a station to be considered. The SNR is calculated by dividing the amplitude predicted by npeval by the data RMS measured by scqc [10].

  • GMPE - GoundMotionPredictionEquation: Considered when minimumMagnitude.type = GMPE. The method uses an internally defined GMPE based on the publication by Cauzzi et al. [15]. Choosing GMPE is currently experimental only experimental and not recommended for routine processing.

../_images/npeval_scmv_magnitude.png

Figure 3: Minimum expected magnitude of events for which a solution can be expected in Chile by the CX network.

Note

Applying the type LF to the minimum magnitude method requires waveform RMS to be available from real-time station QC messages or from a station input file (see command line option --file).

Number of stations

The number of station are counted that are available within some hypocentral distance around a grid point is counted. The distance is configured by nStations.maximumDistance. Alternatively, the distance is estimated from a magnitude if configured in nStations.magnitude. Activate nStations.compute for applying this method.

S-P travel times

The travel-time differences between first arriving P and S phases are computed at points of interest (POIs) assuming events defined on the configured grid. In an earthquake early warning (EEW) system, the method may be used to estimate the remaining alert time at a POI in case a P phase was detected.

Configuration;

  • Adjust the parameters controlling the travel-times computations in the travelTimes parameter groups,

  • Add profiles of points of interest with activate POIs.profiles.$name.computeSP for the respective profile,

  • Add the profile name to POIs.poiProfiles.

../_images/npeval_sp.png

Figure 4: S-P travel-time differences for a POI in Potsdam, Germany and a given travel-time table.

Travel-time computation

Depending on the method travel times are computed based on the configured travel-time interface, the table and correction parameters.

  • travelTimes.tableType and travelTimes.table: Type of the interface and name of the travel time tables. Typically, the LOCSAT [3] interface provides faster travel times than libtau. By setting the travelTimes.table parameter, customized velocity models can be considered. When choosing LOCSAT, the table file for the P-wave first arrival times must be stored in @DATADIR@/locsat/tables/, for libtau, the velocity profile is stored in @DATADIR@/ttt. Both travel-time interfaces do not consider stations elevations.

  • Correction parameters: Travel-time corrections t_{corr} may be applied based on a configurable average velocity to compensate for station elevation. The average velocity is typically the P-wave speed at shallow depth as configured in travelTimes.velocityCorrection.

    The velocity v is applied to the station elevation e and the slowness s of the first-arrival phase from a grid point to the station given the travel-time interface and the table configured by travelTimes.tableType and travelTimes.table, respectively:

    t_{corr} = \frac{e}{v(1-(s*v)^2)}

    Note

    For s*v > 1 the correction is negative corresponding to a complex-valued incidence angle. This case may occur if the correction velocity is larger then the velocity of the upper layer assumed for computing the travel-time tables. npeval will stop providing and an error message. Then consider lowering travelTimes.velocityCorrection.

    Alternatively, an average station elevation may be compensated for by a correction with respect to sea level. The correction elevation is configured in travelTimes.elevationCorrection. The travel-time tables must then be computed with respect to this elevation where 0 km depth corresponds to the correction.

Offline processing

npeval can be used in offline processing mode without messaging and real-time data acquisition. Execute npeval on the command line together with other appropriate options

npeval --offline

In this case, waveform QC messages are ignored. This requires the configuration of times.dataDelay must be configured for computing the minimum location times and the RMS must be set for computing the minimum magnitudes. More command-line options are available.

Designing Networks

In offline processing mode, npeval supports you in designing and optimizing of networks by predicting the performance parameters based on a generic station list:

  1. Configure the required methods

  2. Create a file, station.txt, containing the station coordinates and QC parameters in the format [NET,STA,LAT,LON,ELEVATION,RMS] where RMS is measured in the unit of counts. Example:

    CX, PB01, -21.04, -69.49, 320, 150
CX, PB02, -21.32, -69.90, 470, 250

    An example script for generating the station table is available in @DATADIR@/npeval/tools/npeval-make-station-file.sh.example.

  3. Run npeval and generate the output

    npeval --offline --file stations.txt

Output

File formats

The the output parameters resulting from the considered methods are stored in the directory and in the file format configured by output.directory and output.format, respectively. By default, the output directory is cleared before updating the files. The supported output formats, defined in output.format are:

  • BNA files. File suffix: bna.

    One sub-directory of output.directory is generated per method containing all BNA files. The BNA files contain polylines or closed polygons which can be drawn as layers on map with customized properties [2]. The lines represent minimum values.

    The layers are drawn at startup of a GUI module, when the output directory is either @DATADIR/spatial/vector@ or @CONFIGDIR@/spatial/vector. A GUI module must therefore be restarted for considering any file update.

  • CSV comma-separated text file. File suffix: csv.

    One file is generated per configured method. Line format:

    longitude0, latitude0, value0
longitude1, latitude1, value1
 ...

  • GRD (default) file (Surfer grid). File suffix: grd.

    One file is generated per method. Grid files can be rendered and dynamically updated on maps by the plugin mapmultigrid [5]. GRD is therefore the preferred format. The configuration of the rendering is described in section Grid visualization.

  • PNG image file. File suffix: png.

    One file is generated per method. The colors and contour lines represent minimum values.It is viewable by external image viewers.

Note

  • By default all files and directories existing in output.directory are deleted by npeval when computing any of the desired values. To keep the existing files and directories, uncheck output.clean.

  • When running different instances of npeval, configure different output directories which are specific to an instance avoiding to mutually delete the result files.

Grid visualization

Grid files can be dynamically rendered on maps, e.g., of scmv [9] by configuration of the plugin mapmultigrid [5] forming an individual map layer. Multiple grid files can be rendered simultaneously. Upon any changes the grids will be immediately updated on the maps. Read the documentation of mapmultigrid [5] for the complete configuration steps and examples.

Stops/colors

The contours in PNG images and BNA files and the colors (PNG and grids, visualized by the plugin mapmultigrid [5]) represent minimum values. They can be configured by stops which are pairs of computed value and color. The additional attribute “major” or “minor” controls drawing the contour lines in PNG images or the grids.

The stops are configurable in npeval by output.gradient.stops for PNG or BNA output format. For grid visualization configure the stops parameter along with the plugin mapmultigrid [5].

A suggestion for the stops configuration stops is printed when running npeval with debug logging output. Example:

npeval --debug

...
# example configuration of the stop parameter for the plugin mapmultigrid:
stops = 11:c02f2f30:"major",14:2f5dc030:"minor",17:86c02f30:"major",20:c02fb230:"minor",23:2fc0a630:"major"
...

Adjust and apply the values to the configuration. The number of printed stops can be controlled by the command-line option --suggest-color-intervals. Example:

npeval --debug --suggest-color-intervals 10

Reports: Station QC and grids

Reports are generated upon significant changes in QC parameters and/or when triggering of the parameter computation. If an executable script is defined in output.script, e.g.

output.script = @DATADIR@/scripts/sendtoGDS.py

The script can be used to process and disseminate the station report or to process the generated files.

The reports are created in JSON format containing:

  • Details on the location and the format of the output files generated by the configured methods, if any.

  • Stream information of stations with information about the station status, available QC parameters and whether it can be considered for grid computation or not. By default only stations with significant updates are reported. To report all stations configure output.reportAllStations.

Example:

{
  "minimum times": "/tmp/npeval/npeval_times",
  "minimum magnitudes": "/tmp/npeval/npeval_minmag",
  "output format": "GRD",
  "streams": [
    {
      "stream": "CX.PB06..HHZ",
      "significant update": "true",
      "considered": "true",
      "availability": "100",
      "delay": "1.05254",
      "rms": "330.684"
    },
    {
      "stream": "CX.PB09..HHZ",
      "significant update": "true",
      "considered": "false",
      "availability": "100",
      "delay": "1.99461",
      "rms": "1619.25"
    }
  ]
}

The JSON data is provided via stdout to the script in output.script which is executed. The exit code of the script is evaluated and an error message is printed if the exit code is not 0.

An example script for processing the JSON data is provided in @DATADIR@/npeval/tools/npeval-report.sh.example. The raw JSON format contains no line breaks but it can be converted by other tools, e.g., jsonlint for better human readability.

Note

If the station status does not change, the streams item may be empty during the first few grid generations after starting npeval. Initially, grid computations are triggered as more QC parameters arrive for the stations even if the station status does not change.

Getting Started

For computing values related to events a minimum configuration is recommended:

  1. Define the events by grid region, depths and spacing: grid.region, grid.depths, grid.spacing,

  2. Adjust the minimum number of stations which are expected to provide phase detections: stations.stationCount considering the module creating origins.

  3. Configure the stations to consider:

    • normal processing: Configure setupName for defining the set of stations which has a particular set of bindings. Use global for all stations having global bindings. Setting the value to the instance of scautopick [8] providing the phase picks allows the specific consideration of pipelines.

    • network designing: If no inventory or system setup is availble, you may generate a simple text file containing the station names, coordinates and an optional characteristic data RMS value. Format:

      network code, station code, latitude, longitude, elevation, RMS

      Provide the station file by configuration of :confval:stations.file` or on the command line via --file.

  4. Define the output format: output.format. For BNA or PNG additionaly provide the stops: output.gradient.stops

  5. Configure the methods to be considered: times.* and minimumMagnitude.*.

    • For specific points of interest configuring the POIs parameters, POIs.

For sending reports on significant changes of station parameters and updates configure:

  1. The waveform QC paramters to be considered: qc.parameters.

  2. The report script to handle the reports: output.script.

Examples

  1. Real-time processing on the command line considering waveform QC messages:

    npeval --region 80,150,-20,30 --delta 1 -d localhost/seiscomp

  2. Real-time processing on the command line considering constant RMS (nm/s):

    npeval -d localhost/seiscomp --rms 500

  3. Offline processing on the command line with a station file and a station exclude file:

    npeval --offline --file stations.ini --region 21,27,62,67 --exclude-file stat-excl.ini --debug

  4. Offline processing on the command line with a station file and station RMS in nm/s overwriting all other RMS values:

    npeval --offline --file stations.ini --rms 300

Module Configuration

etc/defaults/global.cfg
etc/defaults/npeval.cfg
etc/global.cfg
etc/npeval.cfg
~/.seiscomp/global.cfg
~/.seiscomp/npeval.cfg

npeval inherits global options.

Note

Modules/plugins may require a license file. The default path to license files is @DATADIR@/licenses/ which can be overridden by global configuration of the parameter gempa.licensePath. Example:

gempa.licensePath = @CONFIGDIR@/licenses
setupName

Default: scautopick

Type: string

List of configuration setup names used for the initial setup of the active station list. Use commas to separate names. E.g. in pipelines use the names of all modules contributing picks.

"scautopick": consider all stations with scautopick bindings and the streams defined therein.

"default" or "global": consider all stations with global bindings and the streams defined therein.

Note

qc.* Waveform quality control (QC) parameters. Ensure npeval subscribes to basic message groups, e.g. QC, CONFIG.

qc.parameters

Type: list:string

Define QC parameters to observe. Each parameter is associated with a value range. If any of the defined ranges is exceeded the corresponding station is disabled. For the ranges use ‘-Inf,Inf’ if no upper or lower limits shall exist.

Typical parameters: rms, latency, delay, availability, gaps count, overlaps count, timing quality, offset, spikes count. Read $SEISCOMP_ROOT/etc/defaults/npeval.cfg for examples.

scqc must be running in parallel.

qc.useDatabase

Default: false

Type: boolean

Load QC parameters from the database during startup. Setting to true may slow down the start up.

Note

stations.* Parameters controlling the stations to be considered.

stations.stationCount

Default: 4

Type: uint

Minimum number of stations that have an arrival for starting the calculations. This mimics the confiugration of the phase associator, e.g., scanloc or scautoloc.

stations.file

Type: string

Name of CSV file to read station information from instead of considering "setupName". Use the option for designing new networks without inventory and global bindings. One line per station.

Format: NET,STA,LAT,LON,ELEVATION,RMS

RMS (nm⁠/⁠s) is optional and required for minimum magnitude calcuation in offline mode.

stations.exclude-file

Type: string

Filename to a station blocklist file. Each line has the format [NET].[STA] supporting wildcards. Example:

CX.PB01

GE.*

Note

grid.* Parameters controlling the source region grid and the update interval. Grid points represent hypocenters.

grid.region

Default: 80.0, 150.0, -20.0, 30.0

Unit: deg

Type: list:float

Horizontal bounding box for selecting the considered region: LonMin,LonMax,LatMin,LatMax. Required parameter.

grid.spacing

Default: 1.0

Unit: deg

Type: double

Horizontal grid spacing for assuming events.

grid.depths

Default: 10.0

Unit: km

Type: list:double

Source depths. Use comma seperation for a list of values.

grid.update

Default: 60

Unit: s

Type: double

Minimum time interval between 2 updates. Values < 1 are set to 1.

Note

output.* Output control parameters.

output.directory

Default: /tmp/npeval

Type: string

Output directory for writing new files. Recommendation for BNA files: @DATADIR@/spatial/vector/npeval.

output.clean

Default: true

Type: boolean

Clean output directory before writing new files.

output.format

Default: GRD

Type: string

Range: BNA,PNG,GRD,CSV

Output file format.

output.size

Default: 1280x1024

Unit: px

Type: string

PNG image size.

output.script

Type: string

Path to the script which is executed when the network parameters are computed. Station reports and output files are provided to the script.

output.reportAllStations

Default: false

Type: boolean

Report all stations and not just those with significant updates. output.script must be configured for this paramters to be effective.

output.gradient.discrete

Default: true

Type: boolean

Setting this parameter to true enables color interpolation.

output.gradient.stops

Default: 30.00:ff00fa,60.00:f25ffb,90.00:e483fc,120.00:d79cfd,150.00:c9aefe,180.00:9fd7ff,210.00:93dfff,240.00:84e8ff,270.00:6df2ff,300.00:49fdff,600.00:20dbdb,900.00:11b4b7,1200.00:03939a

Type: gradient

The colors at given levels for drawing PNG images. Use hexadecimal color values.

Note

travelTimes.* Parameters for calculating the travel times which are used by the methods minimum time, minimum magnitude and S-P travel times.

travelTimes.tableType

Default: LOCSAT

Type: string

Values: libtau, LOCSAT

Type of travel-time table (interface).

travelTimes.table

Default: iasp91

Type: string

Name of travel-time table (interface profile).

travelTimes.velocityCorrection

Default: -1.0

Unit: km/s

Type: double

Correction velocity added to travel times in oder to account for station elevation which is currently not accounted for by LOCSAT and libtau. Applying a positive value deactivates "elevationCorrection"

travelTimes.elevationCorrection

Default: 0.0

Unit: km

Type: double

An elevation of stations added to the event depth for computing travel times. The travel-time table should start at this elevation correction. Currently, LOCSAT and libtau do not correct for sensor elevation.

The parameter is deactivated by "velocityCorrection".

Note

times.* Parameters for calculating the minimum times to locate events by a network.

times.compute

Default: true

Type: boolean

Allow computing the minimum times.

times.file

Default: npeval_times

Type: string

Basename of output file(s) for the times grid.

times.dataDelay

Default: -1.0

Unit: s

Type: float

Data delay to be added to computed traveltimes.

-1.0 - get automatically from QC messages per station.

times.processingDelay

Default: 5.0

Unit: s

Type: float

Data processing time to be added to computed traveltimes. The amount must considers time windows for AIC used by scautopick and mB when using scautoloc with mB amplitudes. The value must be therefore be changed when adjusting those window lengths.

Note

minimumMagnitude.* Parameters for calculating the minimum magnitude of events that can be detected by a network.

minimumMagnitude.compute

Default: false

Type: boolean

Allow computing the expected minimum magnitude.

minimumMagnitude.file

Default: npeval_minmag

Type: string

Basename of output file(s) for the magnitudes grid.

minimumMagnitude.type

Default: LF

Type: string

Type of amplitude calculation:

LF: low-frequency approximation

MDD: magnitude-detection distance

GMPE: GMPE (trial only).

minimumMagnitude.magMin

Default: 2.0

Type: float

Minimum earthquake magnitude to be tested. Step size to maximum: 0.1.

minimumMagnitude.magMax

Default: 5.0

Type: float

Maximum earthquake magnitude to be tested.

minimumMagnitude.magStep

Default: 0.2

Type: float

Magnitude step.

minimumMagnitude.minSnr

Default: 5

Type: float

Minimum signal-to-noise ratio at the station to accept a magnitude.

Note

minimumMagnitude.lowFrequency.* Values for calculating the low-frequency amplitude. The method is used when “minimumMagnitude.type” = LF. Default values are from the ak135 standard Earth model at 10 km depth. The method requires travel times considering the parameters configured in the section “travelTime”.

minimumMagnitude.lowFrequency.vp

Default: 5.8

Unit: km/s

Type: float

P-wave velocity at the hypocentre.

minimumMagnitude.lowFrequency.vs

Default: 3.2

Unit: km/s

Type: float

S-wave velocity at the hypocentre. vs = vp/sqrt(3) if not set.

minimumMagnitude.lowFrequency.rho

Default: 2.6

Unit: g/cm^3

Type: float

Density at the hypocentre.

minimumMagnitude.lowFrequency.sigma

Default: 10

Unit: bar

Type: float

Stress drop due to the earthquake.

minimumMagnitude.lowFrequency.qp

Default: 500

Type: float

Qp, seismic attenuation along the ray given by the quality factor for P waves.

Note

minimumMagnitude.magnitudeDetectionDistance.* Values for calculating the expected magnitude based on based on the regression of M = b*log10(distance) + a * distance + c. Defaults are from Valtonen et al. (2013).

minimumMagnitude.magnitudeDetectionDistance.a

Default: 0.001514

Unit: 1/km

Type: float

The a parameter in the regression equation.

minimumMagnitude.magnitudeDetectionDistance.b

Default: 0.9327

Type: float

The b parameter in the regression equation.

minimumMagnitude.magnitudeDetectionDistance.c

Default: -1.306

Type: float

The c parameter in the regression equation.

Note

nStations.* Parameters for calculating the number of stations available for detecting events on a grid.

nStations.compute

Default: false

Type: boolean

Allow computing the number of stations.

nStations.maximumDistance

Default: 0

Unit: km

Type: float

The maximum hypocentral distance to consider a station. This parameter will be ignored if ‘nStations.magnitude’ > -10.

nStations.magnitude

Default: -10

Type: float

The magnitude from which to compute the maximum distance. Values <= 10 will disable this parameter and for the distance is ‘nStations.maximumDistance’ is assumed. For estimating a distance, the parameters of the MDD method are assumed.

Note

POIs.* Compute paramters for individual points of interest (POI).

POIs.file

Default: npeval_poi

Type: string

Base name of output file(s) for the POIs grid. The profile name will be appended.

POIs.poiProfiles

Type: list:string

Registration of POI profiles. An empty list disables all POIs.

Note

POIs.profiles.$name.* $name is a placeholder for the name to be used and needs to be added to poiProfiles to become active.

poiProfiles = a,b
POIs.profiles.a.value1 = ...
POIs.profiles.b.value1 = ...
# c is not active because it has not been added
# to the list of poiProfiles
POIs.profiles.c.value1 = ...
POIs.profiles.$name.latitude

Unit: deg

Type: double

Latitude.

POIs.profiles.$name.longitude

Unit: deg

Type: double

Longitude.

POIs.profiles.$name.elevation

Unit: km

Type: double

Elevation above above sea level (WGS84).

POIs.profiles.$name.computeSP

Default: false

Type: boolean

Select to compute S-P travel time differences.

Command-Line Options

Generic

-h, --help

Show help message.

-V, --version

Show version information.

--config-file arg

Use alternative configuration file. When this option is used the loading of all stages is disabled. Only the given configuration file is parsed and used. To use another name for the configuration create a symbolic link of the application or copy it. Example: scautopick -> scautopick2.

--plugins arg

Load given plugins.

-D, --daemon

Run as daemon. This means the application will fork itself and doesn’t need to be started with &.

Verbosity

--verbosity arg

Verbosity level [0..4]. 0:quiet, 1:error, 2:warning, 3:info, 4:debug.

-v, --v

Increase verbosity level (may be repeated, eg. -vv).

-q, --quiet

Quiet mode: no logging output.

--print-component arg

For each log entry print the component right after the log level. By default the component output is enabled for file output but disabled for console output.

--component arg

Limit the logging to a certain component. This option can be given more than once.

-s, --syslog

Use syslog logging backend. The output usually goes to /var/lib/messages.

-l, --lockfile arg

Path to lock file.

--console arg

Send log output to stdout.

--debug

Execute in debug mode. Equivalent to --verbosity=4 --console=1 .

--trace

Execute in trace mode. Equivalent to --verbosity=4 --console=1 --print-component=1 --print-context=1 .

--log-file arg

Use alternative log file.

Stations

--file arg

Overrides configuration parameter stations.file.

--exclude-file arg

Overrides configuration parameter stations.exclude-file.

--skip arg

Default: 0.0

Unit: %

Type: double

Randomly skip the given percentage of stations.

Output

-f, --format arg

Overrides configuration parameter output.format.

--directory arg

Overrides configuration parameter output.directory.

--size arg

Overrides configuration parameter output.size.

--no-clean

Do not clean output directory before writing new output. Otherwise the output directory will be cleaned.

--clean

Overrides configuration parameter output.clean.

Overrides --no-clean.

--suggest-color-intervals arg

Default: 5

Type: int

The number of contour intervals and related color to suggest together along with debug logging output.

Region

--region arg

Overrides configuration parameter grid.region.

-s, --spacing arg

Overrides configuration parameter grid.spacing.

--depths arg

Overrides configuration parameter grid.depths.

For series use --depths 10 --depths 20 …

Times

--dataDelay arg

Overrides configuration parameter times.dataDelay.

--procDelay arg

Overrides configuration parameter times.processingDelay.

-c, --station-count arg

Overrides configuration parameter stations.stationCount.

--times-file arg

Overrides configuration parameter times.file.