In short: You can download waveform data from SeisComP in three ways: run the bundled fdsnws_fetch command with network, station, location, channel and ISO start/end times to save a MiniSEED file; call client.get_waveforms() from ObsPy's FDSN client pointed at your server's /fdsnws endpoint; or select an event in the scolv or scmv GUI and use its waveform download option to export the traces.
Downloading waveform data from SeisComP can be essential for various seismological research and analysis tasks. Whether you’re a seasoned seismologist or a beginner, understanding the different methods available for extracting this data can enhance your workflow. In this blog post, we will walk you through three main methods to download waveform data from SeisComP: using the fdsnws_fetch command, employing a Python script with ObsPy, and leveraging the SeisComP graphical user interface (GUI).
Method 1: Using fdsnws_fetch Command
SeisComP provides a handy command-line utility called fdsnws_fetch for downloading waveform data from FDSN web services. Here’s how you can use it:
- Install
fdsnws_fetch:
Make surefdsnws_fetchis installed on your system. It usually comes bundled with SeisComP, but if not, you can install it separately. - Execute
fdsnws_fetch:
Open your terminal and run the following command:
fdsnws_fetch -H <your_seiscomp_server> -N <network> -S <station> -L <location> -C <channel> -s <start_time> -e <end_time> -o <output_file>Replace the placeholders with appropriate values:
<your_seiscomp_server>: Your SeisComP server address.<network>: Network code (e.g.,IU).<station>: Station code (e.g.,ANMO).<location>: Location code (e.g.,00).<channel>: Channel code (e.g.,BHZ).<start_time>: Start time in ISO format (e.g.,2024-07-01T00:00:00).<end_time>: End time in ISO format (e.g.,2024-07-01T01:00:00).<output_file>: Path to save the output file (e.g.,waveform.mseed).
Method 2: Using Python Script with ObsPy
ObsPy is a powerful Python library for seismology that can be used to download waveform data from SeisComP. Follow these steps:
- Install ObsPy:
First, install ObsPy by running:
pip install obspy- Download Waveform Data:
Use the following Python script to download the data:
from obspy.clients.fdsn import Client
from obspy import UTCDateTime
client = Client("http://<your_seiscomp_server>/fdsnws")
network = "<network>"
station = "<station>"
location = "<location>"
channel = "<channel>"
start_time = UTCDateTime("2024-07-01T00:00:00")
end_time = UTCDateTime("2024-07-01T01:00:00")
st = client.get_waveforms(network, station, location, channel, start_time, end_time)
st.write("waveform.mseed", format="MSEED")Be sure to replace the placeholders with your specific values.
Method 3: Using SeisComP GUI
If you prefer a graphical approach, SeisComP provides a user-friendly GUI for data downloading:
- Open SeisComP GUI:
Launch the SeisComP Monitoring Viewer (scmv) or SeisComP Online Visualization (scolv). - Select the Event:
Navigate to the event of interest in the GUI. - Download Data:
Use the waveform download option to specify the time range, network, station, and channels, then proceed to download the data.
Additional Tips
- Check Access Permissions: Ensure you have the necessary permissions to access and download data from the SeisComP server.
- Consult Documentation: Refer to the SeisComP documentation for detailed instructions and options specific to your setup.
- Use Filters: Apply filters to the data as needed to focus on specific signals or reduce noise.
By following these methods, you can efficiently download and manage waveform data from SeisComP, aiding in your seismological research and analysis. If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to reach out!
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Key Takeaways
- fdsnws_fetch -H <server> -N <net> -S <sta> -L <loc> -C <chan> -s <start> -e <end> -o waveform.mseed pulls data from the command line.
- In ObsPy, Client("http://<server>/fdsnws").get_waveforms(…) returns a Stream you save with st.write("waveform.mseed", format="MSEED").
- The scolv and scmv GUIs let you pick an event and download its waveforms by time range, network, station and channel.
- Times use ISO format such as 2024-07-01T00:00:00; codes follow FDSN conventions (IU, ANMO, 00, BHZ).
- Confirm server access permissions first and apply filters afterwards to isolate signals of interest.
Frequently Asked Questions
fdsnws_fetch is a command-line utility bundled with SeisComP for retrieving waveform data from FDSN web services. You pass the server host with -H, network, station, location and channel codes with -N, -S, -L and -C, ISO-formatted start and end times with -s and -e, and an output path with -o, for example waveform.mseed. It is the quickest option for scripted or one-off downloads.
Install ObsPy with pip install obspy, then create an FDSN client with Client("http://<your_seiscomp_server>/fdsnws"). Define network, station, location and channel codes and UTCDateTime start and end values, call client.get_waveforms() with those arguments to receive a Stream object, and save it with st.write("waveform.mseed", format="MSEED"). The same script can loop over many stations or time windows.
Yes. Launch the SeisComP Monitoring Viewer (scmv) or the Origin Locator View (scolv), navigate to the event of interest, and use the waveform download option to specify the time range, network, station and channels before saving. This is convenient for analysts who want to inspect an event visually and export its traces without writing commands or Python.
Both fdsnws_fetch and the ObsPy example in the guide write MiniSEED files (.mseed), the standard compact binary format for continuous seismic waveforms. MiniSEED stores the time series and station and channel identifiers but not instrument response, so if you need ground motion in physical units you should also fetch station metadata (StationXML) from the same FDSN service.
The most common causes are missing access permissions on the SeisComP server, an incorrect FDSN endpoint URL, or wrong network, station, location or channel codes. Verify you are authorized to access the data, check the codes against the station inventory, confirm the time window actually contains recorded data, and consult the SeisComP documentation for options specific to your installation.
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