Choosing the Right Seismometer: Why One Size Doesn’t Fit All

Seismology and geophysical monitoring cover an enormous frequency spectrum — from the fast, high-frequency vibrations of a blast or building resonance to the slow “hum” of Earth itself. No single seismic sensor can capture this entire range with equal fidelity. That’s why different instruments exist, each optimized for a specific corner frequency, bandwidth, and application.

In this article, we explore when to use sensors with response corners at 4.5 Hz, 1 s, 2 s, 10 s, 30 s, 60 s, 120 s, and ultra-long 360 s, highlighting their strengths, weaknesses, and specific use cases. We also explain why one sensor cannot be used universally across all monitoring needs.

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Quick Comparison of Seismic Sensors

Sensor Type	Frequency Range (Approx.)	Pros	Cons	Typical Applications
4.5 Hz Geophone	4.5 Hz – 100+ Hz	Low cost, rugged, portable, sensitive to high frequencies	Poor at long-period (>1 s), limited dynamic range	Earthquake engineering, structural monitoring, induced seismicity, aftershocks, MASW/ReMi, site surveys
1 s Sensor	1 Hz – 50 Hz	Good compromise between local & regional coverage, handles ambient noise	Limited for very long-period (>30 s)	Regional seismicity, volcano monitoring, EEW, ambient noise tomography, extended ReMi
2 s Sensor	0.5 Hz – 50 Hz	Captures regional & surface waves up to ~50 s, cost-effective	Insufficient for very long-period (>100 s)	Regional networks, subduction monitoring, passive seismic surveys
10 s Broadband	0.1 Hz – 50 Hz	Versatile, reliable for most teleseismic and regional studies	Cannot resolve very long-period oscillations (>120 s)	National seismic networks, crustal/mantle imaging, hazard assessment
30 s Broadband	0.03 Hz – 50 Hz	Extends into long-period surface waves	More noise-sensitive, higher cost	Global seismology, tomography, moment tensor inversions
60 s Broadband	0.016 Hz – 50 Hz	Excellent for large earthquake teleseisms, free oscillations	Overkill for regional/local studies, needs quiet vaults	Global networks, nuclear test monitoring
120 s Broadband	0.008 Hz – 50 Hz	Full-spectrum coverage, ideal for global networks	Expensive, requires special installation	GSN stations, large earthquake research, planetary seismology
360 s Ultra-Broadband	0.003 Hz – 50 Hz	Captures Earth’s hum, seismic tides, geodynamics	Niche, very noise-sensitive, costly	Geodynamic observatories, tidal studies, climate-related mass transport

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4.5 Hz Sensors (Short-Period Geophones)

When to use:

• Local earthquake detection (within tens of kilometers).
• Engineering and structural health monitoring.
• Microseismicity, quarry or mine blasts.
• Geophysical testing (MASW, ReMi, refraction/reflection).

Pros:

• Rugged, portable, and low cost.
• High sensitivity to high-frequency ground motions (>5 Hz).
• Excellent for near-field strong-motion recording.

Cons/Limitations:

• Poor sensitivity below ~1 Hz, cannot capture long-period seismic waves.
• Unsuitable for regional and global/teleseismic events.
• Limited dynamic range compared to broadband instruments.

Typical Applications:

• Earthquake engineering, dam or bridge monitoring, induced seismicity, aftershock arrays.
• Geophysical surveys such as MASW (Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves for shallow Vs profiles), ReMi (Refraction Microtremor passive site characterization), and seismic refraction/reflection studies.

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1 s Sensors

When to use:

• Regional seismicity (hundreds of kilometers).
• Strong-motion networks where both local and regional signals matter.
• Volcano and microseismic monitoring.
• Urban geophysical studies using ambient noise.

Pros:

• Balanced response between short-period and moderate-period signals.
• Captures both body waves and surface waves up to ~20–30 s.
• Suitable for passive array surveys (extended ReMi, microtremor analysis).

Cons/Limitations:

• Insufficient for very long-period (>30 s) surface waves.
• Less sensitive to teleseisms than true broadband sensors.

Typical Applications:

• Regional earthquake catalogs, EEW systems, volcano observatories.
• Ambient noise tomography, urban microzonation, extended ReMi studies for deeper shear-wave velocity profiling.

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2 s Sensors

When to use:

• Regional to teleseismic earthquakes.
• Arrays where both body and surface waves are important.
• Cost-sensitive networks needing extended bandwidth.

Pros:

• Wider bandwidth than 1 s, capable of recording surface waves up to ~50 s.
• Good compromise between cost and performance.

Cons/Limitations:

• Not sufficient for very long-period (>100 s) phenomena.
• Still more noise-sensitive than longer-period broadband sensors.

Typical Applications:

• Regional seismic monitoring, tectonic studies, subduction zone networks.
• Passive seismic surveys requiring both regional and long-period information.

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10 s Sensors

When to use:

• General-purpose broadband seismic networks.
• Regional and teleseismic earthquake detection.

Pros:

• Industry standard broadband response.
• Sensitive to both surface and body waves.
• Reliable and versatile for many applications.

Cons/Limitations:

• Cannot resolve very long-period (>120 s) free oscillations.

Typical Applications:

• National networks, crustal imaging, mantle tomography.
• Earthquake source characterization and hazard assessment.

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30 s Sensors

When to use:

• Long-period surface wave studies.
• Subduction and mantle structure investigations.
• Broadband observatories.

Pros:

• Extends useful response to long-period surface waves.
• Stable in low-noise environments.

Cons/Limitations:

• Higher cost and more complex installation.
• Susceptible to cultural and wind noise.

Typical Applications:

• Tomography, global seismology, moment tensor inversion.

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60 s Sensors

When to use:

• Large earthquake teleseisms.
• Long-period mantle and core phase recordings.

Pros:

• Excellent for large-magnitude earthquakes.
• Sensitive to Earth’s free oscillations.

Cons/Limitations:

• Over-engineered for local or regional seismic monitoring.
• Requires very quiet installation sites.

Typical Applications:

• Global seismic networks, nuclear test monitoring, Earth structure studies.

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120 s Sensors

When to use:

• Global seismology, full spectrum earthquake monitoring.
• Earth’s free oscillations and tidal studies.

Pros:

• Covers almost the entire seismological band (0.008–50 Hz).
• Critical for large, distant earthquakes.

Cons/Limitations:

• Expensive, complex, vault installation needed.
• Not practical for engineering-scale or high-frequency studies.

Typical Applications:

• GSN (Global Seismographic Network), Earth structure research, planetary seismology.

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360 s Sensors (Ultra-Long-Period Broadband)

When to use:

• Recording Earth’s “hum” and seismic tides.
• Geodynamic monitoring of slow, long-period processes.

Pros:

• Extends response into tidal and ultra-long-period bands.
• Captures signals invisible to conventional broadband sensors.

Cons/Limitations:

• Highly sensitive to environmental noise.
• Costly and niche, requiring ultra-quiet observatory conditions.

Typical Applications:

• Geodynamics, glacial isostatic adjustment, climate-related mass transport studies.

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Why One Sensor Can’t Do It All

1. Frequency Trade-Offs: A sensor tuned for high-frequency microseismic signals cannot also detect Earth tides and free oscillations.
2. Dynamic Range: Instruments designed for small ambient noise may clip during strong shaking.
3. Installation & Cost: Ultra-broadband sensors need expensive vaults and isolation, while geophones are portable and inexpensive.
4. Application-Specific Needs: Engineering, geophysics, regional monitoring, and global seismology each demand different spectral coverage.

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Conclusion

The “best” seismic sensor depends on what you want to measure.

• 4.5 Hz geophones dominate in engineering seismology, structural monitoring, MASW, ReMi, and site investigations.
• 1–2 s sensors bridge the gap for regional seismicity and passive geophysical surveys.
• 10–120 s broadband sensors are the backbone of national and global seismic networks.
• 360 s ultra-broadband sensors are specialized tools for studying Earth’s slowest processes.

Seismology is broadband by nature, but practice demands choosing the right tool for the job.

At QuakeLogic, our experts can help you for selecting the right seismometer for your application.

To explore our range of seismometers, visit us at https://products.quakelogic.net/seismometers/