[M-AG37] CTBT IMS Technologies for Detecting Nuclear Explosion and Their Applications to Earth Science

[MAG37-04] Long-range detection of signals potentially associated with the sinking of SS El Faro using IMS hydrophone data

*Dirk Metz¹, Mario Zampolli¹, Georgios Haralabus¹ (1.Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization)

Keywords:IMS, CTBTO, Hydroacoustics

On 1 October 2015, during the Hurricane Joaquin, the cargo ship SS El Faro was lost approximately 120 km east of Long Island, The Bahamas. Here, we analyse underwater sound phases potentially associated with the loss of this vessel, recorded by station HA10 of the International Monitoring System (IMS) at Ascension Island, Mid-Atlantic Ocean. Results from progressive multi-channel correlation and spectral analysis of broadband arrivals at both hydrophone triplets of HA10 suggest that at least one impulsive, in-water acoustic anomaly occurred shortly after communication with SS El Faro had ceased and emergency buoys were activated. The derived event origin coincides to within a few kilometres with the confirmed location of the wreckage on the seafloor. Our findings further highlight the capabilities of the IMS hydrophone network, which allows for the detection of a variety of signals that propagate over vast source-receiver distances.