Back at the Beginning

July 6th, 2011

So I didn't get much of a chance to work wit the European data to see if it will solve the issues we've been having, but now I am going back my old friend, the TA array. Although the back projections turned out weird and smeared in the same direction as the HINET (which is our sort-of base array that has stayed the same throughout this process), we are taking a new approach with the P-alignments to try and remedy the smearing issue. To accomplish this, we are aligning a smaller deep aftershock associated with the original 3 events, aligning it (which is easier due to its more impulsive waveforms), then using it as a base to align the three larger magnitude earthquakes. We hope that this will give us a better alignment and solve our back projection issue. If not, I don't know what we are going to try. 

It's interesting because Eric and Miaki expected the alignments to be no problem. However, due to the uniqueness of these earthquakes (the fact that they are pretty emergent for deep earthquakes) is causing some issues with the way they usually perform the back projection technique. Once we finally get data we can use, Eric assures me we will make great leaps as the rest of the internship progresses and by the time the AGU abstract submission deadline approaches. 

The first few weeks I spent here I didn't have much to do and I was kind of moping around due to boredom, but I realized today that I have plans every weekend until school starts back up again. Who knew I actually had a life? I sure didn't. 

The Boston Pop's Fireworks Spectacular was a lot of fun! I walked about 2 miles down to MIT and found a perfect spot for viewing. I was advised to go early and make a day of it, so I got there around 5:30 (fireworks were scheduled for 10:30) and I was sort of surprised there wasn't more to do. People were just sitting around on their blankets like a mass picnic. I expected more of a carnival I guess, with food and maybe some games or something. On the opposite side of the river, there was a concert hall where Martina McBride and Michael Chiklis performed (along with some other instrumental performances). I didn't go over there, but it is more likely there were more entertaining things to do since that was the base for most of the events. That's ok, though I had plenty of studying time for the GRE. I am just glad I remembered to bring my book. If I were to go again, and opt out of the concert- related festivities, I would get there 2 hours early instead of 5. The flyover was cool, and the fireworks were great. I expected the 'grande finale' to be a lot grander. It struck me as being incredibly short. But it was still a fun night out. 

Today a high school friend of mine was visiting Harvard with a group of kids she is teaching this summer through a program at Yale, so we got to meet up and take a couple pictures at Harvard. It is so fun and exciting to share this place with someone from home. Not to mention spending time with a great friend. Although we both had to work today, it was great seeing her. I am also going to see her during a trip we are taking to Providence. Since it is about half way between Yale and Harvard, we are going to meet up the weekend before my birthday to celebrate. I am really looking forward to it. I also found out this week that a college friend of mine is going to be on the east coast to check out some grad schools and she is organizing a stop in Boston to see me for a few days! That should be a ton of fun too! I cannot overstate how much fun it is to share new places with people who actually know you (instead of the the friends that I just met). 

This turned into a considerably longer post than I intended, so I guess I will update once we get over this next step. I hope we do soon because these P-waves are starting to drive me a little crazy.