Resolvability of multiple microseismic P-wave source regions with two large seismic arrays in China and the United States

P-wave microseisms are useful for understanding ocean waves. Resolving and locating multiple P-wave source regions using seismic data can provide valuable information about ocean waves. The resolvability of multiple microseismic P-wave source regions depends on the location accuracy and resolution, which can be improved using multiple large seismic arrays. In this article, we investigate the source locations of P-wave microseisms at the period of 5-10 s by combining the backprojection results from two large dense seismic arrays located in China (ChinArray) and the United States (USArray). We independently process data recorded by ChinArray and USArray during a two-year period (2014-2015) that border both the North Pacific and North Atlantic. Then the results are normalized and summed or intersected in the source region to improve the accuracy of the P-wave microseism source locations by reducing the deviation from the velocity structure model and the array response function. The results show that we can resolve two to three sources with a scale of approximately 500-1000 km within one large P-wave source region. We also investigate how array parameters such as aperture, interstation spacing, and geographic position affect the detectability and accuracy of the P-wave microseism sources. The discrepancy in P-wave microseism source locations between backprojection observation and ocean model predictions in source number, source scale, and source region scope imply that the ocean model needs to be improved.