SeisPPSD: an interactive web front-end and scalable HPC back-end for probabilistic power-spectral-density calculations

Offering a web-interface alongside a back-end for the calculation of probabilistic power-spectral-densities (PPSD) is the main goal of this project. No simple out-of-the-box open-source solution is available so far. Moreover, researchers should get access to the information needed in a straightforward way.

The project was initiated to process data routinely acquired at the KIT GPI seismological data center in order to enhance the quality control of the acquired data and station metadata. Furthermore, the PPSD gallery should develop into a starting point for further scientific research.

Here we present SeisPPSD, a comprehensive solution for the calculation and inspection of PPSDs building on existing ObsPy codes. Next to an intuitive gallery and archive which offers a fine granularity in time, the user can create PPSDs interactively, e.g. comparing the day and night noise levels. As well, plots with noise levels for distinct frequencies over time can be visualized.

The web front-end is mainly written in HTML but using Python and Javascript for the interactive parts. The back-end is implemented in Python and is distributing the PPSD calculation in a scalable fashion to the HPC environment.

Apart from an easy to use web-interface, the researcher has access to an archive with the data derived product. This creates the opportunity for the researchers to customize plots with the already (pre-)calculated PPSD files. Furthermore, those files are relatively small and therefore uncomplicated to share with researchers outside. The PPSD-files can be used with the standard ObsPy module opening the possibility for further collaboration.