# Investigation of infrasound noise background at M\'atra Gravitational and Geophysical Laboratory (MGGL)

## TL;DR

This study characterizes infrasound noise at MGGL, identifying mining ventilation as a major noise source and introducing a Haar transform-based method to detect and mitigate transient noise for better gravitational-wave detector site assessment.

## Contribution

Developed a Haar transform-based algorithm to detect transients in infrasound data and analyzed the impact of mining activities on background noise at a subterranean site.

## Key findings

- Transients can be effectively identified and reduced, improving noise spectrum stability.
- Mining ventilation significantly contributes to continuous infrasound noise.
- Mitigation of noise transients enhances site characterization for gravitational-wave detectors.

## Abstract

Infrasonic and seismic waves are supposed to be the main contributors to the gravity-gradient noise (Newtonian noise) of the third generation subterranean gravitational-wave detectors. This noise will limit the sensitivity of the instrument at frequencies below 20 Hz. Investigation of its origin and the possible methods of mitigation have top priority during the designing period of the detectors. Therefore long-term site characterizing measurements are needed at several subterranean sites. However, at some sites, mining activities can occur. These activities can cause sudden changes (transients) in the measured signal, and increase the continuous background noise, too. We have developed a new algorithm based on discrete Haar transform to find these transients in the infrasound signal. We found that eliminating the transients decreases the variation of the noise spectra, and hence results a more accurate characterization of the background noise. We also carried out experiments for controlling the continuous noise. Machines operating at the mine was turned on and off systematically in order to see their effect on the noise spectra. These experiments showed that the main contributor of the continuous noise is the ventilation system of the mine.