obtain and view seismic data from IRIS

This is deteriorating from a pedagogical tool to a storage place for cryptic notes. But, better than nothing.

One way to get some seismic data from IRIS and look at it

1. Use the GMAP (google map) interface on the IRIS site
http://www.iris.washington.edu/gmap/

The instructions tell you what to enter in the URL
lat/lon example:
http://www.iris.edu/gmap/?minlat=46&maxlat=49&minlon=-125&maxlon=-117

2. A map will load in your browser, Click on a station, click on the "more information" link

3. Look for BHZ data (Broadband H-something z-orientation )

a. cursory look
   4. Click on "Explore with QUACK"
   5. Click on "NEIC PDF PLOT"
   6. Click on "by Year" and look at monthly variation

b. download the actual data
   7. Click on "Make a batch request for data (breq_fast)
   8. Network, Station, and Channel should already be filled in for you, fill in other required (starred) data - Start and End time (GMT - HHMMSS), and contact info
   9. In some amount of minutes, you will be emailed with a link to the data, download it to linux desktop

10. In the directory with the .seed file, unpack the .seed data with rdseed (make sure your .cshrc and .login are set up for this)

Use all defaults except:
Options: d for dump
R for raw

you might need to edit Start/End/Sample Buffer Length depending on the length of the data and what you want

You will get a bunch of .sac files

12. Use pql to view data

13. Use sac to view data

read: r *.SAC
plot: p1
bandpass: bp
ylim
etc.

14. Use matlab (yay. hopefully there will be some posts about this at some point)