Each data channel has a three part name such as MSL VHZ NC. The first part identifies the station. The middle part describes the data. The last part identifies the seismic network. The station name and network uniquely identify the location where the data are being recorded. The data descriptor tells a) what is being measured (velocity, displacement, acceleration), b) what sort of instrument is doing the recording (digital, hi-gain analog, etc.), and c) the orientation of the sensor (vertical, horizontal-north-south or horizontal-east-west.) For example, VHZ is a high-gain (sensitive) analog velocity sensor, sensing vertical movement.

 

Left	Middle	Right
(Station Name)	(Data Type)	(Seismic Network)
Examples: MSL, HSF, JSF, etc.	V=Velocity D=Displacement A=Acceleration	NC=Northern California Seismic Network
	H=High Gain Analog D = Digital
	Z=Vertical N=North-South E=East-West