Seismotectonic evidence for subduction beneath the Eastern Greater Caucasus

2020 ◽  
Vol 224 (3) ◽  
pp. 1825-1834
Author(s):  
Michael Gunnels ◽  
Gurban Yetrimishli ◽  
Sabina Kazimova ◽  
Eric Sandvol
Keyword(s):  
Caspian Sea ◽  
Velocity Structure ◽  
Seismic Velocity ◽  
Double Difference ◽  
Mountain Range ◽  
Seismic Structure ◽  
The Caspian Sea ◽  
Study Region ◽  
Greater Caucasus ◽  
Velocity Models

SUMMARY We generated high-resolution 3-D seismic velocity models as well as a relocated earthquake catalogue across the eastern Greater Caucasus and Kura basins. This work was done using data from the recently upgraded Republic Seismological Survey Center's (RSSC) seismic network. We generated our tomographic images of crustal velocity structure in Azerbaijan using double-difference inversions (i.e. tomoDD and hypoDD). Earthquake catalogues from the RSSC between 2011 and 2016 were used; these catalogues include absolute arrival times of 103 288 P- and 120 952 S-wave traveltime picks for 7574 events recorded at 35 stations in Azerbaijan. Beginning with a layered, 1-D velocity model that was estimated using VELEST, we inverted simultaneously for relative location, Vp and Vs on a 3-D grid with dimensions 670 × 445 × 45 km, with a uniform grid spacing of 55 × 55 × 5 km for all of Azerbaijan. We observe that the relocated hypocentres cluster into two depth ranges, at the surface and at depth, that appear to correspond to major fault zones and the top of a subducting plate. Additionally, we note intermediate depth seismicity (∼50–60 km) beneath the Kura Basin, and a northward deepening of earthquake depths. Seismic velocities vary significantly throughout the study region; we observe very slow velocities throughout the Kura Basin between 5 and 15 km, and elevated velocities at 20–35 km. The wholesale velocity structure and seismic structure of Kura Basin strongly mirrors that of the Caspian Sea, which suggests that the geodynamics of the Caspian continue westwards into Azerbaijan. The key results of this study suggest that the northward subduction observed in the Caspian Sea continues beneath the Eastern Greater Caucasus, as well as provides evidence for active faulting along the southern margin of the mountain range.

scholarly journals Characteristics of relocated hypocenters of the 2018 M6.7 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi earthquake and its aftershocks with a three-dimensional seismic velocity structure

2019 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Saeko Kita
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Velocity ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Double Difference ◽  
Earthquake Catalog ◽  
Seismic Structure ◽  
Depth Limit ◽  
High Attenuation ◽  
South Central ◽  
Collision Zone ◽  
Hidaka Collision Zone

AbstractI relocated the hypocenters of the 2018 M6.7 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi earthquake and its surrounding area, using a three-dimensional seismic structure, the double-difference relocation method, and the JMA earthquake catalog. After relocation, the focal depth of the mainshock became 35.4 km. As previous studies show, in south-central Hokkaido, the Hidaka collision zone is formed, and anomalous deep and thickened forearc crust material is subducting at depths of less than 70 km. The mainshock and its aftershocks are located at depths of approximately 10 to 40 km within the lower crust of the anomalous deep and thickened curst near the uppermost mantle material intrusions in the northwestern edge of this Hidaka collision zone. Like the two previous large events, the aftershocks of this event incline steeply eastward and appear to be distributed in the deeper extension of the Ishikari-teichi-toen fault zone. The highly inclined fault in the present study is consistent with a fault model by a geodetic analysis with InSAR. The aftershocks at depths of 10 to 20 km are located at the western edge of the high-attenuation (low-Qp) zone. These kinds of relationships between hypocenters and materials are the same as the 1970 and 1982 events in the Hidaka collision zone. The anomalous large focal depths of these large events compared with the average depth limit of inland earthquakes in Japan could be caused by the locally lower temperature in south-central Hokkaido. This event is one of the approximately M7 large inland earthquakes that occurred repeatedly at a recurrence interval of approximately 40 years and is important in the collision process in the Hidaka collision zone.

Crustal Structure across Central Scandinavian Peninsula along Silver Road refraction profile

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Metin Kahraman ◽  
Hans Thybo ◽  
Irina Artemieva ◽  
Alexey Shulgin ◽  
Alireza Malehmir ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Ocean ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
Baltic Shield ◽  
Velocity Structure ◽  
Seismic Velocity ◽  
Seismic Profile ◽  
High Mountain ◽  
Mountain Range ◽  
Air Gun ◽  
The Baltic

<p>The Baltic Shield is located in the northern part of Europe, which formed by amalgamation of a series of terranes and microcontinents during the Archean to the Paleoproterozoic, followed by significant modification in Neoproterozoic to Paleozoic time. The Baltic Shield includes an up-to 2500 m high mountain range, the Scandes , along the western North Atlantic coast, despite being a stable craton located far from any active plate boundary.</p><p>We study a crustal scale seismic profile experiment in northern Scandinavia between 63<sup>o</sup>N and 71<sup>o</sup>N. Our Silverroad seismic profile extends perpendicular to the coastline around Lofoten and extends ~300km in a northwest direction across the shelf into the Atlantic Ocean and ~300km in a southeastern direction across the Baltic Shield. The seismic data were acquired with 5 explosive sources and 270 receivers onshore; 16 ocean bottom seismometers and air gun shooting from the vessel Hakon Mosby were used to collect both offshore and onshore.</p><p>We present the results from raytracing modelling of the seismic velocity structure along the profile. The outputs of this experiment will help to solve high onshore topography and anomalous and heterogeneous bathymetry of the continental lithosphere around the North Atlantic Ocean. The results show crustal thinning from the shield onto the continental shelf and further into the oceanic part. Of particular interest is the velocity below the high topography of the Scandes, which will be discussed in relation to isostatic equilibrium along the profile.</p>

scholarly journals APPLICATION OF 3-D VELOCITY MODELS AND RAY TRACING IN DOUBLE DIFFERENCE EARTHQUAKE LOCATION ALGORITHMS: APPLICATION TO THE MYGDONIA BASIN (NORTHERN GREECE)

2004 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 1396 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. C. Galanis ◽  
C. B. Papazachos ◽  
P. M. Hatzidimitriou ◽  
E. M. Scordilis
Keyword(s):  
Ray Tracing ◽  
Velocity Structure ◽  
Test Site ◽  
Earthquake Location ◽  
Double Difference ◽  
Northern Greece ◽  
Local Networks ◽  
Velocity Models ◽  
Earthquake Locations

In the past years there has been a growing demand for precise earthquake locations for seismotectonic and seismic hazard studies. Recently this has become possible because of the development of sophisticated location algorithms, as well as hardware resources. This is expected to lead to a better insight of seismicity in the near future. A well-known technique, which has been recently used for relocating earthquake data sets is the double difference algorithm. In its original implementation it makes use of a one-dimensional ray tracing routine to calculate seismic wave travel times. We have modified the implementation of the algorithm by incorporating a three-dimensional velocity model and ray tracing in order to relocate a set of earthquakes in the area of the Mygdonia Basin (Northern Greece). This area is covered by a permanent regional network and occasionally by temporary local networks. The velocity structure is very well known, as the Mygdonia Basin has been used as an international test site for seismological studies since 1993, which makes it an appropriate location for evaluating earthquake location algorithms, with the quality of the results depending only on the quality of the data and the algorithm itself. The new earthquake locations reveal details of the area's seismotectonic structure, which are blurred, if not misleading, when resolved by standard (routine) location algorithms.

scholarly journals Seismic Velocity Structure in the Area of the 2007, Mw 8.0, Pisco-Peru Earthquake: Implications for the Mechanics of Subduction in the Vicinity of the Nazca Ridge

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
I. Bernal ◽  
H. Tavera
Keyword(s):  
Velocity Structure ◽  
Seismic Velocity ◽  
Velocity Model ◽  
Double Difference ◽  
Seismic Velocity Structure ◽  
Uplift Rates ◽  
Northern Edge ◽  
Nazca Ridge ◽  
Geomorphological Features ◽  
Postseismic Slip

In this study, we present a velocity model for the area of the 2007 Pisco-Peru earthquake ( Mw = 8.0 ) obtained using a double-difference tomography algorithm that considers aftershocks acquired for 6 months. The studied area is particularly interesting because it lies on the northern edge of the Nazca Ridge, in which the subduction of a large bathymetric structure is the origin of geomorphological features of the central coast of Peru. Relocated seismicity is used to infer the geometry of the subduction slab on the northern flank of the Nazca Ridge. The results prove that the geometry is continuous but convex because of the subduction of the ridge, thereby explaining the high uplift rates observed in this area. Our inferred distribution of seismicity agrees with both the coseismic and postseismic slip distributions.

Seismic structure of basalt flows from surface seismic data, borehole measurements, and synthetic seismogram modeling

Geophysics ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 66 (6) ◽  
pp. 1925-1936 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moritz M. Fliedner ◽  
Robert S. White
Keyword(s):  
Velocity Structure ◽  
Seismic Velocity ◽  
Synthetic Seismogram ◽  
P Wave ◽  
Wide Angle ◽  
Seismic Velocities ◽  
Seismic Structure ◽  
Low Velocity ◽  
Amplitude Variation With Offset ◽  
Velocity Gradients

We use the wide‐angle wavefield to constrain estimates of the seismic velocity and thickness of basalt flows overlying sediments. Wide angle means the seismic wavefield recorded at offsets beyond the emergence of the direct wave. This wide‐angle wavefield contains arrivals that are returned from within and below the basalt flows, including the diving wave through the basalts as the first arrival and P‐wave reflections from the base of the basalts and from subbasalt structures. The velocity structure of basalt flows can be determined to first order from traveltime information by ray tracing the basalt turning rays and the wide‐angle base‐basalt reflection. This can be refined by using the amplitude variation with offset (AVO) of the basalt diving wave. Synthetic seismogram models with varying flow thicknesses and velocity gradients demonstrate the sensitivity to the velocity structure of the basalt diving wave and of reflections from the base of the basalt layer and below. The diving‐wave amplitudes of the models containing velocity gradients show a local amplitude minimum followed by a maximum at a greater range if the basalt thickness exceeds one wavelength and beyond that an exponential amplitude decay. The offset at which the maximum occurs can be used to determine the basalt thickness. The velocity gradient within the basalt can be determined from the slope of the exponential amplitude decay. The amplitudes of subbasalt reflections can be used to determine seismic velocities of the overburden and the impedance contrast at the reflector. Combining wide‐angle traveltimes and amplitudes of the basalt diving wave and subbasalt reflections enables us to obtain a more detailed velocity profile than is possible with the NMO velocities of small‐offset reflections. This paper concentrates on the subbasalt problem, but the results are more generally applicable to situations where high‐velocity bodies overlie a low‐velocity target, such as subsalt structures.

scholarly journals Этнография Кавказа и культурное наследие Великого Шелкового пути

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
V.A. Dmitriev
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Heritage ◽  
Caspian Sea ◽  
Silk Road ◽  
Economic Life ◽  
Regional Culture ◽  
North Caucasus ◽  
The Caspian Sea ◽  
The Caucasus ◽  
Greater Caucasus ◽  
The North

В статье исследуется связь объектной зоны этнографической науки, народной традиционной культуры и историко-культурного наследия как формы современной актуализации культуры прошлого. В качестве модели этнографического изучения культурного наследия рассматриваются последствия для региональной культуры народов Северного Кавказа деятельности местной трассы Великого шелкового пути самой крупной евразийской трассы эпохи Древности и Средневековья. Основой подхода является представление региональных участков трасс великих путей Евразии как культургеоценозов, сложение культурного наследия в которых имеет как местные корни, так и последствия их включения в большой культургеоценоз Великого шелкового пути. В пределах региональной культуры народов Северного Кавказа такими культургеоценозами признаются части ареалов шелководства и шелкоткачества на Кавказе и крупные ареалы высокогорья (область башенных памятников Большого Кавказа) и предгорий Северного Кавказа (районы, входившие в социально-политическое пространство Великой Черкесии).The article discusses the relationship between folk traditional culture and historical and cultural heritage as a form of contemporary actualization of the culture of the past. The results of the activities of the local route of the Great Silk Road for the regional culture of the peoples of the North Caucasus are regarded as a model for an ethnographic study of cultural heritage. The basis of the approach is the presentation of regional sections of the routes of the great roads of Eurasia as culture geocenoses. The formation of cultural heritage in such culture geocenoses has both local roots and consequences of their inclusion in the large culture geocenosis of the Great Silk Road. Within the regional culture of the peoples of the North Caucasus such geocenoses are parts of the silkgrowing and silkweaving areas of the Caucasus, large areas of high mountains (the area of handicraft sites of mountainous Dagestan and the area of tower monuments of the Greater Caucasus) and the foothills of the North Caucasus (areas included in the sociopolitical space of Great Circassia). Sericulture in the northern part of the Caucasus was the occupation of the population of the forested foothills of the Greater Caucasus, but at the end of the 19th century the population of West Adyg and Abkhaz lands were excluded from this occupation. From the Caspian Sea to Kabarda, inclusive, the craft of weaving womens shawls with silk threads was spread. Printed fabrics and patterned textile materials came to the North Caucasus from the South Caucasian urban centers mainly located near the Caspian Sea. At the same time, part of the population of the region of the NorthEastern Caucasus steadily specialized in the production of silkworm eggs. The internal roads of Dagestan associated with the route of the Great Silk Road have played a historic role in the promotion of stimulating cultural impulses into the economic life of the highlanders. This may explain the concentration of settlements in mountainous Dagestan, whose population specialized in various types of artistic craft. Indirect evidence of the involvement of internal Dagestan in the channels of distribution and accumulation of samples of imported silk in the Caucasus is the socalled phenomenon Kaytag embroidery. The formation of the area of North Caucasian towers is associated with climatic and political changes in the region, characteristic of the final period of its inclusion in the section of the Great Silk Road. The article makes an assumption about the dependence of the genesis of the socioeconomic specifics of Great Circassia on the need to preserve the previous trade relations in the era that followed the cessation of the functioning of the Great Silk Road in the Caucasus.

scholarly journals Seismic velocity model of the crust in the northern Canadian Cordillera from Rayleigh wave dispersion data

2017 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 163-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shutian Ma ◽  
Pascal Audet
Keyword(s):  
Rayleigh Wave ◽  
Velocity Structure ◽  
Seismic Velocity ◽  
Group Velocity Dispersion ◽  
Velocity Model ◽  
Canadian Cordillera ◽  
Seismic Velocities ◽  
Crustal Layer ◽  
Velocity Models ◽  
Moderate Earthquake

Models of the seismic velocity structure of the crust in the seismically active northern Canadian Cordillera remain poorly constrained, despite their importance in the accurate location and characterization of regional earthquakes. On 29 August 2014, a moderate earthquake with magnitude 5.0, which generated high-quality Rayleigh wave data, occurred in the Northwest Territories, Canada, ∼100 km to the east of the Cordilleran Deformation Front. We carefully selected 23 seismic stations that recorded the Rayleigh waves and divided them into 13 groups according to the azimuth angle between the earthquake and the stations; these groups mostly sample the Cordillera. In each group, we measured Rayleigh wave group velocity dispersion, which we inverted for one-dimensional shear-wave velocity models of the crust. We thus obtained 13 models that consistently show low seismic velocities with respect to reference models, with a slow upper and lower crust surrounding a relatively fast mid crustal layer. The average of the 13 models is consistent with receiver function data in the central portion of the Cordillera. Finally, we compared earthquake locations determined by the Geological Survey of Canada using a simple homogenous crust over a mantle half space with those estimated using the new crustal velocity model, and show that estimates can differ by as much as 10 km.

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