Shear‐wave splitting in Quaternary sediments: Neotectonic implications in the central New Madrid seismic zone

Geophysics ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 61 (6) ◽  
pp. 1871-1882 ◽  
Author(s):  
James B. Harris
Keyword(s):  
Shear Wave ◽  
Shear Wave Splitting ◽  
Azimuthal Anisotropy ◽  
Data Matrix ◽  
New Madrid Seismic Zone ◽  
Seismic Zone ◽  
Earthquake Hazards ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Neotectonic Deformation ◽  
Wave Splitting

Determining the extent and location of surface/near‐surface structural deformation in the New Madrid seismic zone (NMSZ) is very important for evaluating earthquake hazards. A shallow shear‐wave splitting experiment, located near the crest of the Lake County uplift (LCU) in the central NMSZ, shows the presence of near‐surface azimuthal anisotropy believed to be associated with neotectonic deformation. A shallow four‐component data set, recorded using a hammer and mass source, displayed abundant shallow reflection energy on records made with orthogonal source‐receiver orientations, an indicator of shear‐wave splitting. Following rotation of the data matrix by 40°, the [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] sections (principal components of the data matrix) were aligned with the natural coordinate system at orientations of N35°W and N55°E, respectively. A dynamic mis‐tie of 8 ms at a two‐way traveltime of 375 ms produced an average azimuthal anisotropy of ≈2% between the target reflector (top of Quaternary gravel at a depth of 35 m) and the surface. Based on the shear‐wave polarization data, two explanations for the azimuthal anisotropy in the study area are (1) fractures/cracks aligned in response to near‐surface tensional stress produced by uplift of the LCU, and (2) faults/fractures oriented parallel to the Kentucky Bend scarp, a recently identified surface deformation feature believed to be associated with contemporary seismicity in the central NMSZ. In addition to increased seismic resolution by the use of shear‐wave methods in unconsolidated, water‐saturated sediments, measurement of near‐surface directional polarizations, produced by shear‐wave splitting, may provide valuable information for identifying neotectonic deformation and evaluating associated earthquake hazards.

Thin layers and shear‐wave splitting

Geophysics ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 58 (10) ◽  
pp. 1468-1480 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard D. Slack ◽  
Daniel A. Ebrom ◽  
John A. McDonald ◽  
Robert H. Tatham
Keyword(s):  
Time Delay ◽  
Shear Wave ◽  
Shear Wave Splitting ◽  
Dominant Frequency ◽  
Azimuthal Anisotropy ◽  
Thin Layers ◽  
Anisotropic Layer ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Wave Signal ◽  
Wave Splitting

The near‐surface weathering layer is considered by many to be strongly anisotropic. Any shear‐wave signal passing through this low‐velocity layer will inherit, to some degree, the anisotropic response of this layer. For thin weathering layers, information about previous anisotropic events may be distorted; when the thickness of this layer approaches some physically defined limit, however, a previous layer’s anisotropic signature is completely overwritten. Hodograms and Alford rotations are typically used to analyze shear‐wave splitting in the presence of azimuthal anisotropy. When the time‐delay generated by an azimuthally anisotropic layer is ⩾τ/8, where τ = one period of the wavelet’s dominant frequency, distortion of a shear‐wave signal is great enough to degrade the accuracy of the interpretation in hodogram analysis. We found that Alford rotations are superior to visual hodogram analysis when the time delay between the fast and slow shear‐waves is less than τ/8. When two azimuthally anisotropic layers with different symmetry axes exist, however, interpretations generated through both hodogram analysis and Alford rotations begin to deteriorate when the time‐delay generated by the second layer is ⩾τ/8. Recent field work has shown that the weathering layer may possess differential shear‐wave birefringence in excess of 25 percent. If we assume a dominant frequency of 40 Hz and shear‐wave velocities of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], then an azimuthally anisotropic weathering layer may be as little as 5.8 m (19 ft) thick when it begins to overwrite a previous layer’s anisotropic response. When the time delay generated by a second anisotropic layer is ⩾τ (46.4 m, 152 ft thick), information about earlier anisotropic events are completely overwritten.

scholarly journals Double layer anisotropy beneath the New Madrid seismic zone and adjacent areas: insights from teleseismic shear wave splitting

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moikwathai Dax Moidaki
Keyword(s):  
Shear Wave ◽  
Shear Wave Splitting ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
New Madrid Seismic Zone ◽  
Seismic Zone ◽  
Wave Splitting ◽  
Anisotropic Layers ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Orogenic Events ◽  
New Madrid

A total of 93 well-defined PKS, 54 SKKS, and 126 SKS shear-wave splitting parameters are determined at 25 broadband seismic stations in an approximately 1000 by 1000 km<sup>2</sup> area centered at the New Madrid seismic zone (NMSZ) in order to test the existence of two anisotropic layers and to map the direction and strength of mantle fabrics. The individual splitting parameters suggest a significant and systematic spatial and azimuthal variation in the splitting parameters. The azimuthal variations at most stations can be explained as the results of present SW ward asthenospheric flow and NNE trending lithospheric fabrics formed during past orogenic events. In the NMSZ, rift-parallel fast directions (potentially related to a long-rift flow) and rift-orthogonal fast directions from small-scale mantle convection are not observed. In addition, reduction in splitting times as a result of vertical asthenospheric flow is not observed.

Fracture characterisation using frequency-dependent shear-wave splitting analysis of azimuthal anisotropy: application to fluid flow pathways at the Scanner Pockmark area, North Sea

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam Robinson ◽  
Gaye Bayracki ◽  
Calum MacDonald ◽  
Ben Callow ◽  
Giuseppe Provenzano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Shear Wave ◽  
North Sea ◽  
Seismic Anisotropy ◽  
Shear Wave Splitting ◽  
Azimuthal Anisotropy ◽  
Geophysical Data ◽  
Fluid Migration ◽  
Ocean Bottom ◽  
Air Gun ◽  
Wave Splitting

&lt;p&gt;Scanner pockmark, located in the Witch Ground Graben region of the North Sea, is a ~900 m by 450 m, ~22 m-deep elliptical seafloor depression at which vigorous and persistent methane venting is observed. Previous studies here have indicated the presence of chimney structures which extend to depths of several hundred meters, and which may represent the pathways along which upwards fluid migration occurs. A proposed geometry for the crack networks associated with such chimney structures comprises a background pattern outside the chimney with unconnected vertical fractures preferentially aligned with the regional stress field, and a more connected, possibly concentric fracture system within the chimney. The measurement of seismic anisotropy using shear-wave splitting (SWS) allows the presence, orientation and density of subsurface fracture networks to be determined. If the proposed model for the fracture structure of a chimney feature is correct, we would expect, therefore, to be able to observe variations in the anisotropy measured inside and outside of the chimney.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Here we test this hypothesis, using observations of SWS recorded on ocean bottom seismographs (OBS), with the arrivals generated using two different air gun seismic sources with a frequency range of ~10-200 Hz. We apply a layer-stripping approach based on observations of SWS events and shallow subsurface structures mapped using additional geophysical data to progressively determine and correct for the orientations of anisotropy for individual layers. The resulting patterns are then interpreted in the context of the chimney structure as mapped using other geophysical data. By comparing observations both at the Scanner pockmark and at a nearby reference site, we aim to further contribute to the understanding of the structures and their role in governing fluid migration. Our interpretation will additionally be informed by combining the field observations with analogue laboratory measurements and new and existing rock physics models.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This work has received funding from the NERC (CHIMNEY; NE/N016130/1) and EU Horizon 2020 programme (STEMM-CCS; No.654462).&lt;/p&gt;

Shear‐wave splitting in cross‐hole surveys: Modeling

Geophysics ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enru Liu ◽  
Stuart Crampin ◽  
David C. Booth
Keyword(s):  
Shear Wave ◽  
Seismic Anisotropy ◽  
Pore Space ◽  
Shear Waves ◽  
Shear Wave Splitting ◽  
Surface Layers ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Crustal Rocks ◽  
Wave Splitting ◽  
Almost All

Shear‐wave splitting, diagnostic of some form of effective seismic anisotropy, is observed along almost all near‐vertical raypaths through the crust. The splitting is caused by propagation through distributions of stress‐aligned vertical parallel fluid‐filled cracks, microcracks, and preferentially oriented pore space that exist in most crustal rocks. Shear waves have severe interactions with the free surface and may be seriously disturbed by the surface and by near‐surface layers. In principle, cross‐hole surveys (CHSs) should be free of much of the near‐surface interference and could be used for investigating shear waves at higher frequencies and greater resolution along shorter raypaths than is possible with reflection surveys and VSPs. Synthetic seismograms are examined to estimate the effects of vertical cracks on the behavior of shear waves in CHS experiments. The azimuth of the CHS section relative to the strike of the cracks is crucial to the amount of information about seismic anisotropy that can be extracted from such surveys. Interpretation of data from only a few boreholes located at azimuths chosen from other considerations is likely to be difficult and inconclusive. Application to interpreting acoustic events generated by hydraulic pumping is likely to be more successful.

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