Upper-mantle discontinuity from amplitude data of P′P′ and its precursors

1973 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 587-597
Author(s):  
Ta-Liang Teng ◽  
James P. Tung
Keyword(s):  
Upper Mantle ◽  
Body Waves ◽  
P Wave ◽  
Specific Reference ◽  
Amplitude Data ◽  
Surface Displacements ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Mantle Velocity ◽  
Mantle Discontinuity ◽  
Upper Mantle Discontinuity

abstract Recent observations of P′P′ and its precursors, identified as reflections from within the Earth's upper mantle, are used to examine the structure of the uppermantle discontinuities with specific reference to the density, the S velocity, and the Q variations. The Haskell-Thomson matrix method is used to generate the complex reflection spectrum, which is then Fourier synthesized for a variety of upper-mantle velocity-density and Q models. Surface displacements are obtained for the appropriate recording instrument, permitting a direct comparison with the actual seismograms. If the identifications of the P′P′ precursors are correct, our proposed method yields the following: (1) a structure of Gutenberg-Bullen A type is not likely to produce observable P′P′ upper-mantle reflections, (2) in order that a P′P′ upper-mantle reflection is strong enough to be observed, first-order density and S-velocity discontinuities together with a P-wave discontinuity are needed at a depth of about 650 km, and (3) corresponding to a given uppermantle velocity-density model, an estimate can be made of the Q in the upper mantle for short-period seismic body waves.

P-wave amplitudes and magnitudes between 10° and 35°

1974 ◽  
Vol 64 (6) ◽  
pp. 1887-1899
Author(s):  
George A. McMechan ◽  
Warren G. Workman
Keyword(s):  
Upper Mantle ◽  
Epicentral Distance ◽  
Maximum Amplitude ◽  
Body Waves ◽  
P Wave ◽  
Ray Theory ◽  
Mantle Structure ◽  
Upper Mantle Structure ◽  
Wave Trains ◽  
Theory Technique

abstract The observed behavior of P-wave relative amplitudes, as a function of epicentral distance, between 10° and 35°, is controlled primarily by the velocity-depth structure of the upper mantle. P-wave synthetic seismograms calculated by the new quantized ray theory technique are used to determine theoretical log (A/T) versus log Δ curves from a number of upper mantle models. Maximum amplitude arrivals show less model dependence than the first arrivals in the same wave trains, and hence are more consistent magnitude indicators for regions where the upper mantle structure is poorly known. Log (A/T) versus log Δ curves vary considerably, but predictably, from model to model. This model-dependent variation can account for a major part of the large standard deviations usually associated with the calculation of magnitudes from body waves.

scholarly journals The April 29, 1965, Puget Sound earthquake and the crustal and upper mantle structure of western Washington

1977 ◽  
Vol 67 (3) ◽  
pp. 693-711 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles A. Langston ◽  
David E. Blum
Keyword(s):  
Upper Mantle ◽  
Source Parameters ◽  
Puget Sound ◽  
P Wave ◽  
Low Velocity ◽  
Crust And Upper Mantle ◽  
Low Velocity Zone ◽  
Crustal Model ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Velocity Zone

abstract Simultaneous modeling of source parameters and local layered earth structure for the April 29, 1965, Puget Sound earthquake was done using both ray and layer matrix formulations for point dislocations imbedded in layered media. The source parameters obtained are: dip 70° to the east, strike 344°, rake −75°, 63 km depth, average moment of 1.4 ± 0.6 × 1026 dyne-cm, and a triangular time function with a rise time of 0.5 sec and falloff of 2.5 sec. An upper mantle and crustal model for southern Puget Sound was determined from inferred reflections from interfaces above the source. The main features of the model include a distinct 15-km-thick low-velocity zone with a 2.5-km/sec P-wave-velocity contrast lower boundary situated at approximately 56-km depth. Ray calculations which allow for sources in dipping structure indicate that the inferred high contrast value can trade off significantly with interface dip provided the structure dips eastward. The effective crustal model is less than 15 km thick with a substantial sediment section near the surface. A stacking technique using the instantaneous amplitude of the analytic signal is developed for interpreting short-period teleseismic observations. The inferred reflection from the base of the low-velocity zone is recovered from short-period P and S waves. An apparent attenuation is also observed for pP from comparisons between the short- and long-period data sets. This correlates with the local surface structure of Puget Sound and yields an effective Q of approximately 65 for the crust and upper mantle.

scholarly journals Inversion of the body waves from the Borrego Mountain earthquake to the source mechanism

1976 ◽  
Vol 66 (5) ◽  
pp. 1485-1499 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. J. Burdick ◽  
George R. Mellman
Keyword(s):  
Body Wave ◽  
High Stress ◽  
Time Function ◽  
The Body ◽  
Body Waves ◽  
Polarization Angle ◽  
Long Period ◽  
Amplitude Data ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Wide Range

abstract The generalized linear inverse technique has been adapted to the problem of determining an earthquake source model from body-wave data. The technique has been successfully applied to the Borrego Mountain earthquake of April 9, 1968. Synthetic seismograms computed from the resulting model match in close detail the first 25 sec of long-period seismograms from a wide range of azimuths. The main shock source-time function has been determined by a new simultaneous short period-long period deconvolution technique as well as by the inversion technique. The duration and shape of this time function indicate that most of the body-wave energy was radiated from a surface with effective radius of only 8 km. This is much smaller than the total surface rupture length or the length of the aftershock zone. Along with the moment determination of Mo = 11.2 ×1025 dyne-cm, this radius implies a high stress drop of about 96 bars. Evidence in the amplitude data indicates that the polarization angle of shear waves is very sensitive to lateral structure.

Network-averaged teleseismic P-wave spectra for underground explosions. Part II. Source characteristics of Pahute Mesa explosions

1989 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. 156-171
Author(s):  
John R. Murphy
Keyword(s):  
Frequency Band ◽  
P Wave ◽  
Spectral Amplitude ◽  
Model Parameters ◽  
Scaling Analysis ◽  
Wave Spectra ◽  
Amplitude Data ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Frequency Independent ◽  
Averaged Model

Abstract A source scaling analysis is presented based on network-averaged, teleseismic P-wave spectra determined from short-period data recorded from a sample of 20 Pahute Mesa explosions. These explosions, which were all detonated below the water table in saturated tuff/rhyolite emplacement media, cover a range of announced yields from 155 to 1300 kt. The spectra were analyzed using a simple set of source and propagation models consisting of a Mueller/Murphy source coupling model, a conventional, frequency-independent t* model of anelastic attenuation and a “quasi-linear” description of the surface-reflected pP phase. It is demonstrated that these models can account for virtually all the observed spectral variability over the frequency band extending from 0.5 to 2.0 Hz, down to a level which is close to that associated with measurement uncertainty. In particular, the use of network averaged model parameters of t* = 0.75 sec, an average pP/P-amplitude ratio of about 0.4 and an average source medium velocity of 3.5 km/sec reduces the spectral amplitude data from these explosions to an essentially frequency-independent constant value with an associated standard error of estimate which averages to only about 20 per cent over this frequency band.

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