Observations of PKiKP at distances less than 110°

1973 ◽  
Vol 63 (5) ◽  
pp. 1699-1707
Author(s):  
Goetz G. R. Buchbinder ◽  
C. Wright ◽  
G. Poupinet

abstract PKiKP phases have been identified at the Yellowknife Array from one nuclear explosion at a distance of 44°, and 18 earthquakes over the distance range 70° to 100°. In addition, PKiKP phases from two nuclear events were observed at 8 single seismometer stations at distances between 21° and 43°. The measured travel times and slownesses agree satisfactorily with those calculated using recent core models. The observed amplitudes are also close to the predicted values when compared with PKiKP amplitudes determined at LASA in Montana. Because of the large scatter of the observed PKiKP amplitudes and the complexities associated with the reflection of PcP, the amplitude ratio PKiKP/PcP does not readily yield detailed information on the inner core boundary.

1973 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 1073-1105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony Qamar

abstract Travel times and amplitudes of PKP and PKKP from three earthquakes and four underground nuclear explosions are presented. Observations of reflected core waves at nearly normal angles of incidence provide new constraints on the average velocities in the inner and outer core. Interpretation of these data suggests that several small but significant changes to Bolt's (1962) core velocity model (T2) are necessary. A revised velocity model KOR5 is given together with the derived travel times that are consistent with the 1968 tables for P. Model KOR5 possesses a velocity in the transition zone which is 112 per cent lower than that in model T2. In addition, KOR5 has a velocity jump at the transition zone boundary (r = 1782 km) of 0.013 km/sec and a jump at the inner core boundary (r = 1213 km) of 0.6 km/sec. These values are, respectively, 1/20 and 2/3 of the corresponding model T2 values.


1971 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 429-456 ◽  
Author(s):  
Goetz G. R. Buchbinder

abstract Travel times and amplitudes of PKP, P2KP and higher multiple K phases are determined from a worldwide distribution of short-period seismograms. The sources are one explosion in Novaya-Zemlya and seven earthquakes, consisting of one intermediate focus event in the New Hebrides, and deep-focus events in Fiji, Java, Kermadec Islands, and Peru. The data are used to determine a new velocity model of the lowest mantle and the core. In the new velocity model 132, the velocity of the bottom of the mantle is 13.44 km/sec; the core mantle boundary is placed at 2892 ± 2 km. The velocity model of the core produces the PKP caustic B1 at 143° and the P2KP caustic B2 at −125°. A velocity discontinuity of 0.01 km/sec at a depth of 4550 km represents the top of the transition zone to account for the earliest forerunners of PKP. To account for the later forerunners a second discontinuity of 0.02 km/sec is placed at a depth of 4850 km. Since the forerunner data could not be resolved into branches, neither discontinuity is well defined. The top of the inner core boundary is placed at a depth of 5145 km with an uncertainty of at least 10 km and represents a discontinuity of 0.576 km/sec. Older core models have transition zone discontinuities an order of magnitude larger than those of model 132 with a discontinuity at the inner core boundary of about 1 km/sec. The smaller velocity discontinuities are a result of interpreting the amplitudes and travel times of PKP so that the turning points D and G are located at 120° and 140°, respectively, rather than at 110° and 125° as in previous interpretations. Amplitude ratios of PKP phases yield an inner core Q of about 400 and amplitude ratios of P3KP, P4KP and P5KP result in an outer core Q of about 4000.


1969 ◽  
Vol 91 (4) ◽  
pp. 1100-1104
Author(s):  
J. P. Ries ◽  
W. G. Harrach

The motion of an infinite, flat plate undergoing free oscillations as a submerged pendulum in a viscous fluid is analyzed. An analytical solution has been obtained through a simultaneous solution of the equation of motion for the plate, the drag force relationship, and the boundary-layer equations for the case of laminar, incompressible, unsteady flow. Expressions for the displacement and velocity of the plate appear as the sum of a damped harmonic oscillation and a particular solution which decays asymptotically to zero with increasing time. The period and logarithmic decrement are expressed as functions of a single parameter which contains the physical properties of the fluid and dimensions of the system. Predicted values of plate displacement, plate velocity, amplitude ratio, and damped oscillation period are compared to the results of an experimental investigation performed in water and a light oil.


1972 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 1063-1071 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. D. Adams

Abstract The phases P2KP, P3KP, and P4KP are well recorded from the Novaya Zemlya nuclear explosion of October 14, 1970, with the branch AB at distances of up to 20° beyond the theoretical end point A. This extension is attributed to diffraction around the core-mantle boundary. A slowness dT/dΔ = 4.56±0.02 sec/deg is determined for the AB branch of P4KP, in excellent agreement with recent determinations of the slowness of diffracted P. This slowness implies a velocity of 13.29±0.06 km/sec at the base of the mantle, and confirms recent suggestions of a low-velocity channel above the core-mantle boundary. There is evidence that arrivals recorded before the AB branch of P2KP may lie on two branches, with different slownesses. The ratio of amplitudes of successive orders of multiple inner core reflections gives a lower bound of about 2200 for Q in the outer core.


Science ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 375 (6577) ◽  
pp. 202-205
Author(s):  
Richard G. Kraus ◽  
Russell J. Hemley ◽  
Suzanne J. Ali ◽  
Jonathan L. Belof ◽  
Lorin X. Benedict ◽  
...  

Terapascal iron-melting temperature The pressure and temperature conditions at which iron melts are important for terrestrial planets because they determine the size of the liquid metal core, an important factor for understanding the potential for generating a radiation-shielding magnetic field. Kraus et al . used laser-driven shock to determine the iron-melt curve up to a pressure of 1000 gigapascals (see the Perspective by Zhang and Lin). This value is about three times that of the Earth’s inner core boundary. The authors found that the liquid metal core lasted the longest for Earth-like planets four to six times larger in mass than the Earth. —BG


1964 ◽  
Vol 54 (6A) ◽  
pp. 1915-1925 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Lehmann

abstract The European records from distances 36°-50° of the deep Hindu Kush earthquake of March 4, 1949 were studied. The many clearly recorded deep-focus reflections lend to the records a characteristic appearance which is repeated in many other shocks from the same focal region. The ratios of the amplitudes of these phases vary somewhat from one shock to another. In the shock here considered sP and sPP are exceptionally large at most stations; in the Italian stations they are not so large, while pP is a clear phase. pP is not very well defined at most other stations. Most of the 1949 records were from the old type long-period instruments having their highest magnification for periods from about 5 sec to 12 sec. Present day instruments of quite short or of very long proper period while admirable for many purposes do not record waves in this period range very well and therefore do not produce a satisfactory picture of the forerunners of earthquakes. The difference between the records obtained on different instruments is illustrated. It is shown in examples that the amplitude ratio PP:P may differ strongly at the same epicentral distance and also that pP may vary greatly with azimuth. The deficiency of station readings is noted. Travel times and their residuals are tabulated and travel times plotted versus epicentral distances.


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