The structure of the outer core from SKS amplitudes and travel times

1977 ◽  
Vol 67 (6) ◽  
pp. 1541-1554
Author(s):  
R. Kind ◽  
G. Müller

abstract Worldwide long-period observations of five deep-focus earthquakes from the Tonga-Fiji region have been studied. Observed amplitude ratios SKS/SKKS and difference travel times of SKS and SKKS have been compared with theoretical values for conventional core models. The correction of observed discrepancies leads to a new model of the outer core with a zone of increased velocities around 3750-km depth. In spite of extensive search for other, significantly different models explaining the observations, none has been found. Our model implies pronounced chemical inhomogeneity of the outer core.

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.


1952 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 313-314
Author(s):  
V. C. Stechschulte

Abstract A simple method is outlined for obtaining from a time-distance curve of a deep-focus earthquake a table of travel times within an earth “stripped” to the depth h, the depth of focus. The method depends on the fact that such a curve for a deep-focus earthquake has a point of inflection and therefore has the same slope at two different values of epicentral distance. The Herglotz-Wiechert method may then be applied to these travel times to obtain a velocity-depth distribution.


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.


1969 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 755-769
Author(s):  
K. L. Kaila

abstract A new analytical method for the determination of velocity at the hypocenter of a deep earthquake has been developed making use of P- and S-wave travel times. Unlike Gutenberg's method which is graphical in nature, the present method makes use of the least square technique and as such it yields more quantitative estimates of the velocities at depth. The essential features of this method are the determination from the travel times of a deep-focus earthquake the lower and upper limits Δ1 and Δ2 respectively of the epicentral distance between which p = (dT/dΔ) in the neighborhood of inflection point can be considered stationary so that the travel-time curve there can be approximated to a straight line T = pΔ + a. From p = (1/v*) determined from the straight line least-square fit made on the travel-time observation points between Δ1 and Δ2 for various focal depths, upper-mantle velocity structure can be obtained by making use of the well known relation v = v*(r0 − h)/r0, h being the focal depth of the earthquake, r0 the radius of the Earth, v* the apparent velocity at the point of inflection and v the true velocity at that depth. This method not only gives an accurate estimate of p, at the same time it also yields quite accurate value of a which is a function of focal depth. Calibration curves can be drawn between a and the focal depth h for various regions of the Earth where deep focus earthquakes occur, and these calibration curves can then be used with advantage to determine the focal depths of deep earthquakes in those areas.


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.


2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wang Lin

Constructivism is a theory related to knowledge and learning, focusing on learners’ subjective initiative, based on which the interactive approach has been proved to play a crucial role in language learning. Accordingly, the interactive approach can also be applied to translation teaching since translation itself is a bilingual transformational and communicative act. For a long period of time, there are a few universities in China having made use of network for translation teaching, but it is a pity that the most popular communicative software Wechat has not been attached importance to. This paper aims to elaborate the problems in current translation teaching and construct a new model for translation teaching through Wechat so as to further improve students’ subjective initiative and the teaching efficiency.


2009 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 1611
Author(s):  
Yuichi Momoi ◽  
Kazuhiko Tamai ◽  
Chang-ho Oh ◽  
Tae-rim Lee ◽  
Kyeong-jin Kim ◽  
...  
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