Modeling guided waves to constrain the velocity structure of the oceanic crust in the subduction zone of eastern Alaska

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoyu Guan ◽  
Yuanze Zhou ◽  
Takashi Furumura
Keyword(s):  
Subduction Zone ◽  
Oceanic Crust ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Subduction Zones ◽  
Guided Waves ◽  
Velocity Structure ◽  
Guided Wave ◽  
S Wave ◽  
Arrival Times ◽  
Velocity Models

<p>Fitting subduction zone guided waves with synthetics is an ideal choice for studying the velocity structure of the oceanic crust. After an earthquake occurs in subduction zones, seismic waves can be trapped in the low-velocity oceanic crust and propagated as guided waves. The arrival time and frequency characteristics of the guided waves can be used to image the velocity structure of the oceanic crust. The analysis and modeling based on guided wave observations provide a rare opportunity to understand the velocity structure of the oceanic crust and the variations in oceanic crustal materials during the subduction process.</p><p>High-frequency guided waves have been observed in the subduction zone of eastern Alaska. On several sections, observed seismograms recorded by seismic stations show low-frequency (<2Hz) onsets ahead of the main high-frequency (>2Hz) guided waves. Differences in the arrival times and dispersion characteristics of seismic phases are related to the velocity structure of the oceanic crust, and the characteristics of coda waves are related to the distribution of elongated scatters in the oceanic crust. Through fitting the observed broadband waveforms and synthetics modeled with the 2-D FDM (Finite Difference Method), we obtain the preferred oceanic crustal velocity models for several sections in the subduction zone of eastern Alaska. The preferred models can explain the seismic phase arrival times, dispersions, and coda characteristics in the observed waveforms. With the obtained P- and S- wave models of velocity structures on several sections, the material compositions they represent are deduced, and the variations of oceanic crustal materials during subducting can be understood. This provides new evidence for studying the details of the subduction process in the subduction zone of eastern Alaska.</p>

Loma Prieta aftershock relocation with S-P travel times: Effects of 3-D structure and true error estimates

1991 ◽  
Vol 81 (5) ◽  
pp. 1705-1725
Author(s):  
Susan Y. Schwartz ◽  
Glenn D. Nelson
Keyword(s):  
Arrival Time ◽  
Velocity Structure ◽  
P Wave ◽  
S Wave ◽  
Time Data ◽  
Arrival Times ◽  
Velocity Models ◽  
Earthquake Locations ◽  
Phase Data ◽  
Loma Prieta

Abstract Aftershocks of the 18 October 1989 Loma Prieta, California, earthquake are located using S-P arrival-time measurements from stations of the PASSCAL aftershock deployment. We demonstrate the effectiveness of using S-P arrival-time data in locating earthquakes recorded by a sparse three-component network. Events are located using the program QUAKE3D (Nelson and Vidale, 1990) with both 2-D and 3-D velocity models that have been developed independently for this region. The dense coverage of the area around the Loma Prieta rupture zone by instruments of the California Network (CALNET) has allowed the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to find P-wave earthquake locations for both velocity models, which we compare with our solutions. We also perform synthetic calculations to estimate realistic location errors resulting from uncertainties in both the 3-D velocity structure and the timing of arrivals. These calculations provide a comparison of location accuracies obtained using S-P arrival times, S and P arrival times, and P times alone. We estimate average absolute errors in epicentral location and in depth for the Loma Prieta aftershocks to be just under 2 km and 1 km, respectively, using S-P phase data and the sparse PASSCAL instrument coverage. The synthetic tests show that these errors are much smaller than those predicted using P-wave data alone and are nearly the same as those predicted using S- and P-phase data separately. This suggests that future aftershock recording deployments with sparse networks of three-component data can retrieve accurate event locations even if absolute timing is problematic. We find moderate differences between our locations and those determined by the USGS from a larger network of stations; however, common characteristics in both seismicity patterns are apparent. Neither set of locations yields earthquake patterns that can be easily interpreted in terms of simple faulting geometries. The absence of a simple pattern in both sets of earthquake locations indicates that this complexity is not the result of earthquake mislocation but is a genuine feature of the seismicity. A deep southwesterly dipping plane and a near-vertical fault extending from the surface to at least 7-km depth beneath the surface trace of the San Andreas Fault are imaged by both sets of earthquake locations. Although earthquake locations indicate the existence of many more fault segments, the complexity of this region requires that a definitive picture of the faulting geometry will have to await improvement in our knowledge of the P- and S-wave velocity structures.

Modeling fault‐zone guided waves of microearthquakes in a geothermal reservoir

Geophysics ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 1278-1284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min Lou ◽  
José A. Rial ◽  
P. E. Malin
Keyword(s):  
Fault Zone ◽  
Guided Waves ◽  
Velocity Structure ◽  
Geothermal Field ◽  
Guided Wave ◽  
S Wave ◽  
Low Velocity ◽  
Geothermal Fields ◽  
Coso Geothermal Field ◽  
Fault Zone Structures

Fault‐zone guided waves have been identified in microearthquake seismograms recorded at the Coso Geothermal Field, California. The observed guided waves have particle motions and propagation group velocities similar to Rayleigh wave modes. A numerical method has been employed to simulate the guided‐wave propagation through the fault zone. By comparing observed and synthetic waveforms the fault‐zone width and its P‐ and S‐wave velocity structure have been estimated. It is suggested here that the identification and modeling of such guided waves is an effective tool to locate fracture‐induced, low‐velocity fault‐zone structures in geothermal fields.

Shallow velocity structure and poisson's ratio at the Tarzana, California, strong-motion accelerometer site

1996 ◽  
Vol 86 (6) ◽  
pp. 1704-1713 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. D. Catchings ◽  
W. H. K. Lee
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Velocity Structure ◽  
Strong Motion ◽  
P Wave ◽  
S Wave ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Velocity Models ◽  
Wave Velocities ◽  
Poisson's Ratios ◽  
Poisson’S Ratios

Abstract The 17 January 1994, Northridge, California, earthquake produced strong ground shaking at the Cedar Hills Nursery (referred to here as the Tarzana site) within the city of Tarzana, California, approximately 6 km from the epicenter of the mainshock. Although the Tarzana site is on a hill and is a rock site, accelerations of approximately 1.78 g horizontally and 1.2 g vertically at the Tarzana site are among the highest ever instrumentally recorded for an earthquake. To investigate possible site effects at the Tarzana site, we used explosive-source seismic refraction data to determine the shallow (<70 m) P-and S-wave velocity structure. Our seismic velocity models for the Tarzana site indicate that the local velocity structure may have contributed significantly to the observed shaking. P-wave velocities range from 0.9 to 1.65 km/sec, and S-wave velocities range from 0.20 and 0.6 km/sec for the upper 70 m. We also found evidence for a local S-wave low-velocity zone (LVZ) beneath the top of the hill. The LVZ underlies a CDMG strong-motion recording site at depths between 25 and 60 m below ground surface (BGS). Our velocity model is consistent with the near-surface (<30 m) P- and S-wave velocities and Poisson's ratios measured in a nearby (<30 m) borehole. High Poisson's ratios (0.477 to 0.494) and S-wave attenuation within the LVZ suggest that the LVZ may be composed of highly saturated shales of the Modelo Formation. Because the lateral dimensions of the LVZ approximately correspond to the areas of strongest shaking, we suggest that the highly saturated zone may have contributed to localized strong shaking. Rock sites are generally considered to be ideal locations for site response in urban areas; however, localized, highly saturated rock sites may be a hazard in urban areas that requires further investigation.

Tuning S-Wave Velocity Structure of Deep Sedimentary Layers in the Shimousa Region of the Kanto Basin, Japan, Using Autocorrelation of Strong-Motion Records

2020 ◽  
Vol 110 (6) ◽  
pp. 2882-2891
Author(s):  
Kosuke Chimoto ◽  
Hiroaki Yamanaka
Keyword(s):  
Wave Velocity ◽  
Velocity Structure ◽  
Strong Motion ◽  
S Wave ◽  
Reflected Waves ◽  
Arrival Times ◽  
Strong Motion Records ◽  
Kanto Basin ◽  
Determination Of Parameters

ABSTRACT The autocorrelation of ambient noise is used to capture reflected waves for crustal and sedimentary structures. We applied autocorrelation to strong-motion records to capture the reflected waves from sedimentary layers and used them for tuning the S-wave velocity structure of these layers. Because a sedimentary-layered structure is complicated and generates many reflected waves, it is important to identify the boundary layer from which the waves reflected. We used spectral whitening during autocorrelation analysis to capture the reflected waves from the seismic bedrock with an appropriate smoothing band, which controls the wave arrival from the desired layer boundary. The effect of whitening was confirmed by the undulation frequency observed in the transfer function of the sedimentary layers. After careful determination of parameters for spectral whitening, we applied data processing to the strong-motion records observed at the stations in the Shimousa region of the Kanto Basin, Japan, to estimate the arrival times of the reflected waves. The arrival times of the reflected waves were found to be fast in the northern part of the Shimousa region and slow in the western and southern parts. These arrival times are consistent with those obtained using existing models. Because we observed a slight difference in the arrival times, the autocorrelation function at each station was used for tuning the S-wave velocity structure model of the sedimentary layers using the inversion technique. The tuned models perfectly match the autocorrelation functions in terms of the arrival time of the reflected waves from the seismic bedrock.

Ambient lower mantle structure and composition inferred from seismic tomography, convection models, and geochemistry.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grace E. Shephard ◽  
John Hernlund ◽  
Christine Houser ◽  
Reidar Trønnes ◽  
Fabio Crameri
Keyword(s):  
Lower Mantle ◽  
Subduction Zones ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Seismic Velocity ◽  
Seismic Signal ◽  
High Viscosity ◽  
S Wave ◽  
Velocity Models ◽  
Reference Velocity ◽  
Seismic Anomalies

<p>The lower mantle can be grouped into high, low, and average (i.e., ambient) seismic velocity domains at each depth, based on the amplitude and polarity of wavespeed perturbations (% δlnVs, % δlnVp). Many studies focus on elucidating the thermo-chemical and structural origins of fast and slow domains, in particular. Subducted slabs are associated with fast seismic anomalies throughout the mantle, and reconstructed palaeo-positions of Cenozoic to Mesozoic subduction zones agrees with seismically imaged deep slabs. Conversely, slow wavespeed domains account for the two antipodal LLSVPs in the lowermost mantle, which are potentially long-lived features, as well as rising hot mantle above the LLSVPs and discrete mantle plumes. However, low-amplitude wavespeeds (close to the reference velocity models) are often overlooked By comparing multiple P- and S-wave tomographic models individually, and through “vote maps”, we reveal the depth-dependent characteristics and the geometry of ambient structures, and compare them to numerical convection models. The ambient velocity domains may contain early refractory and bridgmantic mantle with elevated Si/(Mg+Fe) and Mg/Fe ratios (BEAMS; bridgmanite-enriched mantle structures). They could have formed by early basal magma ocean (BMO) fractionation during a period of core-BMO exchange of SiO<sub>2</sub> (from core to BMO) and FeO (from BMO to core), or represent cumulates of BMO crystallization with bridgmanite as the liquidus phase. The high viscosity of bridgmanitic material may promote its convective aggregation and stabilise the large-scale, degree-2 convection pattern. Despite its high viscosity, bridgmanitic material, representing a primitive and refractory reservoir for primordial-like He and Ne components, might be entrained in vigorous, deep-rooted plumes. The restriction of a weak seismic signal, ascribed to iron spin-pairing in ferropericlase, to the fast and slow domains, supports the notion that the ambient lower mantle domains are bridgmanitic.</p>

Lithospheric structure of the Arabian Shield from joint inversion of P- and S-wave receiver functions and dispersion velocities

2015 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 239-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdullah M. Al-Amri
Keyword(s):  
Green's Functions ◽  
Velocity Structure ◽  
Green’S Functions ◽  
Joint Inversion ◽  
Receiver Functions ◽  
Gulf Of Aqaba ◽  
Arabian Shield ◽  
S Wave ◽  
Velocity Models ◽  
Seismic Networks

Abstract New velocity models of lithospheric thickness and velocity structure have been developed for the Arabian Shield by three tasks: 1) Computing P-Wave Receiver Functions (PRFs) and S-Wave Receiver Functions (SRFs) for all the broadband stations within the Saudi seismic networks. The number of receiver function waveforms depends on the recording time window and quality of the broadband station. 2) Computing ambient noise correlation Green’s functions for all available station pairs within the Saudi seismic networks to image the shear velocity in the crust and uppermost mantle beneath the Arabian Peninsula. Together they provided hundreds of additional, unique paths exclusively sampling the region of interest. Both phase and group velocities for all the resulting empirical Green’s functions have been measured and to be used in the joint inversion. 3) Jointly inverted the PRFs and SRFs obtained in task 1 with dispersion velocities measured on the Green’s functions obtained in task 2 and with fundamental-mode, Rayleigh-wave, group and phase velocities borrowed from the tomographic studies to precisely determine 1D crustal velocity structure and upper mantle. The analysis of the PRFs revealed values of 25-45 km for crustal thickness, with the thin crust next to the Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba and the thicker crust under the platform, and Vp/Vs ratios in the 1.70-1.80 range, suggesting a range of compositions (felsic to mafic) for the shield’s crust. The migrated SRFs suggest lithospheric thicknesses in the 80-100 km range for portions of the shield close to the Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba and near the Arabian Gulf. Generally, the novelty of the velocity models developed under this paper has consisted in the addition of SRF data to extend the velocity models down to lithospheric and sub-lithospheric depths.

Guided Waves Tomography and Image Fusion for Damage Identification in Pipes

2011 ◽  
Vol 94-96 ◽  
pp. 1585-1589 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hai Yan Zhang ◽  
Jian Bo Yu ◽  
Xian Hua Chen
Keyword(s):  
Image Fusion ◽  
Guided Waves ◽  
Damage Identification ◽  
Tomographic Reconstruction ◽  
Element Model ◽  
Guided Wave ◽  
Reconstruction Technique ◽  
Arrival Times ◽  
Iterative Reconstruction Technique ◽  
Incomplete Datasets

The detection of localized defects such as cracks and corrosion in pipes using guided waves has been shown to be an effective nondestructive evaluation technique for structural health monitoring (SHM). Cross borehole tomography in seismology is introduced into the guided wave inspection of a pipe when the pipe is considered as an unwrapped plate. Guided waves propagating in pipe with a crack defect are simulated using the finite element model and the arrival times for the fastest modes are extracted and sent to the tomographic algorithm. The tomographic reconstruction is based on the simultaneous iterative reconstruction technique (SIRT). For some cylindrical shell geometries such as stacked storage tanks, access to the entire circumference of the structure could be impractical or even impossible, three different image fusion techniques are used to enhance the image equality reconstructed from the incomplete datasets. The results show that the defect is more pronounced after imaging fusion.

Microearthquake S-wave observations from 0 to 1 km in the Varian well at Parkfield, California

1995 ◽  
Vol 85 (6) ◽  
pp. 1805-1820
Author(s):  
Denis Jongmans ◽  
Peter E. Malin
Keyword(s):  
Fault Zone ◽  
Guided Waves ◽  
Velocity Structure ◽  
San Andreas Fault ◽  
High Gain ◽  
S Wave ◽  
Lateral Velocity ◽  
Wave Amplification ◽  
S Waves ◽  
San Andreas

Abstract High-gain three-component seismometers from 0- to 1-km deep along the Varian A-1 well at Parkfield, California, were used to record the waveforms of nearby microearthquakes. Despite being in the thick Tertiary sediments of the Parkfield Syncline, the S-wave amplification at this site is only about a factor of 3. The spectral content and spectral ratios of S waves along the well show that the average Qs in the top 1 km at this site is 37, with the Qs in different subintervals varying between 8 and 65. Based on initial S-wave polarizations, a complex S-wave velocity structure must exist at and below the Varian site. This structure appears to include position-dependent anisotropy as well as steep lateral velocity gradients. At a depth of 1 km, S-wave splitting parallel and normal to the San Andreas fault zone is consistently observed. This splitting scales at roughly 0.01 sec/km. Subsequent to the split S waves, the particle motion seems to be controlled by event focal mechanism. Above 1 km, the upgoing S waves attenuate and change directions of polarization, with a new splitting rate of 0.1 sec/km. Uniquely, for some events on the San Andreas fault immediately below the Varian site, large, post-S-wave signals with normal dispersion are present. We propose that these phases are fault-zone guided waves channeled from the San Andreas fault to the Varian site along the Gold Hill fault.

Twin induced attenuation of seismic anisotropy in lawsonite blueschist

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seungsoon Choi ◽  
Olivier Fabbri ◽  
Gültekin Topuz ◽  
Aral Okay ◽  
Haemyeong Jung
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscope ◽  
Oceanic Crust ◽  
Subduction Zones ◽  
Seismic Anisotropy ◽  
Elastic Anisotropy ◽  
S Wave ◽  
Electron Backscattered Diffraction ◽  
Crystal Preferred Orientation ◽  
Fabric Strength ◽  
Scanning Electron

<p>Lawsonite is an important mineral to understand seismic anisotropy in subducting oceanic crust because of its large elastic anisotropy and prevalence in cold subduction zones. However, there is a lack of knowledge on how lawsonite twinning affects seismic anisotropy despite previous reports showing the existence of twins in lawsonite. We thus investigated the effect of twins in lawsonite on crystal preferred orientation (CPO), fabric strength, and seismic anisotropy of lawsonite using the lawsonite blueschists from Alpine Corsica (France) and Sivrihisar Massif (Turkey). CPOs of minerals were measured by using the electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) facility attached to scanning electron microscope. The EBSD analyses of lawsonite revealed that {110} twin in lawsonite is developed and [001] axes are strongly aligned subnormal to the foliation and both [100] and [010] axes are aligned subparallel to the foliation. It is found that the existence of twins in lawsonite could induce a large attenuation of seismic anisotropy, especially for the maximum S-wave anisotropy up to 18.4 % in lawsonite and 24.3 % in the whole rocks. Therefore, lawsonite twinning needs to be considered in the interpretation of seismic anisotropy in the subducting oceanic crust in cold subduction zones.</p>

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