The characteristic of source spectra and stress drop of earthquakes in the Bucaramanga nest

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenzheng Gong ◽  
Xiaofei Chen
Keyword(s):  
Focal Mechanism ◽  
Stress Drop ◽  
Source Parameters ◽  
Time Function ◽  
Corner Frequency ◽  
Ratio Method ◽  
Source Time Function ◽  
Spectra Analysis ◽  
Source Spectra ◽  
Very High

<p>Spectra analysis is helpful to understand earthquake rupture processes and estimate source parameters like stress drop. Obtaining real source spectra and source time function isn’t easy, because the station recordings contain path effect and we usually can’t get precise path information. Empirical Green’s function (EGF) method is a popular way to cancel out the path effect, main two of which are the stacking spectra method (Prieto et al, 2006) and the spectral ratio method (Viegas et al, 2010; Imanishi et al, 2006). In our study, we apply the latter with multitaper spectral analysis method (Prieto et al, 2009) to calculate relative source spectra and relative source time function. Target event and EGFs must have similar focal mechanism and be collocated, so we combine correlation coefficient of wave at all stations and focal mechanism similarity to select proper EGFs.</p><p>The Bucaramanga nest has very high seismicity, so it’s suitable to calculate source spectra by using EGF method. We calculate the source spectra and source time function of about 1540 earthquakes (3-5.7ml, 135-160km depth) at Bucaramanga nest in Colombia. Simultaneously we also estimate corner frequency by fitting spectral source model (Brune, 1970; Boatwright, 1980) and stress drop using simple model (Eshelby, 1957) of earthquakes with multiple station recordings or EGFs. We obtain about 30000 events data with 12 stations from National Seismological Network of Colombia (RSNC).</p><p>The result show that the source spectra of most earthquakes fitted well by omega-square model are smooth, and the source spectra of some have obvious ‘holes’ near corner frequency, and the source time function of a few earthquakes appear two separate peeks. The first kind of earthquakes are style of self-arresting ruptures (Xu et al. 2015), which can be autonomously arrested by itself without any outside interference. Abercrombie (2014) and Wen et al. (2018) both researched the second kind of earthquakes and Wen think that this kind of earthquakes are style of the runaway ruptures including subshear and supershear ruptures. The last kind of earthquakes maybe be caused by simultaneous slip on two close rupture zone. Stress drop appear to slightly increase with depth and are very high (assuming rupture velocity/s wave velocity is 0.9). We also investigate the high-frequency falloff n, usually 2, of Brune model and Boatwright model by fitting all spectra, and find that the best value of n for Boatwright model is 2 and for Brune model is 3.5.</p>

scholarly journals Fully probabilistic seismic source inversion – Part 1: Efficient parameterisation

2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 1125-1162 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. C. Stähler ◽  
K. Sigloch
Keyword(s):  
Moment Tensor ◽  
Source Parameters ◽  
Practical Importance ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Seismic Source ◽  
Empirical Orthogonal Functions ◽  
Time Function ◽  
Source Inversion ◽  
Source Time Function ◽  
Earthquake Parameters

Abstract. Seismic source inversion is a non-linear problem in seismology where not just the earthquake parameters themselves, but also estimates of their uncertainties are of great practical importance. Probabilistic source inversion (Bayesian inference) is very adapted to this challenge, provided that the parameter space can be chosen small enough to make Bayesian sampling computationally feasible. We propose a framework for PRobabilistic Inference of Source Mechanisms (PRISM) that parameterises and samples earthquake depth, moment tensor, and source time function efficiently by using information from previous non-Bayesian inversions. The source time function is expressed as a weighted sum of a small number of empirical orthogonal functions, which were derived from a catalogue of >1000 STFs by a principal component analysis. We use a likelihood model based on the cross-correlation misfit between observed and predicted waveforms. The resulting ensemble of solutions provides full uncertainty and covariance information for the source parameters, and permits to propagate these source uncertainties into travel time estimates used for seismic tomography. The computational effort is such that routine, global estimation of earthquake mechanisms and source time functions from teleseismic broadband waveforms is feasible.

Improved approach for stress drop estimation and its application to an induced earthquake sequence in Oklahoma

2020 ◽  
Vol 223 (1) ◽  
pp. 233-253
Author(s):  
X Chen ◽  
R E Abercrombie
Keyword(s):  
Stress Drop ◽  
Source Parameters ◽  
High Stress ◽  
Temporal Variations ◽  
Earthquake Source ◽  
Average Stress ◽  
Corner Frequency ◽  
Resolution Limit ◽  
Spectral Fitting ◽  
Spatio Temporal

SUMMARY We calculate source parameters for fluid-injection induced earthquakes near Guthrie, Oklahoma, guided by synthetic tests to quantify uncertainties. The average stress drop during an earthquake is a parameter fundamental to ground motion prediction and earthquake source physics, but it has proved hard to measure accurately. This has limited our understanding of earthquake rupture, as well as the spatio-temporal variations of fault strength. We use synthetic tests based on a joint spectral-fitting method to define the resolution limit of the corner frequency as a function of the maximum frequency of usable signal, for both individual spectra and the average from multiple stations. Synthetic tests based on stacking analysis find that an improved stacking approach can recover the true input stress drop if the corner frequencies are within the resolution limit defined by joint spectral-fitting. We apply the improved approach to the Guthrie sequence, using different wave types and signal-to-noise criteria to understand the stability of the calculated stress drop values. The results suggest no systematic scaling relationship of stress drop for M ≤ 3.1 earthquakes, but larger events (M ≥ 3.5) tend to have higher average stress drops. Some robust spatio-temporal variations can be linked to the triggering processes and indicate possible stress heterogeneity within the fault zone. Tight clustering of low stress drop events at the beginning stage of the sequence suggests that pore pressure influences earthquake source processes. Events at shallow depth have lower stress drop compared to deeper events. The largest earthquake occurred within a cluster of high stress drop events, likely rupturing a strong asperity.

Stress-Drop Estimates for Induced Seismic Events in the Fort Worth Basin, Texas

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seong Ju Jeong ◽  
Brian W. Stump ◽  
Heather R. DeShon ◽  
Louis Quinones
Keyword(s):  
Stress Drop ◽  
Source Parameters ◽  
Fluid Pressure ◽  
Corner Frequency ◽  
Mean Stress ◽  
Fort Worth ◽  
Induced Earthquakes ◽  
Fort Worth Basin ◽  
Generalized Inversion Technique ◽  
Stress Drops

ABSTRACT Earthquakes in the Fort Worth basin (FWB) have been induced by the disposal of recovered wastewater associated with extraction of unconventional gas since 2008. Four of the larger felt earthquakes, each on different faults, prompted deployment of local distance seismic stations and recordings from these four sequences are used to estimate the kinematic source characteristics. Source spectra and the associated source parameters, including corner frequency, seismic moment, and stress drop, are estimated using a modified generalized inversion technique (GIT). As an assessment of the validity of the modified GIT approach, corner frequencies and stress drops from the GIT are compared to estimates using the traditional empirical Green’s function (EGF) method for 14 target events. For these events, corner-frequency residuals (GIT−EGF) have a mean of −0.31 Hz, with a standard deviation of 1.30 Hz. We find consistent mean stress drops using the GIT and EGF methods, 9.56 and 11.50 MPa, respectively, for the common set of target events. The GIT mean stress drop for all 79 earthquakes is 5.33 MPa, similar to estimates for global intraplate earthquakes (1–10 MPa) as well as other estimates for induced earthquakes near the study area (1.7–9.5 MPa). Stress drops exhibit no spatial or temporal correlations or depth dependency. In addition, there are no time or space correlations between estimated FWB stress drops and modeled pore-pressure perturbations. We conclude that induced earthquakes in the FWB occurring on normal faults in the crystalline basement release pre-existing tectonic stresses and that stress drops on the four sequences targeted in this study do not directly reflect perturbations in pore-fluid pressure on the fault.

scholarly journals Fully probabilistic seismic source inversion – Part 1: Efficient parameterisation

Solid Earth ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 1055-1069 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. C. Stähler ◽  
K. Sigloch
Keyword(s):  
Moment Tensor ◽  
Source Parameters ◽  
Practical Importance ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Seismic Source ◽  
Empirical Orthogonal Functions ◽  
Time Function ◽  
Source Inversion ◽  
Source Time Function ◽  
Earthquake Parameters

Abstract. Seismic source inversion is a non-linear problem in seismology where not just the earthquake parameters themselves but also estimates of their uncertainties are of great practical importance. Probabilistic source inversion (Bayesian inference) is very adapted to this challenge, provided that the parameter space can be chosen small enough to make Bayesian sampling computationally feasible. We propose a framework for PRobabilistic Inference of Seismic source Mechanisms (PRISM) that parameterises and samples earthquake depth, moment tensor, and source time function efficiently by using information from previous non-Bayesian inversions. The source time function is expressed as a weighted sum of a small number of empirical orthogonal functions, which were derived from a catalogue of >1000 source time functions (STFs) by a principal component analysis. We use a likelihood model based on the cross-correlation misfit between observed and predicted waveforms. The resulting ensemble of solutions provides full uncertainty and covariance information for the source parameters, and permits propagating these source uncertainties into travel time estimates used for seismic tomography. The computational effort is such that routine, global estimation of earthquake mechanisms and source time functions from teleseismic broadband waveforms is feasible.

A Study on the Largest Hydraulic-Fracturing-Induced Earthquake in Canada: Observations and Static Stress-Drop Estimation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bei Wang ◽  
Rebecca M. Harrington ◽  
Yajing Liu ◽  
Honn Kao ◽  
Hongyu Yu
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Fracturing ◽  
Stress Drop ◽  
Risk Mitigation ◽  
Source Parameters ◽  
B Value ◽  
Corner Frequency ◽  
Maximum Magnitude ◽  
Maximum Earthquake Magnitude ◽  
Tectonic Earthquakes ◽  
Maximum Earthquake

ABSTRACT On 17 August 2015, an Mw 4.6 earthquake occurred northwest of Fort St. John, British Columbia, possibly induced by hydraulic fracturing (HF). We use data from eight broadband seismometers located ∼50  km from the hypocenter to detect and estimate source parameters of more than 300 events proximal to the mainshock. Stress-drop values estimated using seismic moment and corner frequency from single-event spectra and spectral ratios range from ∼1 to 35 MPa, within the typical range of tectonic earthquakes. We observe an ∼5-day delay between the onset of fluid injection and the mainshock, a b-value of 0.78 for the sequence, and a maximum earthquake magnitude larger than the prediction based on the total injection volume, suggesting that the Mw 4.6 sequence occurred on a pre-existing fault and that the maximum magnitude is likely controlled by tectonic conditions. Results presented here show that pre-existing fault structures should be taken into consideration to better estimate seismic hazard associated with HF operations and to develop schemes for risk mitigation in close proximity to HF wells.

scholarly journals ANALISIS PARAMETER SUMBER SPEKTRAL GEMPABUMI VTA (VULKANO TEKTONIK-A) TERHADAP AKTIVITAS VULKANIK GUNUNG SINABUNG

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-23
Author(s):  
Tri Kusmita ◽  
Kirbani Brotopuspito ◽  
Hetty Triastuty
Keyword(s):  
Stress Drop ◽  
Seismic Moment ◽  
Source Parameters ◽  
Radiation Energy ◽  
Angular Frequency ◽  
Moment Magnitude ◽  
Corner Frequency ◽  
Volcanic Earthquake ◽  
Seismic Volumes ◽  
The Relationship

The source parameters describe the different physical properties of seismic volumes under the volcanoes. Source parameters that can be used to distinguish seismic events that are generated by different types of volcanoes activities. Temporary changes of the spectral source parameters provided a description of the main events during the eruption process.  Source parameters are calculated by correlating the relationship between source frequency at spectral displacement (corner frequency) and source parameters based on spectral sources of the Brune model (1970). The angular frequency obtained by applying the FFT algorithm to the VTA spectral displacement. The source parameters analyzed from this VTA earthquake are the spectral slope, seismic moment, stress drop, length of rupture, moment magnitude and radiation energy. Based on the obtained corner frequency (12 Hz-13 Hz), seismic moment, moment magnitude and energy radiation respectively were at 0.2 -1.9 x 1012 Nm, 0.7 - 2 Mw, and 0.1 - 9.5 x 1015 erg. The length of rupture were from 144.2 to 243.1 m, the spectra slope has 2.1 - 7.8 dB/cm, and stress drop are 0.1 - 7,6 bar. From the results of this study, it can be concluded that the changes of spectra characteristic and fluctuate of source patrameters value of VTA earthquakes was asosiated with the different  volcanic activity of Sinabung. Keywords: spectral, VTA, source parameter, volcanic earthquake

Simultaneous inversion for Q and source parameters of microearthquakes accompanying hydraulic fracturing in granitic rock

1991 ◽  
Vol 81 (2) ◽  
pp. 553-575 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Fehler ◽  
W. Scott Phillips
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Fracturing ◽  
Stress Drop ◽  
Source Parameters ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Seismic Energy ◽  
P Wave ◽  
Corner Frequency ◽  
Spectral Amplitude ◽  
Seismic Zone ◽  
Stress Drops

Abstract An inversion that fits spectra of earthquake waveforms and gives robust estimates of corner frequency and low-frequency spectral amplitude has been used to determine source parameters of 223 microearthquakes induced by hydraulic fracturing in granodiorite. Assuming a ω−2 source model, the inversion fits the P-wave spectra of microearthquake waveforms to determine individual values of corner frequency and low-frequency spectral amplitude for each event and one average frequency-independent Q for all source-receiver paths. We also implemented a constraint that stress drops of all microearthquakes be similar but not equal and found that this constraint did not significantly degrade the quality of the fits to the spectra. The waveforms analyzed were recorded by a borehole seismometer. The P-wave Q was found to be 1070. For Q values as low as 600 and as high as 3000, the misfit between model and spectra increased by less than 5 per cent and the average corner frequency changed by less than 15 per cent from those obtained with a Q of 1070. Average stress drop was 3.7 bars. Seismic moments obtained from spectra ranged from 1013 to 1018 dyne-cm. The low stress drops are interpreted to result from underestimation of the actual stress drops because of a nonuniform distribution of stress drop and slip along the fault planes. Spatially varying stress drops and slips result from the strong rock heterogeneity due to the injection of fluid into the rock. Stress drops were found to be larger near the edges of the seismic zone, in regions that had not been seismically active during previous injections. The seismic moments determined from spectra were used to obtain a coda length-to-moment relation. Then, moments were estimated for 1149 events from measurements of coda lengths from events whose moments could not be measured from spectra because of saturation or a low signal-to-noise ratio. The constant of proportionality between cumulative number of events and seismic moment is higher than that found for tectonic regions. The slope is so high that the seismic energy release is dominated by the large number of small events. In the absence of information about the number of events smaller than we studied, we cannot estimate the total seismic energy released by the hydraulic injection.

Statistical spectral model of earthquakes in the eastern Tohoku district, Japan, based on the surface and borehole records observed in Sendai

1997 ◽  
Vol 87 (2) ◽  
pp. 446-462
Author(s):  
Toshimi Satoh ◽  
Hiroshi Kawase ◽  
Toshiaki Sato
Keyword(s):  
Stress Drop ◽  
Site Response ◽  
Standard Penetration Test ◽  
Spectral Model ◽  
Corner Frequency ◽  
Quantitative Prediction ◽  
S Wave ◽  
Frequency Dependent ◽  
Initial Values ◽  
Source Spectra

Abstract Strong motions of 18 earthquakes (3.4 ≦ MJ ≦ 7.1, MJ: JMA magnitude) in the eastern Tohoku district, Japan, have been observed at 12 borehole sites within a 20- × 20-km region in Sendai. In our previous study, we defined a Pliocene layer, whose S-wave velocity VS is greater than 500 m/sec and whose N value of the standard penetration test is greater than 50, as engineering bedrock in Sendai and calculated 304 engineering bedrock waves (hypocentral distance X = 15 to 300 km) by removing the site response between the engineering bedrock and the surface. As the second stage of our study toward a quantitative prediction of strong ground motions of horizontal components, we propose here a statistical spectral model of the engineering bedrock waves by introducing the site response between the pre-Tertiary bedrock (VS ≈ 3000 m/sec) and the engineering bedrock (VS ≈ 500 to 700 m/sec) and a frequency-dependent Q into Boore's spectral model. We separate the site response between the pre-Tertiary bedrock and the engineering bedrock, an attenuation function, and source spectra from the engineering bedrock spectra by assuming an ω−2 model with the seismic moment M0 from the Harvard CMT solution estimated for earthquakes of MJ ≧ 5.3. Initial values of corner frequency f0 are determined based on a previous empirical M0 − f0 relationship in this district. Using six moderate-sized earthquakes (5.3 ≦ MJ ≦ 6.0), we first estimate frequency-dependent Q to be Q = 110f0.69 (f: frequency) by minimizing the standard deviation of the site response, which is defined as the ratio of observed engineering bedrock spectra with respect to the estimated attenuation and the assumed source spectra. The averaged site response is simultaneously estimated to be 1 at 0.1 Hz, 5 at 1 Hz, and 3 at 20 Hz. We then invert f0 and cutoff frequencies fmax for all 18 earthquakes and M0 for seven small-sized earthquakes of MJ < 5.3 by minimizing the difference between the model and observed spectra. The average Brune stress drop obtained from an M0 − f0 relationship estimated from 17 earthquakes except for the smallest earthquake with M0 less than 1021 dyne·cm is 200 bars. The estimated M0 − f0 relationship is identical to the one used to calculate initial values of f0 so that we do not need to perform the inversion iteratively. The obtained stress drop for subduction zone earthquakes in the eastern Tohoku district is consistent with other previous studies. The dependence of the inverted fmax on M0 is not significant, and the logarithmic average of fmax is found to be 13.5 Hz. By using these controlling parameters and the M0 − f0 relationship obtained from a regression analysis, acceleration spectra on the engineering bedrock in Sendai can be predicted statistically from X and M0 or MJ by considering standard deviations of the site response, f0, and fmax.

Insights into downhole array spectra of hydraulic-fracturing induced seismicity in the Horn River Basin, British Columbia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam Klinger ◽  
Max Werner
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Hydraulic Fracturing ◽  
Stress Drop ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Source Parameters ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Corner Frequency ◽  
Downhole Array ◽  
Horn River Basin ◽  
Downhole Arrays

<p>Hydraulic fracturing underpins tight shale gas exploration but can induce seismicity. During stimulations, operators carefully monitor the spatio-temporal distribution and source parameters of seismic events to be able to respond to any changes and potentially reduce the chances of fault reactivation. Downhole arrays of geophones offer unique access to (sub) microseismic source parameters and can provide new insights into the processes that induce seismicity. For example, variations in stress drop might indicate changes in the seismic response to injection (e.g. pore pressure variations). However, borehole arrays of geophones and the high frequencies of small events also present new challenges for source characterization. Stress drop depends on the corner frequency, a parameter with great uncertainty that is sensitive to attenuation, especially for (sub-) microseismicity. Here, we explore the behavior of microseismic spectra measured along borehole arrays and the effect of attenuation on estimates of corner frequency. We examine a dataset of over 90,000 microseismic events recorded during hydraulic fracturing in the Horn River Basin, British Columbia. We only see clear phase arrivals for events M<sub>w</sub> > -1 and restrict our initial analysis to a subsample of M<sub>w</sub>> 0 events that vary in space and time.</p><p>Our first observation is that some stations in the borehole array show an unexpected increase in the displacement energy from the low frequency to the corner frequency in the P and SH phases as well as high-frequency energy spikes inconsistent with a smooth Brune source model. A shorter time window that only captures the direct arrival results in a flatter low frequency plateau and reduces the amplitude of the pulses but compromises the resolution. The spikes may be caused by high frequency coda energy. We also find that corner frequency estimates decrease with decreasing station depth along the array in both the P and SH phases, a likely result of high frequency attenuation along the downhole array. The findings suggest Brune corner frequencies of moment magnitudes < 0.5 may not be resolvable even with downhole arrays at close proximity. Our results will eventually contribute to a better characterization of microseismic source parameters measured in borehole arrays.</p><p> </p>

Reliability of Source Parameters for Small Events in Central Italy: Insights from Spectral Decomposition Analysis Applied to Both Synthetic and Real Data

2020 ◽  
Vol 110 (6) ◽  
pp. 3139-3157
Author(s):  
Dino Bindi ◽  
Daniele Spallarossa ◽  
Matteo Picozzi ◽  
Paola Morasca
Keyword(s):  
Spectral Decomposition ◽  
Source Parameters ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Moment Magnitude ◽  
Corner Frequency ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Source Scaling ◽  
Source Spectra

ABSTRACT We apply a spectral decomposition approach to isolate the source spectra from propagation and site effects and, in turn, to estimate the source parameters of small-to-moderate earthquakes that occurred in central Italy. The data set is composed of about 400,000 waveforms relevant to 4111 earthquakes in the moment magnitude range 1.5–6.5, recorded by a high-density network of stations installed in the study area. We first investigate the reliability of the source parameters for small magnitudes through numerical simulations. We generate synthetic spectra for different source scaling models and near-surface attenuation effects, considering the source–station geometry and the data availability of the central Italy data set. Our analysis with synthetics shows that the spectral decomposition is effective in isolating the source contributions from other factors. Moreover, the analysis of the residual distributions suggests that moment magnitude 1.8 is the lower bound for the retrieval of reliable Brune’s source parameters, although we observe an increase of residual’s variability below magnitude 3, and the estimated source parameters could be biased below magnitude 2.3. Remarkably, the assessment of the stress drop Δσ for small events is strongly hampered by site-specific attenuation near the surface. In view of the results with synthetics, we analyze the source parameters of earthquakes recorded in central Italy. The corner frequency versus seismic moment relationship describes a source scaling in which Δσ increases with increasing moment magnitude Mw, the mean Δσ varying from 0.1 MPa for Mw<2 to 7.9 MPa for Mw>5. In particular, Δσ increases mainly for Mw in the ranges 2.5–3 and 4.5–5.2. The corner frequencies estimated from the apparent source spectra do not show any dependence on hypocentral distance and magnitude, confirming that uncorrected anelastic attenuation effects do not significantly bias the results.

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