A consistent and uniform research earthquake catalog for the AlpArray region

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene Molinari ◽  
Matteo Bagagli ◽  
Tobias Diehl ◽  
Edi Kissling ◽  
John Clinton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Velocity Model ◽  
Alpine Region ◽  
P Wave ◽  
Phase Identification ◽  
Earthquake Catalog ◽  
Secondary Phases ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Arrival Times ◽  
Initial Location

<p>We take advantage of the new large seismic data set provided by the AlpArray Seismic Network (AASN) as part of the AlpArray research initiative (www.alparray.ethz.ch), to provide consistent and precise hypocenter locations and uniform magnitude calculations across the greater Alpine region. The AASN is composed of more than 650 broadband seismic stations, 300 of which are temporary. The uniform station coverage provides an unique occasion to study the laterally strongly variable seismicity that is presently monitored and reported by a dozen individual observatories. A homogeneous earthquake catalog in terms of location and magnitude is a prerequisite to improve our understanding of seismo-tectonics and the seismic hazard in the greater Alpine region.</p><p>Our catalog covers four years of seismicity with a targeted magnitude of completeness of 2.5 from 2016 to 2019 and results from scanning ∼1000 broadband stations (∼60 TB of data). First, we detect and analyse events in the region using the STA/LTA based detector of the SeisComP3 monitoring system in off-line mode. Later, after an initial location has been obtained, we apply a high-quality semi-automated re-picking approach defining the consistent phase arrival times in combination with timing uncertainties and phase identification assessment. This automatic re-picking framework is implemented with the QUAKE library (Bagagli et al., 2019), an object-oriented Python package that exploit different waveform information both frequency- and energy- related by taking advantage of different well-established picking algorithms. The QUAKE picker has been tuned and tested against a consistent phases reference data set (P-, S- and secondary phases) of ∼2500 phases manually picked for 10 events (M≥ 2.5) homogeneously distributed in the region.</p><p>Subsequently, the high-quality automatic picks of selected well-locatable earthquakes are used to calculate a minimum 1D P-wave velocity model for the region with appropriate stations corrections. Finally, all events are relocated with the NonLinLoc algorithm in combination with the updated 1D model and a final estimate of the magnitude is given. We compare our locations and magnitudes with existing regional and local earthquake catalogs (ISC, EMSC, national catalogs) to assess and discuss the completeness and quality of the derived AlpArray research catalog.</p>

Seismic velocity structure and event relocation in Kazakhstan from secondary P phases

1992 ◽  
Vol 82 (6) ◽  
pp. 2494-2510
Author(s):  
H. R. Quin ◽  
C. H. Thurber
Keyword(s):  
Velocity Structure ◽  
Seismic Velocity ◽  
Epicentral Distance ◽  
Focal Depth ◽  
Velocity Model ◽  
P Wave ◽  
Secondary Phases ◽  
Arrival Times ◽  
Event Location ◽  
Reflectivity Method

Abstract Three-component seismic data from a set of presumed explosions recorded by stations at Bayanaul and Karkaralinsk in Kazakhstan were analyzed in order to model the crustal structure of the region and to examine the use of the arrival times of secondary P phases, primarily PmP, in regional event location. Polarization analysis aided in the identification of the secondary phases. Low-pass filtered data (4-Hz corner) from the first 5 to 10 sec of 13 presumed explosions were modeled with the reflectivity method. The two chemical explosions in 1987 provided a check on accuracy, as their locations and origin times are accurately known. A good fit to the arrival times and amplitudes in the first 5 sec of the P wave (Pn, Pg, and PmP) was obtained in the epicentral distance range of 100 to 300 km. Beyond 300 km, the simple layered model was not adequate to model the PmP arrival. The crustal P-wave velocity model we derived has an upper crustal velocity increasing fairly rapidly from 4.5 km/sec near the surface to 6.5 km/sec at 15-km depth, then increasing more slowly to 7.05 km/sec at 50-km depth. The observed difference in the arrival times of the phases Pg, PmP, and Pn in the range between 100- and 250-km distance required a relatively sharp transition at the crust mantle boundary. The model is generally similar to previous estimates of P velocity structure in the region, though with a gentler gradient in the upper crust and a steeper gradient in the lower crust. We used the derived crustal model and the primary and secondary P-wave arrival times to relocate events in the Kazakhstan region. Inclusion of the phase PmP substantially decreases the focal depth uncertainty for many of the events. All but one of the events analyzed are concluded to be surface explosions; the identity of the remaining event is uncertain.

The effects of data quality in local earthquake tomography: Application to the Alpine region

Geophysics ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 74 (6) ◽  
pp. WCB71-WCB79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephan Husen ◽  
Tobias Diehl ◽  
Edi Kissling
Keyword(s):  
Real Data ◽  
Alpine Region ◽  
Quality Data ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Solution Quality ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Arrival Times ◽  
Local Earthquake Tomography ◽  
Local Earthquake

Despite the increase in quality and number of seismic stations in many parts of the world, accurate timing of individual arrival times remains crucial for many tomographic applications. To achieve a data set of high quality, arrival times need to be picked with high accuracy, including a proper assessment of the uncertainty of timing and phase identification, and a high level of consistency. We have investigated the effects of data quantity and quality on the solution quality in local earthquake tomography. We have compared tomographic results obtained with synthetic and real data of two very different data sets. The first data set consisted of a large set of arrival times of low precision and unknown accuracy taken from the International Seismological Centre (ISC) Bulletin for the greater Alpine region. The second high-quality data set for the same region was seven times smaller and was obtained by automated quality-weighted repicking. During a first series of inversions, synthetic data resembling the two data sets were inverted with the same amount of Gaussian distributed noise added. Subsequently, during a second series of inversions, the noise level was increased successively for ISC data to study the effect of larger Gaussian distributed error on the solution quality. Finally, the real data for both data sets were inverted. These investigations showed that, for Gaussian distributed error, a smaller data set of high quality could achieve a similar or better solution quality than a data set seven times larger but about four times lower in quality. Our results further suggest that the quality of the ISC Bulletin is degraded significantly by inconsistencies, strongly limiting the use of this large data set for local earthquake tomography studies.

Passive seismic tomography using recorded microseismicity: Application to mining-induced seismicity

Geophysics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 84 (1) ◽  
pp. B41-B57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Himanshu Barthwal ◽  
Mirko van der Baan
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Tomography ◽  
Velocity Model ◽  
P Wave ◽  
Double Difference ◽  
Lateral Velocity ◽  
Study Region ◽  
Arrival Times ◽  
3D Velocity Model ◽  
Passive Seismic ◽  
Dip Angle

Microseismicity is recorded during an underground mine development by a network of seven boreholes. After an initial preprocessing, 488 events are identified with a minimum of 12 P-wave arrival-time picks per event. We have developed a three-step approach for P-wave passive seismic tomography: (1) a probabilistic grid search algorithm for locating the events, (2) joint inversion for a 1D velocity model and event locations using absolute arrival times, and (3) double-difference tomography using reliable differential arrival times obtained from waveform crosscorrelation. The originally diffusive microseismic-event cloud tightens after tomography between depths of 0.45 and 0.5 km toward the center of the tunnel network. The geometry of the event clusters suggests occurrence on a planar geologic fault. The best-fitting plane has a strike of 164.7° north and dip angle of 55.0° toward the west. The study region has known faults striking in the north-northwest–south-southeast direction with a dip angle of 60°, but the relocated event clusters do not fall along any mapped fault. Based on the cluster geometry and the waveform similarity, we hypothesize that the microseismic events occur due to slips along an unmapped fault facilitated by the mining activity. The 3D velocity model we obtained from double-difference tomography indicates lateral velocity contrasts between depths of 0.4 and 0.5 km. We interpret the lateral velocity contrasts in terms of the altered rock types due to ore deposition. The known geotechnical zones in the mine indicate a good correlation with the inverted velocities. Thus, we conclude that passive seismic tomography using microseismic data could provide information beyond the excavation damaged zones and can act as an effective tool to complement geotechnical evaluations.

scholarly journals Crustal velocity structure of the Apennines (Italy) from P-wave travel time tomography

1996 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Chiarabba ◽  
A. Amato
Keyword(s):  
Velocity Structure ◽  
P Wave ◽  
Depth Interval ◽  
Low Velocity ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Arrival Times ◽  
Velocity Anomaly ◽  
Minimum Number ◽  
Velocity Images ◽  
Lower Crustal

In this paper we provide P-wave velocity images of the crust underneath the Apennines (Italy), focusing on the lower crustal structure and the Moho topography. We inverted P-wave arrival times of earthquakes which occurred from 1986 to 1993 within the Apenninic area. To overcome inversion instabilities due to noisy data (we used bulletin data) we decided to resolve a minimum number of velocity parameters, inverting for only two layers in the crust and one in the uppermost mantle underneath the Moho. A partial inversion of only 55% of the overall dataset yields velocity images similar to those obtained with the whole data set, indicating that the depicted tomograms are stable and fairly insensitive to the number of data used. We find a low-velocity anomaly in the lower crust extending underneath the whole Apenninic belt. This feature is segmented by a relative high-velocity zone in correspondence with the Ortona-Roccamonfina line, that separates the northern from the southern Apenninic arcs. The Moho has a variable depth in the study area, and is deeper (more than 37 km) in the Adriatic side of the Northern Apennines with respect to the Tyrrhenian side, where it is found in the depth interval 22-34 km.

Imaging the Active Faults of the Central New Madrid Seismic Zone Using Panda Array Data

1992 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 375-393 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.M. Chiu ◽  
A.C. Johnston ◽  
Y.T. Yang
Keyword(s):  
Hanging Wall ◽  
Active Faults ◽  
Velocity Model ◽  
New Madrid Seismic Zone ◽  
Seismic Zone ◽  
Thrust Faults ◽  
Secondary Phases ◽  
Low Velocity ◽  
Data Set ◽  
New Madrid

Abstract More than 700 earthquakes have been located in the central New Madrid seismic zone during a two-year deployment of the PANDA array. Magnitudes range from < 0.0 to the mblg 4.6 Risco, Missouri earthquake of 4 May 1991. The entire data set is digital, three-component and on-scale. These data were inverted to obtain a new shallow crustal velocity model of the upper Mississippi embayment for both P- and S-waves. Initially, inversion convergence was hindered by extreme velocity contrasts between the soft, low-velocity surficial alluvial sediments and the underlying Paleozoic carbonate and clastic high-velocity rock. However, constraints from extensive well log data for the embayment, secondary phases (Sp and Ps), and abundant, high-quality shear-wave data have yielded a relatively robust inversion. This in turn has led to a hypocentral data set of unprecedented quality for the central New Madrid seismic zone. Contrary to previous studies that utilized more restricted data, the PANDA data clearly delineate planar concentrations of hypocenters that compel an interpretation as active faults. Our results corroborate the vertical (strike-slip) faulting of the the southwest (axial), north-northeast, and western arms and define two new dipping planes in the central segment. The seismicity of the left-step zone between the NE-trending vertical segments is concentrated about a plane that dips at ∼31°SW; a separate zone to the SE of the axial zone defines a plane that dips at ∼48°SW. The reason for this difference in dip, possibly defining segmentation of an active fault, is not dear. When these planes are projected up dip, they intersect the surface along the eastern boundary of the Lake County uplift (LCU) and the western portion of Reelfoot Lake. If these SW-dipping planes are thrust faults, then the LCU would be on the upthrown hanging wall and Reelfoot Lake on the downthrown footwall. If in turn these inferred thrust faults were involved in the 1811–12 and/or pre-1811 large earthquakes, they provide an internally consistent explanation for (1) the existence and location of the LCU, (2) the wide-to-the-north, narrow-to-the-south shape of the LCU, and (3) the subsidence and/or impoundment of Reelfoot Lake.

Joint microseismic event location and anisotropic velocity inversion with the cross double-difference method using downhole microseismic data

Geophysics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 85 (3) ◽  
pp. KS63-KS73
Author(s):  
Yangyang Ma ◽  
Congcong Yuan ◽  
Jie Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Arrival Time ◽  
Velocity Model ◽  
P Wave ◽  
Double Difference ◽  
S Wave ◽  
Arrival Times ◽  
Monitoring Well ◽  
The Cross ◽  
Microseismic Event ◽  
Wave Arrival

We have applied the cross double-difference (CDD) method to simultaneously determine the microseismic event locations and five Thomsen parameters in vertically layered transversely isotropic media using data from a single vertical monitoring well. Different from the double-difference (DD) method, the CDD method uses the cross-traveltime difference between the S-wave arrival time of one event and the P-wave arrival time of another event. The CDD method can improve the accuracy of the absolute locations and maintain the accuracy of the relative locations because it contains more absolute information than the DD method. We calculate the arrival times of the qP, qSV, and SH waves with a horizontal slowness shooting algorithm. The sensitivities of the arrival times with respect to the five Thomsen parameters are derived using the slowness components. The derivations are analytical, without any weak anisotropic approximation. The input data include the cross-differential traveltimes and absolute arrival times, providing better constraints on the anisotropic parameters and event locations. The synthetic example indicates that the method can produce better event locations and anisotropic velocity model. We apply this method to the field data set acquired from a single vertical monitoring well during a hydraulic fracturing process. We further validate the anisotropic velocity model and microseismic event locations by comparing the modeled and observed waveforms. The observed S-wave splitting also supports the inverted anisotropic results.

scholarly journals Reference P-wave velocity in coal seams at great depths in Jastrzebie coal mine

2019 ◽  
Vol 133 ◽  
pp. 01011
Author(s):  
Jakub Kokowski ◽  
Zbigniew Szreder ◽  
Elżbieta Pilecka
Keyword(s):  
Wave Velocity ◽  
Coal Mine ◽  
Velocity Model ◽  
P Wave ◽  
Coal Seams ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Seismic Profiling ◽  
Reference Velocity ◽  
P Wave Velocity ◽  
Geological Conditions

In the study, the determining of the reference velocity of the P-wave in coal seams used in seismic profiling to assess increases and decreases in relative stresses at large depths has been presented. The seismic profiling method proposed by Dubinski in 1989 covers a range of depth up to 970 m. At present, coal seams exploitation in Polish coal mines is conducted at greater depths, even exceeding 1200 m, which creates the necessity for a new reference velocity model. The study presents an empirical mathematical model of the change of the P-wave velocity in coal seams in the geological conditions of the Jastrzebie coal mine. A power model analogous to the Dubinski’s one was elaborated with new constants. The calculations included the results from 35 measurements of seismic profiling carried out in various coal seams of the Jastrzebie mine at depths from 640 to 1200 m. The results obtained cause changes in the result of calculations of seismic anomalies. Future validation of the proposed model with larger data set will be required.

Direct P-Wave Travel Time Tomography of the Middle East

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susini Desilva ◽  
Ebru Bozdag ◽  
Guust Nolet ◽  
Rengin Gok ◽  
Ahmed Ali ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Reliable Data ◽  
P Wave ◽  
Good Recovery ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Iranian Plateau ◽  
Arrival Times ◽  
Caucasus Region ◽  
First Arrival ◽  
Tomographic Inversions

&lt;p&gt;High-resolution seismic images of the crust and mantle beneath regions of complex surface geological structures are necessary to gain insights on the underlying geodynamical processes. One such region embodying various plate boundary motions and intraplate deformations is the Middle East, and consequently the region is prone to significant seismic activity. Hence a tomographic investigation using a more recent and reliable data set is vital in understanding the ongoing complicated deformation process driven by the African, Arabian and Eurasian plates. The purpose of our study is to retrieve a detailed&amp;#160; model of the crust and mantle beneath the Middle Eastern region using teleseismic P arrival times from the ISC-EHB bulletin (Engdahl et al., 1998).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Starting with AK135 as the reference model we invert for tomographic models of compressional wavespeed perturbations down to lower mantle depths in an area bounded by longitudes 22E&amp;#8211;66E and latitudes 8N&amp;#8211;48N.&amp;#160; The data set used in this study consists of regionally observed P-phase arrival times from over 1000 global events from 1996&amp;#8211;2016 culminating in a larger dataset than other similar studies. Selection of a reliable data, ray tracing, preconditioning and inversion steps are carried out using the BD-soft software suite (https://www.geoazur.fr/GLOBALSEIS/Soft.html).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Preliminary inversion results are consistent with the previous regional tomographic studies. In checkerboard tests, cell sizes as low as &amp;#8764; 2.8&amp;#176; &amp;#215; 2.8&amp;#176; ( &amp;#8764; 240 &amp;#215; 240 km at surface) are generally well recovered down to a 1000 km depth beneath the Anatolian plateau where we currently have the densest coverage. Additionally the Caucasus region and northern parts of the Iranian plateau shows good recovery of &amp;#177;4% Vp perturbation amplitudes at depths &amp;#8764; 70 &amp;#8211; 135 km. There is fair recovery for a minimum cell size of &amp;#8764; 2.8&amp;#176; &amp;#215; 2.8&amp;#176; beneath the Iranian Plateau, Zagros mountain region, Persian gulf, and northeast Iraq, along with quite good recovery of cell amplitudes towards the Anatolian-Caucasus region at depth ranges 380 &amp;#8211; 430 km, 650 &amp;#8211; 700 km, and around 950 km. Tomographic inversions unveil a low P velocity zone stretching from the Afar region to Sinai Peninsula consistent with S wave velocity observations of a similar feature by Chang and van der Lee 2011.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We are able to further improve coverage especially down to lithospheric depths within the Arabian peninsula using first arrival times measured from waveform data collected from regional networks. Addition of first arrival time delays from waveforms highlights a prominent low velocity in the tomographic inversions beneath the volcanic fields of western Saudi Arabia. Our ultimate goal is to perform full-waveform inversion of the region constrained by the constructed P-wave model.&lt;/p&gt;

3D P-wave velocity model of Ireland's crust from controlled source tomography

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Senad Subašić ◽  
Meysam Rezaeifar ◽  
Nicola Piana Agostinetti ◽  
Sergei Lebedev ◽  
Christopher Bean
Keyword(s):  
Wave Velocity ◽  
Velocity Model ◽  
P Wave ◽  
Uppermost Mantle ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Location Uncertainty ◽  
P Wave Velocity ◽  
1D Model ◽  
Minimum 1D Model ◽  
1D Velocity Model

&lt;p&gt;We present a 3D P-wave velocity model of the crust and uppermost mantle below Ireland. In the absence of local earthquakes, we used quarry and mining blasts recorded on permanent stations in the Irish National Seismic Network (INSN) and during various temporary deployments. We compiled a database of 1,100 events and around 20,000 P-wave arrivals, with each event associated with a known quarry. The source location uncertainty is therefore minimal. Both source and receiver locations are fixed in time and we used repeating events to estimate the travel time uncertainty for each source-receiver combination. We created a starting 1D velocity model from previously available data, and then used VELEST to calculate a preliminary minimum 1D velocity model. The 1D velocity model enabled us to remove outliers from the data set, and to calculate the final minimum 1D model used as the initial model in the 3D tomographic inversion. The resulting 3D P-wave velocity model will shed new light on the 3D crustal structure of Ireland.&lt;/p&gt;

The structural architecture of the Whataroa Valley at the Alpine Fault (New Zealand) from first-arrival tomography and reflection imaging using an extended 3D VSP survey

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vera Lay ◽  
Stefan Buske ◽  
Sascha Barbara Bodenburg ◽  
Franz Kleine ◽  
John Townend ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Seismic Data ◽  
Average Velocity ◽  
Velocity Model ◽  
P Wave ◽  
3D Seismic ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Alpine Fault ◽  
P Wave Velocity ◽  
First Arrival

&lt;p&gt;The Alpine Fault along the West Coast of the South Island (New Zealand) is a major plate boundary that is expected to rupture in the next 50 years, likely as a magnitude 8 earthquake. The Deep Fault Drilling Project (DFDP) aims to deliver insight into the geological structure of this fault zone and its evolution by drilling and sampling the Alpine Fault at depth. &amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Here we present results from a 3D seismic survey around the DFDP-2 drill site in the Whataroa Valley where the drillhole penetrated almost down to the fault surface. Within the glacial valley, we collected 3D seismic data to constrain valley structures that were obscured in previous 2D seismic data. The new data consist of a 3D extended vertical seismic profiling (VSP) survey using three-component receivers and a fibre optic cable in the DFDP-2B borehole as well as a variety of receivers at the surface.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The data set enables us to derive a reliable 3D P-wave velocity model by first-arrival travel time tomography. We identify a 100-460 m thick sediment layer (average velocity 2200&amp;#177;400 m/s) above the basement (average velocity 4200&amp;#177;500 m/s). Particularly on the western valley side, a region of high velocities steeply rises to the surface and mimics the topography. We interpret this to be the infilled flank of the glacial valley that has been eroded into the basement. In general, the 3D structures implied by the velocity model on the upthrown (Pacific Plate) side of the Alpine Fault correlate well with the surface topography and borehole findings.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A reliable velocity model is not only valuable by itself but it is also required as input for prestack depth migration (PSDM). We performed PSDM with a part of the 3D data set to derive a structural image of the subsurface within the Whataroa Valley. The top of the basement identified in the P-wave velocity model coincides well with reflectors in the migrated images so that we can analyse the geometry of the basement in detail.&lt;/p&gt;

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