Seismic Attenuation Anisotropy in the Southernmost Part of the Taupo Volcanic Zone, North Island, New Zealand

<p>We investigate the mechanisms of seismic anisotropy and attenuation (1/Q) beneath the southernmost part of the Taupo Volcanic Zone (TVZ) by computing variations in S-wave attenuation factors with the direction of wave polarization. We rotate pairs of horizontal components in steps of 22.5◦ from 0◦ to 67.5◦ and into the radial and transverse directions to search for the optimal separation of the attenuation curves and thereby determine an anisotropy symmetry system. The frequency dependence of Q for the rotated S-waves is estimated by means of the non-parametric generalized inversion technique (GIT) of Castro et al. (1990) using shallow earthquakes (< 40 km depth) recorded by GeoNet within 100 km of Mt. Ruapehu. To analyze the effects on computed attenuation properties of source locations, we divide our dataset into two groups: a “TVZ” group containing earthquakes within the TVZ in a distance range of 5–55 km and a “non-TVZ” group containing earthquakes outside the TVZ in a distance range of 5–50 km. To measure Q, we compute the spectral amplitude decay with distance in terms of empirical functions at 20 separate frequencies in the frequency bands 2–10 Hz and 2– 12 Hz for the TVZ and non-TVZ datasets respectively. We construct homogeneous and two-layer Q models for the TVZ dataset based on characteristic features of the attenuation function, while for outside TVZ we only analyse a homogeneous Q model. The homogeneous Q models obtained for the two datasets indicate that S-waves are more attenuated within the TVZ than outside. The homogeneous Q model for the TVZ dataset reveals that the S-wave is anisotropic at high frequencies ( f > 6 Hz) along N–S/E– W directions with the relation QSE ( f ) = (6.15±1.22) f (1.73±0.12) and QSN ( f ) = (4.14± 1.26) f (2.06±0.14), while the non-TVZ dataset shows a weak frequency dependence of attenuation anisotropy at low frequencies in NE–SW/SE–NW directions giving the power law function QSNE ( f ) = (50.93±1.18) f (0.20±0.10) and QSSE ( f ) = (22.60±1.10) f (0.53±0.06). Here, the uncertainty estimates are 95% confidence intervals. To investigate the variation of attenuation anisotropy with depth within the TVZ, we first calculate Q along propagation paths (< 25 km, which corresponds to a maximum turning point depth of 9 km ) and then using paths of 25–55 km length. Small attenuation anisotropy with low attenuation in the N–S direction for the upper crust of TVZ may be related to heterogenous structure as reported by previous studies. Attenuation anisotropy in the northwest direction yielding lower attenuation inferred for the deeper crust suggests the presence of connected melt aligned with the extension direction of TVZ .</p>

Seismic Attenuation Anisotropy in the Southernmost Part of the Taupo Volcanic Zone, North Island, New Zealand

<p>We investigate the mechanisms of seismic anisotropy and attenuation (1/Q) beneath the southernmost part of the Taupo Volcanic Zone (TVZ) by computing variations in S-wave attenuation factors with the direction of wave polarization. We rotate pairs of horizontal components in steps of 22.5◦ from 0◦ to 67.5◦ and into the radial and transverse directions to search for the optimal separation of the attenuation curves and thereby determine an anisotropy symmetry system. The frequency dependence of Q for the rotated S-waves is estimated by means of the non-parametric generalized inversion technique (GIT) of Castro et al. (1990) using shallow earthquakes (< 40 km depth) recorded by GeoNet within 100 km of Mt. Ruapehu. To analyze the effects on computed attenuation properties of source locations, we divide our dataset into two groups: a “TVZ” group containing earthquakes within the TVZ in a distance range of 5–55 km and a “non-TVZ” group containing earthquakes outside the TVZ in a distance range of 5–50 km. To measure Q, we compute the spectral amplitude decay with distance in terms of empirical functions at 20 separate frequencies in the frequency bands 2–10 Hz and 2– 12 Hz for the TVZ and non-TVZ datasets respectively. We construct homogeneous and two-layer Q models for the TVZ dataset based on characteristic features of the attenuation function, while for outside TVZ we only analyse a homogeneous Q model. The homogeneous Q models obtained for the two datasets indicate that S-waves are more attenuated within the TVZ than outside. The homogeneous Q model for the TVZ dataset reveals that the S-wave is anisotropic at high frequencies ( f > 6 Hz) along N–S/E– W directions with the relation QSE ( f ) = (6.15±1.22) f (1.73±0.12) and QSN ( f ) = (4.14± 1.26) f (2.06±0.14), while the non-TVZ dataset shows a weak frequency dependence of attenuation anisotropy at low frequencies in NE–SW/SE–NW directions giving the power law function QSNE ( f ) = (50.93±1.18) f (0.20±0.10) and QSSE ( f ) = (22.60±1.10) f (0.53±0.06). Here, the uncertainty estimates are 95% confidence intervals. To investigate the variation of attenuation anisotropy with depth within the TVZ, we first calculate Q along propagation paths (< 25 km, which corresponds to a maximum turning point depth of 9 km ) and then using paths of 25–55 km length. Small attenuation anisotropy with low attenuation in the N–S direction for the upper crust of TVZ may be related to heterogenous structure as reported by previous studies. Attenuation anisotropy in the northwest direction yielding lower attenuation inferred for the deeper crust suggests the presence of connected melt aligned with the extension direction of TVZ .</p>

Distribution and Source Sites of Nonlinear Internal Waves Northeast of Hainan Island

The distribution and source sites of nonlinear internal waves (NLIWs) northeast of Hainan Island were investigated using satellite observations and a wavefront propagation model. Satellite observations show two types of NLIWs (here referred to as type-S and type-D waves). The type-S waves are spaced at a semidiurnal tidal period and the type-D waves are spaced at a diurnal tidal period. The spatial distribution of the two types of NLIWs displays a sandwich structure in which the middle region is influenced by both types of NLIWs, and the northern and southern regions are governed by the type-S and type-D waves, respectively. Solving the wavefront model yields good agreement between simulated and observed wavefronts from the Luzon Strait to Hainan Island. We conclude that the NLIWs originate from the Luzon Strait.

Innovation in the computer industry

A learning-curve approach has been employed to study inventiveness in the computer industry. The appearance of new models as well as the appearance of new computer manufacturers have been following typical logistic S-curves over the last 26 years of computer history. Innovation seems to come in S-waves, and even though many of today's major manufacturers are close to exhausting their maximum innovation potential in their present S-wave, the overall computer market is rather “young”. In contrast, the personal computer market is already beyond its maturity phase. Remarkably invariant over the 26 years considered, and through the complete range of computer sizes, remains the fact that for every five new computer models appearing on the market, there is one new computer company emerging also.

Contact of the Samoan Plume with the Tonga Subduction from Intermediate and Deep-Focus Earthquakes

The Tonga subduction zone in the south-west Pacific is the fastest convergent plate boundary in the world with the most active mantle seismicity. This zone shows unique tectonic features including Samoan volcanic lineament of plume-driven origin near the northern rim of the Tonga subducting slab. The proximity of the Samoa hotspot to the slab is enigmatic and invokes debates on interactions between the Samoa plume and the Tonga subduction. Based on long-term observations of intermediate and deep-focus Tonga earthquakes reported in the Global Centroid Moment Tensor (CMT) catalog, we provide novel detailed imaging of this region. Accurate traveltime residua of the P- and S-waves recorded at two nearby seismic stations of the Global Seismographic Network are inverted for the P- and S-wave velocities and their ratio and reveal their pronounced lateral variations. In particular, they differ for the southern and northern parts of the Tonga subduction region. While no distinct anomalies are detected in the southern Tonga segment, striking low-velocity anomalies associated with a high Vp/Vs ratio are observed in the northern Tonga segment close to the Samoa plume. These anomalies spread through the whole upper mantle down to depths of ~ 600 km. Together with the fast extension of the northern back-arc Lau Basin, slab deformation and geochemical enrichment in the northern Tonga region, they trace deep-seated magmatic processes and evidence an interaction of the Tonga subduction with the Samoa plume.

Elastic Reverse-Time Migration with Complex Topography

Migration is an important step in seismic data processing for oil and gas exploration. The accuracy of migration directly affects the accuracy of subsequent oil and gas reservoir characterization. Reverse-time migration is one of the most accurate migration methods at present. Multi-wave and multicomponent seismic data contain more P- and S-wave information. Making full use of multi-wave and multicomponent seismic data can offer more information about underground structure and lithology, as well as improve the accuracy of seismic exploration. Elastic reverse-time migration (ERTM) has no dip restriction and can be applied to image multi-wave and multicomponent seismic data in complex structural areas and some special lithology structures. However, the surface topography of complex regions has an influence on wavefield and seriously degrades the quality of ERTM’s migration results. We developed a new ERTM method to migrate multi-wave and multicomponent seismic data in the region with complex surface topography. We first fill the layers between the highest and lowest undulating surface with near-surface elastic parameters in a complex topography model to obtain a new model with a horizontal surface. This allows the finite difference (FD) method based on the regular rectangular grid to be used to numerically solve elastic wave equations in the model with complex topography. The decoupled wave equations are used to generate source P- and S-waves and receiver P- and S-waves to reduce crosstalk artefacts in ERTM. A topography-related filter is further used to remove the influence of surface topography on migration results. The scalar imaging condition is also applied to generate PP and PS migration images. Some numerical examples with different complex topographies demonstrate that our proposed ERTM method can remove the influence of complex topography on ERTM’s images and effectively generate high-quality ERTM images.

The Characteristics of Seismic Rotations in VTI Medium

Under the assumptions of linear elasticity and small deformation in traditional elastodynamics, the anisotropy of the medium has a significant effect on rotations observed during earthquakes. Based on the basic theory of the first-order velocity-stress elastic wave equation, this paper simulates the seismic wave propagation of the translational and rotational motions in two-dimensional isotropic and VTI (transverse isotropic media with a vertical axis of symmetry) media under different source mechanisms with the staggered-grid finite-difference method with respect to nine different seismological models. Through comparing the similarities and differences between the translational and rotational components of the wave fields, this paper focuses on the influence of anisotropic parameters on the amplitude and phase characteristics of the rotations. We verify that the energy of S waves in the rotational components is significantly stronger than that of P waves, and the response of rotations to the anisotropic parameters is more sensitive. There is more abundant information in the high-frequency band of the rotational components. With the increase of Thomsen anisotropic parameters ε and δ, the energy of the rotations increases gradually, which means that the rotational component observation may be helpful to the study of anisotropic parameters.

Comparison Study of Crustal Structure in Aceh Region based on Volcanic Arc System using Receiver Function Method

Aceh region has a very complex crustal structure from the forearc ridge to the backarc basin. This study aims to determine the velocity model of P and S waves and the depth of Moho discontinuity. This research was conducted using teleseismic earthquake data (30°-90° from the station) with M>6 from four seismic stations belonging to the BMKG in Aceh region. The stations are qualified based on the volcanic arc system zone. Furthermore, the velocity model determined by result of forward modelling, while the depth of the Moho layer estimated by migrated receiver function from time domain to the depth domain. At station SNSI that represented the forearc ridge zone, the depth of Moho is ±28 km, at station TPTI represent the forearc basin is ±16 km, while at zone with higher topography, namely volcanic arc zone represented by station KCSI, the Moho depth was identified at ±38 km, and the backarc basin represented by station LASI with ±40 km depth of Moho. This variation occurs because the composition of the earth’s layers below the station is diverse also different topography for each station.

Composition of the lunar mantle for lower mantle high-velocity seismic model

We investigated models of the internal structure of initially homogeneous Moon differentiated as a result of partial melting, using data on seismic velocities according to the seismic models assume the zonal structure of the lunar mantle is a model of the Moon which was obtained with using the array processing methods of high velocities in the lower mantle. As a result of inversion of gravity (mass, moment of inertia), seismic (P- and S-waves velocities) and petrological (balance ratios) data, the Monte Carlo method was used to reconstruct the chemical composition and internal structure of the Moon. The phase composition and physical properties of the mantle were obtained with Gibbs free energy minimization method and equations of state in the five-component system CaO-FeO-MgO-Al2O3-SiO2. For all models, possible values of seismic velocities and concentrations of the main oxides in three zones of the mantle were obtained, satisfying the geochemical and geophysical constraints and the possible sizes of the Fe-10%S core were determined. It was found that the lunar mantle chemical composition (concentration of FeO, Al2O3 and CaO) differs depending on the mantle zone. Constraints on the values of seismic velocities in the lower mantle and the most probable size of the lunar core were determined: VP ≤ 8.45 km/s; Fe-10%S core radius is ∼360 km.