Synthetic Seismogram Modeling Research Articles

Prediction of seismic impacts at the site of Plavinu HPP from a potential seismic source in Koknese (Latvia)

The study considers the impact of seismic waves from the source of a potential earthquake in Latvia on the site of the Plavinu hydroelectric power station, which is located in unfavorable geological, tectonic, and geodynamic conditions. A direct seismology problem was solved in two stages to assess seismic impacts on the site. In the first stage, the modeling of synthetic seismograms was carried out, and in the second stage, a prediction of seismic impacts at the hydroelectric power station site was conducted. In the first stage, we used wave field modeling applying Green's method. In the second stage, ground motion characteristics were obtained using a one-dimensional, nonlinear ground response analysis method. A wave field of 15 Green's functions was obtained, which was then converted into a 3-component accelerogram. The accelerogram was then used as a seismic impulse to a Prequaternary sediment's surface. A set of engineering and seismic characteristics of soil was obtained, i.e. amplification, Fourier amplitudes, and spectral amplitudes. The paper demonstrates the ability to acquire valuable information about the seismic wave field and ground motion from macroseismic data from historical earthquakes. This is especially important for intra-plate conditions with limited seismic statistics. Prediction of engineering and seismic conditions are of great practical importance since they will allow us to identify the most vulnerable sites of the soil at the Plavinu HPP.

Multiscale Full-Waveform Inversion with Land Seismic Field Data: A Case Study from the Jizhong Depression, Middle Eastern China

The Jizhong depression contains several geothermal reservoirs that are characterized by localized low-velocity anomalies. In this article, full-waveform inversion (FWI) is used to characterize these anomalies and determine their extent. This is a challenging problem because the reservoirs are quite small and the available data have usable frequencies only down to 5 Hz. An accurate-enough starting model is carefully built by using an iterative travel time tomography method combined with a cycle-skipping assessment method to begin the inversion at 5 Hz. A multiscale Laplace–Fourier-domain FWI with a layer-stripping approach is implemented on the starting model by gradually increasing the maximum offset. The result of overlapping the recovered velocity model on the migrated seismic profile shows a good correlation between the two results. The recovered model is assessed by ray tracing, synthetic seismogram modeling, checkerboard testing and comparisons with nearby borehole data. These tests indicate that low-velocity anomalies down to a size of 0.3 km × 0.3 km at a maximum depth of 2 km can be recovered. Combined with the well log data, the resulting velocity model allows us to delineate two potential geothermal resources, one of which was previously unknown.

Insights from synthetic seismogram modelling study of oceanic lower crust and Moho Transition Zone

The Moho discontinuity is one of the fundamental boundaries on Earth, separating the crust from the upper mantle. Arrival times of seismic reflection and refraction data are used to estimate the depth of the Moho, but the nature of the Moho remains illusive. We present a synthetic seismogram modelling study for a suite of possible velocity models of the oceanic lower crust and Moho transition zone (MTZ). For modelling, we have used a 45-km long multichannel streamer (MCS) geometry, to get insight about waveforms and amplitudes of seismic phases like the crustal refraction (Pg), Moho reflection (PmP) and mantle refraction (Pn), and the interactions between these phases. We find that the nature of PmP reflection not only depends on the velocity structure of the MTZ but also on the velocity structure of the lower crust and upper mantle. The triplication resulting from these three seismic arrivals and its lateral extent mainly depend on the velocity structure in the lower crust. Apart from the velocity in the crust, the critical distance for the PmP arrival depends on the velocity gradient in the MTZ. The amplitude versus offset analysis of the wide-angle PmP arrivals indicates that there are two broad high amplitude peaks for the MTZ thickness less than or equal to the dominant seismic wavelength and only one large narrow peak for a thicker MTZ. Consequently, strong PmP arrivals for a thick MTZ lie in a narrow offset range around the critical offset whereas they lie over a large offset range for a sharp Moho. We also have modelled the synthetic seismograms for velocity structures from the Oman and the Bay of Islands ophiolites. Our modelling results indicate that the quantitative analysis of amplitudes and waveforms of ultra-long offset MCS data could provide detailed information about the lower crust and MTZ.

FDwave3D: a MATLAB solver for the 3D anisotropic wave equation using the finite-difference method

Seismic modeling plays an important role in geophysics and seismology for estimating the response of seismic sources in a given medium. In this work, we present a MATLAB-based package, FDwave3D, for synthetic wavefield and seismogram modeling in 3D anisotropic media. The seismic simulation is carried out using the finite-difference method over the staggered grid, and it is applicable to both active and passive surveys. The code package allows the incorporation of arbitrary source mechanisms and offers spatial derivative operators of accuracy up to tenth-order along with different types of boundary conditions. First, the methodological aspects of finite-difference method are briefly introduced. Then, the code has been tested and verified against the analytical solutions obtained for the homogeneous model. Further, the numerical examples of layered and overthrust models are presented to demonstrate its reliability.

Physical properties and core-log seismic integration from drilling at the Danube deep-sea fan, Black Sea

Abstract Drilling, coring, and geophysical logging were performed with the MARUM-MeBo200 seafloor drilling rig to investigate gas hydrate occurrences of the Danube deep sea fan, off Romania, Black Sea. Three sites within a channel-levee complex were investigated. Geophysical log data of P-wave velocity, electrical resistivity, and spectral gamma ray are combined with core-derived physical properties of porosity, magnetic susceptibility, and bulk density. Core- and log physical property data are used to define a time-depth conversion by synthetic seismogram modeling, which is then used to interpret the seismic data. Individual polarity reversed reflectors within the stratigraphic column drilled are linked to reduction in P-wave velocity and bulk density. Those reflectors (and associated reflection packages) are accompanied by distinct and systematic changes in sediment porosity, magnetic susceptibility, and electrical resistivity. Overall, the sediments at drill site GeoB22605 (MeBo-17) represent the younger (upper) levee sequence of the channel, that has been eroded at drill site GeoB22603 (MeBo-16). Splicing seismic data across the channel from the East (MeBo-16) to the West (MeBo-17) demonstrates the continuation of reflectors underneath the channel. The upper ~50 m below seafloor (mbsf) at site MeBo-16 do not stratigraphically belong to the same sequence of the (deeper) levee-deposits. Above the marked erosional unconformity, sediments at Site MeBo-16 are likely derived by a mixture of repeated slump-events (identified as seismically transparent units) interbedded with hemi-pelagic sedimentation. Similarly, sediments within the upper ~20 mbsf at Site MeBo-17 are not stratigraphically the same levee-deposits, but are derived by a mixture of slump-events (also seen in the marked seafloor amphitheatre architecture of a large failure complex extending further upslope) and hemi-pelagic sedimentation. All observations combined show that the seismically observed stratigraphic pattern represents a reflectivity sequence mostly driven by variations in density (porosity) and correspondingly by changes in P-wave velocity and electrical resistivity. Observations from the geophysical log- and core, as well as geochemical data, show no evidence for the presence of any significant gas hydrates within the drilled/cored sequences.

On the role of density and attenuation in three-dimensional multiparameter viscoacoustic VTI frequency-domain FWI: an OBC case study from the North Sea

3-D frequency-domain full waveform inversion (FWI) is applied on North Sea wide-azimuth ocean-bottom cable data at low frequencies (≤10 Hz) to jointly update vertical wave speed, density and quality factor Q in the viscoacoustic VTI approximation. We assess whether density and Q should be viewed as proxy to absorb artefacts resulting from approximate wave physics or are valuable for interpretation in the presence of soft sediments and gas cloud. FWI is performed in the frequency domain to account for attenuation easily. Multiparameter frequency-domain FWI is efficiently performed with a few discrete frequencies following a multiscale frequency continuation. However, grouping a few frequencies during each multiscale step is necessary to mitigate acquisition footprint and match dispersive shallow guided waves. Q and density absorb a significant part of the acquisition footprint hence cleaning the velocity model from this pollution. Low Q perturbations correlate with low-velocity zones associated with soft sediments and gas cloud. However, the amplitudes of the Q perturbations show significant variations when the inversion tuning is modified. This dispersion in the Q reconstructions is however not passed on the velocity parameter suggesting that cross-talks between first-order kinematic and second-order dynamic parameters are limited. The density model shows a good match with a well log at shallow depths. Moreover, the impedance built a posteriori from the FWI velocity and density models shows a well-focused image with however local differences with the velocity model near the sea bed where density might have absorbed elastic effects. The FWI models are finally assessed against time-domain synthetic seismogram modelling performed with the same frequency-domain modelling engine used for FWI.

Toward a robust workflow for deep crustal imaging by FWI of OBS data: The eastern Nankai Trough revisited

AbstractCrustal‐scale imaging by the full‐waveform inversion (FWI) of long‐offset seismic data is inherently difficult because the large number of wavelengths propagating through the crust makes the inversion prone to cycle skipping. Therefore, efficient crustal‐scale FWI requires an accurate starting model and a stable workflow minimizing the nonlinearity of the inversion. Here we attempt to reprocess a challenging 2‐D ocean‐bottom seismometer (OBS) data set from the eastern Nankai Trough. The starting model is built by first‐arrival traveltime tomography (FAT), which is FWI assisted for tracking cycle skipping. We iteratively refine the picked traveltimes and then reiterate the FAT until the traveltime residuals remain below the cycle‐skipping limit. Subsequently, we apply Laplace‐Fourier FWI, in which progressive relaxation of time damping is nested within frequency continuation to hierarchically inject more data into the inversion. These two multiscale levels are complemented by a layer‐stripping approach implemented through offset continuation. The reliability of the FWI velocity model is assessed by means of source wavelet estimation, synthetic seismogram modeling, ray tracing modeling, dynamic warping, and checkerboard tests. Although the viscoacoustic approximation is used for wave modeling, the synthetic seismograms reproduce most of the complexity of the data with a high traveltime accuracy. The revised FWI scheme produces a high‐resolution velocity model of the entire crust that can be jointly interpreted with migrated images derived from multichannel seismic data. This study opens a new perspective on the design of OBS crustal‐scale experiments amenable to FWI; however, a further assessment of the optimal OBS spacing is required for reliable FWI.

Better Perceptive and Enhanced Visualization of Seismic Profiles for the Exploration of Hydrocarbon Using a Seismic and Synthetic Seismogram Modeling of Khipro Block, Southern Indus Basin, Sindh Province, Pakistan

Seismic and well log interpretation is done using synthetic modeling in the lower Indus basin, Khipro Block for search of suitable traps and reservoir conditions favorable for hydrocarbon accumulation in Lower Goru and Basal Sand. A synthetic seismogram was used to tie well tops and seismic profiles to mark horizons correctly. Well zonation revealed that average porosity ranges from 16–19% and volume of shale ranges from 15–50%. Two zones in Naimat Basal 01 can be perspective units. On the basis of seismic interpretation, test well location is proposed.

Three‐dimensional seismic structure of a Mid‐Atlantic Ridge segment characterized by active detachment faulting (Trans‐Atlantic Geotraverse, 25°55′N‐26°20′N)

We use air gun shots recorded by ocean bottom seismometers (OBSs) to generate a three‐dimensional (3D)P‐wave tomographic velocity model of the Trans‐Atlantic Geotraverse (TAG) segment of the Mid‐Atlantic Ridge, and to search for evidence of reflections from a shallow crustal fault interface. Near‐vertical reflections were observed in some of the seismic records from OBSs deployed within the active seismicity zone defined by microearthquake hypocenters. Forward modeling of synthetic seismograms indicates that these reflections are consistent with a fault interface dipping at a low angle toward the ridge axis. Our observations suggest that the fault zone may extend beneath the volcanic blocks forming the eastern valley wall. Our 3D tomographic results show that the across‐axis structural asymmetry associated with detachment faulting extends at least 15 km to the east of the ridge axis, indicating that detachment faulting and uplifting of deep lithologies has been occurring at the TAG segment for at least the last ∼1.35 Myr. The velocity model contains a 5 km by 8 km velocity anomaly within the detachment footwall. This anomaly, which is present beneath the active TAG hydrothermal mound, is characterized by a velocity inversion at 1.5–2.0 km below seafloor underlain by reducedP‐wave velocities (∼6.2–6.5 km/s compared to surrounding areas ∼7.0–7.2 km/s) extending down to 3.5 km below seafloor. The velocity anomaly likely results from some combination of thermal and/or hydrothermal processes, and in either case our results suggest that hydrothermal fluids circulate within the upper section of the detachment footwall beneath the active mound.

Velocity modeling of a complex deep crustal structure across the Mesoproterozoic south Delhi Fold Belt, NW India, from joint interpretation of coincident seismic wide-angle and near-offset reflection data: An approach using unusual reflections in wide-angle records

[1] Seismic wide-angle record sections from favorably placed source and limited-aperture recording spreads, particularly across collision boundaries, reveal bright unusual high-velocity contrast reflections of limited lateral coherence. The arrival times of the unusual reflections for recording updip of the reflecting plane align as high apparent velocity phases at wide-angle offsets. Coincident near-offset reflection images from similar structural features provide additional control for modeling the unusual phases on the wide-angle record sections. We propose an approach for joint interpretation of these coincident seismic data sets and modeling the unusual phases on the processed wide-angle records to delineate both the velocity stratification and the geometry of the deep crustal structures consistent with the near-offset reflection images. Processed and migrated near-offset reflection images reveal several steeply dipping isolated reflections on the western margin of the south Delhi Fold Belt (DFB), NW India, interpreted as the south Delhi thrust fault. Coincident limited-aperture, wide-angle records reveal bright unusual reflections, which are also found to be associated with the same thrust fault. Observations of similar dipping reflection patterns in various other regions lend support to consider them as genuine in-plane reflections resulting from a structural fabric imprinted on horizontally oriented geological structures. We use the reflectivity structural model from the near-offset data set that provides necessary constraints for modeling and simulating the travel times and amplitudes of the unusual reflections recognized in the wide-angle records. The unusual reflections are effectively used as part of the wide-angle data set for Gaussian beam synthetic seismogram modeling, thus delineating for the first time a complex 2-D model of the seismic velocity structure of the deep crust and uppermost mantle across the Marwar Basin (MB) and the DFB. The dipping events revealed in the wide-angle data set are successfully modeled and interpreted as reflections from the thrust fault, consistent with the near-offset reflection image. The 2-D velocity model, parameterized as a stack of isolated dipping reflectors embedded in deep crustal layers, is successively refined by including the structural features recognizable both in the near-offset reflection image and in the wide-angle records. The unusual reflections are modeled as a set of discrete reflectors representing local velocity variations imprinted on the background of a deep crustal velocity structure. The lamellar structure revealed by short, isolated dipping and the subhorizontal middle to lower crustal reflections suggests heterogeneities at scale lengths on the order of at least the Fresnel zone diameter as resolved here. The local velocity variations in the deep crust can be considered analogous, on a different scale, to the models in which velocity heterogeneities on scale lengths of the seismic wavelength constitute a medium of random distribution of scatterers. The crustal-scale south Delhi thrust fault on the western margin of the DFB, delineated as the stack of reflectors dipping 25°–30°SE, probably developed during the Mesoproterozoic collisional episode related to the Delhi orogeny, contemporaneous with the formation of Rodinia. It is concluded that complex structural features developed during collisional episodes can survive through geological periods, longer than generally expected, depending on the accretionary characteristics at the time of orogenic evolution. The 2-D velocity model further reveals significant variations of crustal seismic structure, with a relatively sharp and shallow Moho (at 39–40 km) in the MB and a deeper Moho (at 45–47 km) underlying a 12 km thick subhorizontal lamella of high-velocity (6.9–7.5 km/s) layers in the DFB regions.

Local seismic quantification of gas hydrates and BSR characterization from multi-frequency OBS data at northern Hydrate Ridge

High-resolution multi-frequency and multi-component seismic data were acquired at northern Hydrate Ridge in the accretionary complex of the Cascadia subduction zone to quantify the amount of hydrate and free gas in the sediment. We present a detailed local analysis of four component (4C) ocean bottom seismometer (OBS) data and show the importance of multi-frequency and shear wave data for determining hydrate reservoir properties. A detailed model of the elastic parameters at the bottom simulating reflector (BSR) is developed by using synthetic seismogram modelling. The main focus in this study is an amplitude-versus-offset (AVO) analysis of shear waves, which originate by PS-conversion at the BSR in 73 m below the seafloor (bsf). The AVO analysis enables the determination of the shear wave velocity above the BSR. A velocity of 400 m/s indicates that the presence of gas hydrate in the pore space significantly increases the shear modulus of the sediment above the BSR. Information about the attenuation and the shape of the BSR transition zone is obtained from the frequency-dependent reflection amplitudes of the BSR. The BSR is shown to be a gradual type transition zone of 1.5–2.5 m thickness. Average Q factors of Q p = 150 for P-waves and of Q s = 35 for S-waves are determined within the gas hydrate stability zone (GHSZ). The low Q s factor points to a pronounced attenuation of S-waves in the uppermost sediments. From rock physics modelling, the hydrate concentration is estimated to vary locally between 3–12% of the pore space. Below the BSR, free gas concentrations of 0.5% and 8% are determined for homogeneous and patchy distributed gas, respectively.

Dominant Higher Surface-wave Modes and Possible Inversion Pitfalls

Dominant higher modes of surface waves are known to be generated at sites with large stiffness contrasts and∕or reversals between layers. At many engineering sites, quite often all modal energy is transferred to successively higher modes with increasing frequency. These ‘jumps’ may occur at low [Formula: see text] to high [Formula: see text] frequencies, and, more than once over the recorded bandwidth, but the common features are that the jumps are in amounts exceeding 50% of the phase velocity, and dispersion does not return to the fundamental mode at high frequency. A nonlinear geophone spacing helps to resolve these modes more uniquely. Full-wavefield synthetic seismogram modelling reinforces the effect to be due to a steep, nonlinear stiffness gradient in the uppermost [Formula: see text] of soil. If a high-velocity substrate at depth is not present, the ‘effective’ phase velocity of the higher modes can exceed that of the maximum shear-wave velocity of the model, where leaky modes persist. When this happens, conventional modal dispersion modelling cannot be applied in the inversion. If an artificial stiff layer is added at depth, jumps across several modal boundaries can occur, which is also generated in a Gibson half-space, both at very low and high frequencies. This is a major pitfall, where mode-misidentification, especially at low frequency, can lead to errors in the estimated shear wave velocity models of over 50%. Guided P-waves also manifest as large dispersion discontinuities, but usually at higher frequency and phase velocities, with buried explosive sources. Although Poisson’s ratio has a strong influence of the generation of—and frequencies of transitions to—dominant higher modes, the higher-mode phase velocities themselves are relatively independent of shallow P-wave velocity.

The northern Walker Lane refraction experiment: Pn arrivals and the northern Sierra Nevada root

In May 2002, we collected a new crustal refraction profile from Battle Mountain, Nevada across western Nevada, the Reno area, Lake Tahoe, and the northern Sierra Nevada Mountains to Auburn, CA. Mine blasts and earthquakes were recorded by 199 Texan instruments extending across this more than 450-km-long transect. The use of large mine blasts and the ultra-portable Texan recorders kept the field costs of this profile to less than US$10,000. The seismic sources at the eastern end were mining blasts at Barrick's GoldStrike mine. The GoldStrike mine produced several ripple-fired blasts using 8000–44,000 kg of ANFO each, a daily occurrence. First arrivals from the larger GoldStrike blasts are obvious to distances of 300 km in the raw records. First arrivals from a quarry blast west of the survey near Watsonville, CA, located by the Northern California Seismic Network with a magnitude of 2.2, can be picked across the recording array to distances of 600 km. The Watsonville blast provides a western source, nearly reversing the GoldStrike blasts. A small earthquake near Bridgeport, CA. also produced pickable P-wave arrivals across the transect, providing fan-shot data. Arrivals from M5 events in the Mariana and Kuril Islands also appear in the records. This refraction survey observes an unexpectedly deep crustal root under the northern Sierra Nevada range, over 50 km in thickness and possibly centered west of the topographic crest. Pn delays of 4–6 s support this interpretation. At Battle Mountain, Nevada, we observe anomalously thin crust over a limited region perhaps only 150 km wide, with a Moho depth of 19–23 km. Pn crossover distances of less than 80 km support this anomaly, which is surrounded by observations of more normal, 30-km-thick crust. A 10-km-thick and high-velocity lower-crustal “pillow” is an alternative hypothesis, but unlikely due to the lack of volcanics west of Battle Mountain. Large mine and quarry blasts prove very effective crustal refraction sources when recorded with a dense receiver array, even over distances exceeding 600 km. New elastic synthetic seismogram modeling suggests that Pn can be strong as a first arrival, easing the modeling and interpretation of crustal refraction data. Fast eikonal computations of first-arrival time can match pickable Pn arrival times.

Seismic structure of basalt flows from surface seismic data, borehole measurements, and synthetic seismogram modeling

We use the wide‐angle wavefield to constrain estimates of the seismic velocity and thickness of basalt flows overlying sediments. Wide angle means the seismic wavefield recorded at offsets beyond the emergence of the direct wave. This wide‐angle wavefield contains arrivals that are returned from within and below the basalt flows, including the diving wave through the basalts as the first arrival and P‐wave reflections from the base of the basalts and from subbasalt structures. The velocity structure of basalt flows can be determined to first order from traveltime information by ray tracing the basalt turning rays and the wide‐angle base‐basalt reflection. This can be refined by using the amplitude variation with offset (AVO) of the basalt diving wave. Synthetic seismogram models with varying flow thicknesses and velocity gradients demonstrate the sensitivity to the velocity structure of the basalt diving wave and of reflections from the base of the basalt layer and below. The diving‐wave amplitudes of the models containing velocity gradients show a local amplitude minimum followed by a maximum at a greater range if the basalt thickness exceeds one wavelength and beyond that an exponential amplitude decay. The offset at which the maximum occurs can be used to determine the basalt thickness. The velocity gradient within the basalt can be determined from the slope of the exponential amplitude decay. The amplitudes of subbasalt reflections can be used to determine seismic velocities of the overburden and the impedance contrast at the reflector. Combining wide‐angle traveltimes and amplitudes of the basalt diving wave and subbasalt reflections enables us to obtain a more detailed velocity profile than is possible with the NMO velocities of small‐offset reflections. This paper concentrates on the subbasalt problem, but the results are more generally applicable to situations where high‐velocity bodies overlie a low‐velocity target, such as subsalt structures.

Crustal structure of the northern Reykjanes Ridge and Reykjanes Peninsula, southwest Iceland

Results from the Reykjanes‐Iceland Seismic Experiment (RISE) show that the thickness of zero‐age crust decreases from 21 km in southwest Iceland to 11 km at 62°40′N on the Reykjanes Ridge. This implies a decrease in mantle potential temperature of ∼130°C, with increasing distance from the center of the Iceland mantle plume, along this 250 km transect of the plate boundary. The crust thins off‐axis at 63°N, from 12.7 km thick at 0 Ma to 9.8 km at 5 Ma, most likely due to a ∼40°C change in asthenospheric mantle temperature between these times. This provides evidence for the passage of a pulse of hotter asthenospheric mantle material beneath the present spreading center. A reflective body, the top of which lies at 9–11 km depth, is identified in the lower crust just west of the tip of the Reykjanes Peninsula. Synthetic seismogram modeling of the wide‐angle reflections from this body suggests that it corresponds to a zone of high‐velocity (≥7.5 km s−1), high‐magnesium rocks in the lower crust. The P to S wave velocity ratio beneath the peninsula is 1.78, implying that crustal temperatures are below the solidus. Gravity modeling shows the RISE models to be consistent with the observed gravity field. Mantle densities are lower beneath the ridge axis than beneath older crust, consistent with lithospheric cooling with age.

Structure of the Cretaceous Kerguelen Volcanic Province (southern Indian Ocean) from wide-angle seismic data.

Travel time inversion and amplitude modelling of OBS wide-angle seismic data recorded in the Enderby Basin, west of the Kerguelen Plateau, show a 10 to 13 km thick crust characteristic of oceanic crust emplaced near a hotspot (velocity reaches 7.4 km s −1 at the bottom of the crust). From this study we infer that the eastern border of the Enderby Basin is part of the Cretaceous Kerguelen Volcanic Province, and that it results of the influence of the Kerguelen hotspot on the spreading axis. Synthetic seismogram modelling confirms that the northern Kerguelen Plateau is probably emplaced over the Kerguelen hotspot in an Iceland-type setting.

Quasi‐Love phases between Tonga and Hawaii: Observations, simulations, and explanations

Seismograms of some shallow Tonga earthquakes observed at Hawaii contain SV‐polarized phases in the Love wave time window, most prominently on the vertical component. Given the geometry of the observations (Δ ≈ 40–45°), such phases may be explained either as body waves or as mode‐converted surface waves. Detailed synthetic seismogram modeling of representative events reveals several instances where the body wave explanation is inadequate, even when plausible uncertainties in the source mechanism are taken into account. The observed, SV‐polarized phase can instead be generated through Love‐Rayleigh scattering, which requires laterally varying seismic anisotropy along the Tonga‐Hawaii path. Trial‐and‐error forward modeling with simple structures based on the transversely isotropic mid‐Pacific velocity model PA5 of Gaherty et al [1996] obtains velocity structure that yields synthetic seismograms matching the observations. This model, while non unique, suggests first‐order constraints on the lateral variation in anisotropic properties, and associated mantle flow, along the Tonga‐Hawaii path. By examining trade‐offs in model parameters, we conclude that robust features of the model are: (1) a transition from radial to mixed radial and azimuthal anisotropy 3°–5° from Hawaii; (2) the NW‐SE alignment of the axis of azimuthal anisotropy; (3) higher degree of P anisotropy relative to S anisotropy; and (4) the presence of azimuthal anisotropy within upper 200–250 km of the mantle. Taken together, these features imply a disruption of mantle fabric by the processes forming Hawaii‐Emperor volcanic system. A model with anisotropic gradients in both the lithospheric lid and shallow asthenosphere is the simplest extension of our starting model. However, an equivalent data fit can be obtained if the azimuthal‐anisotropy gradients are restricted to line beneath the high‐velocity “lid” of model PA5, so that mantle hot spot flow need not penetrate the lithospheric lid.

Observations of PKKP Precursors Used to Estimate Small-Scale Topography on the Core-Mantle Boundary

Stacks of global seismic data reveal the time and distance dependence of high-frequency (1-hertz) precursors to the seismic phase PKKP . Synthetic seismogram modeling shows that scattering from random small-scale topography at the PKKP core-mantle – boundary reflection point generates precursory arrivals similar to those seen in the data. Models with a root mean square core-mantle–boundary topography of 250 to 350 meters and correlation length of 7 to 10 kilometers explain the main features of the data. However, a systematic range-dependent misfit between observed and predicted precursor power suggests that inner core scattering may contribute to the precursors.

Subhorizontal Layering in the Lower Crust and its Tectonic Significance in the Narmada-Son-Region, India

—Comparison of deep seismic sounding (DSS) results of different profiles across the Narmada-Son Lineament (NSL), India indicates the anomalous nature of the crust along the Ujjain-Ma han profile. Forward travel time and synthetic seismogram modeling, using normalized record sections of refraction and wide angle reflection data acquired along the Ujjain-Mahan deep seismic sounding profile across NSL, brings into focus the presence of high velocity (7.0–7.3 km/s) subhorizontal layers from a depth of 8–12 km down to Moho. The tectonic implication of such reflections (layering in the crust) is discussed. The two fault zones, reported by earlier workers, flanking the rift might have acted as feeders for the mantle material to intrude into the middle and lower crustal columns.

Färoe‐Iceland Ridge Experiment 1. Crustal structure of northeastern Iceland

Results from the Färoe‐Iceland Ridge Experiment (FIRE) constrain the crustal thickness as 19 km under the Northern Volcanic Zone of Iceland and 35 km under older Tertiary areas of northeastern Iceland. The Moho is defined by strong P wave and S wave reflections. Synthetic seismogram modeling of the Moho reflection indicates mantle velocities of at least 8.0 km/s beneath the Tertiary areas of northeastern Iceland and at least 7.9 km/s beneath the neovolcanic zone. Crustal diving rays resolve the structure of the upper and lower crust. Surface P wave velocities are 1.1–4.0 km/s in Quaternary rocks and are rather higher, 4.4–4.7 km/s, in the Tertiary basalts that outcrop elsewhere. The highest crustal P wave velocities observed directly from diving rays are 7.1 km/s, from rays that turn at 24 km depth. Velocities of 7.35 km/s at the base of the crust are inferred from extrapolation of the lower crustal velocity gradient (0.024 s−1). A Poisson's ratio of approximately 0.27, equivalent to an S wave to P wave travel time ratio of 1.78, is measured throughout the crust east of the neovolcanic zone. The Poisson's ratio and the steep Moho topography (in places up to 30° from the horizontal) indicate that the entire crust outside the neovolcanic zone is cool (<800°C). Gravity data are well matched by a velocity/density conversion of our seismic crustal model and indicate a region of low mantle density beneath the neovolcanic zone, believed to be due to elevated mantle temperatures. The crustal thickness in the neovolcanic zone is consistent with geochemical estimates of the melt generation, placing constraints on the flow within the Iceland mantle plume.