Seismic Record Research Articles

Characterizing the Seafloor Sediment Layer Using Teleseismic Body Waves Recorded by Ocean Bottom Seismometers

AbstractThis study presents an approach to better characterize the P‐wave and S‐wave velocity structure of the seafloor sediment layer using ocean bottom seismometers. The presence of low‐velocity seafloor sediment layers influences the observed seismic record at the seafloor over a broad frequency range, such that detailed knowledge of this sediment structure is essential to predict its effect on teleseismic records. We use the radial component of teleseismic P waves and autocorrelation functions of the radial, vertical, and pressure components of teleseismic P and S waves to obtain sediment layer models using the Markov chain Monte Carlo approach with parallel tempering. Synthetic tests show that the body waves constrain the P‐ and S‐wave impedances and travel times and the P‐ to S‐wave velocity ratio of the sediment layers. The proposed method resolves thin layers at a high resolution, including the uppermost thin (∼50 m to a few hundred meters) low S‐wave velocity layer. Real data applications at sites across the Pacific Ocean that are coincident with previous in situ studies demonstrate the effectiveness of this method in characterizing the seafloor sediment unit. The sediment models characterized by this new approach will allow us to more accurately predict and correct the effects of sediment layers in generating P‐ and S‐wave reverberations.

Seismic record of a long duration dispersive signal after the 15 January 2022 Hunga-Tonga eruption

Data acquired by broadband seismic stations distributed around the world are used to document the exceptionally long duration signal from the tsunami-associated gravity wave that followed the January 2022 Hunga-Tonga eruption. The first arrivals of this wave, with a frequency of around 2 mHz, are recorded at the time the tsunami arrives to each station, but the highest recorded frequencies, which reach 40 mHz, arrive 5 days later at some sites, following the prediction of a gravity wave originating at the Hunga-Tonga region and traveling in deep water. This dispersive signal is detected in most of the stations located in the Pacific Ocean basin and its coasts, but also in the Indian Ocean, Antarctica, and some stations in North America located hundreds of kilometers from the coastline. The signal is compared with the data gathered after earthquakes that have produced large tsunamis, showing that the seismic records from the Hunga-Tonga eruption are very different. Following the hypothesis pointed out by Omira et al 2023, we propose that the origin of this exceptional characteristic is due to the interaction between the tsunami and atmospheric waves that travel a little faster.

Sudden alteration in the seismic behavior of the Domuyo volcanic complex in the southern volcanic backarc zone, Argentina

The Domuyo volcanic complex (DVC) and its geothermal field in the retroarc zone of the southern Central Andes of Argentina present reduced seismicity according to different catalogs (USGS and INPRES). However, in 2015/2016, a local project was carried out in the area to describe its seismo-volcanic activity, registering a large number of volcano-tectonic (VT) events (538 VT). Considering there is scarce information on these events, this study focuses on analyzing the Domuyo Volcanic Complex (DVC) to assess its seismicity. Therefore, we installed a local seismological network in the study area and compared results with data registered by other authors. Four seismological networks were used, to obtain a more precise location of the seismic events and calculate the focal mechanisms of earthquakes with magnitudes greater than 2. For the first record of crustal seismicity detected by INPRES the September 10th, 2016 with a Ml 3.3, we calculated the focal mechanism with two possible solutions: a thrust solution with a strike component and a favored normal solution with a strike component. Additionally, we relocated the largest event in the Domuyo region on March 27th, 2019, with a magnitude of 4.4 (NEIC – USGS) and focal mechanism with a normal solution and a small strike component, obtaining a shallower depth of 3.9 km instead of 10 km. The new seismological data used in this paper, correspond to September 10th 2016, and two different time periods, the first comprising continuous data from March to April 2019, when the largest registered earthquake occurred in the Domuyo region, and the second from December 2019 to January 2021. At these periods, registered seismicity had magnitudes Ml between 1.9 and 2.8, and focal depths between 1.8 and 5.2 km. Four of these events count with focal mechanisms with extensional and limited strike-slip components that are tentatively linked to the known neotectonic structures affecting the western slope of the DVC. This seismic sequence agrees with previous proposals in which degasification from a magmatic body at shallow depths constitutes the trigger factor.

Mapping the mantle transition zone discontinuities across South-Central Europe using body waves from seismic noise correlations

We map the mantle transition zone (MTZ) discontinuities beneath South-Central Europe using P-wave reflection phases recovered from noise correlations. We analyze up to four years of seismic noise recordings from 900 broadband stations in the study area. By stacking noise correlations in selected summer months, we significantly improved the retrieval of typically low-amplitude body-wave reflection phases in the light of a quiet surface-wave environment and sufficient noise body-wave illumination from deep paths. We obtain reliable P-wave reflections associated with the 410 km and 660 km discontinuities in the period band of 4–10 s. These short-period reflections reveal clear lateral depth variations of the two discontinuities, indicating complex MTZ structure under the greater Alpine region. This provides new important constraints on present and past mantle dynamics, and it shows the strong potential of passive seismic imaging for studying deep-Earth discontinuities.

Second-order optimization for multiparameter reflection waveform inversion in acoustic VTI media

SUMMARY The seismic wave velocity in subsurface formations typically varies both spatially and directionally, resulting in a heterogeneous and anisotropic medium. To successfully image complex structures and potential reservoirs using multichannel seismic data, high-resolution interval velocity models are required. However, most controlled-source seismic recordings lack wide-angle signals, such as diving and refracted waves that propagate through deep formations. Consequently, geophysicists rely on the traveltimes and waveforms of reflections or back-scatterings in finite-frequency and finite-offset seismograms to estimate velocity and account for possible anisotropy. Recently, wave-equation based reflection waveform inversion (RWI) has emerged as an active research topic due to its ability to recover intermediate-wavelength model components that cannot be retrieved in reflection traveltime tomography. Nevertheless, the widely used gradient-type local optimization suffers from multiparameter trade-off and slow convergence of RWI in anisotropic media. Analysis of the Fréchet derivative reveals that the sensitivity of reflections to changes in long-to-intermediate wavelengths of the anisotropic velocities is jointly controlled by the specular reflection on the interface and the radiation pattern of scattered fields concerning the model parameters along the wave paths. Anatomy of the approximate Hessian reveals characteristics of parameter coupling and spatial resolution in the context of multiparameter RWI, inspiring the development of a matrix-free Gauss–Newton algorithm based on the second-order adjoint-state method for large-scale applications. Synthetic and real data examples demonstrate that the proposed approach can appropriately handle overburden heterogeneities and anisotropies, and thus improve imaging of underlying complex structures such as dipping and small-scale faults in the deep parts.

Analysis of the Effect of Local Magnitude on Peak Ground Acceleration and Seismic Vulnerability Index for Geothermal Field Monitoring Using Microearthquake

Intensive exploitation of geothermal injection and production can trigger microearthquakes which it signals come from dynamic fractures. The purpose of this study is to decide the impact of local magnitude on mitigation in geothermal fields based on soil acceleration and vulnerability of seismic in geothermal fields. This study uses seismic wave recording data and the geology of the research area. It is focable on calculating local magnitude, ground acceleration and seismic susceptibility index to earthquakes based on ground acceleration and seismic susceptibility index in geothermal fields. The maximum amplitude value represent that the medium classification class (3<A0<6) is associated with a moderate degree of deformation. Natural frequency value are found with a moderate classification (4<f0<10) around the area of injection wells and production wells, indicating that the research area has a moderate level of soil hardness structure. The peak ground acceleration in the study area is classified as moderate (0.25<PGA<0.7) which means that the area has a moderate level of risk. Vulnerability of seismic in the study area is included in the low classification (Kg<10). The local magnitude impact on soil acceleration and vulnerability of seismic in this study has a moderate risk and can be categorised as safe. In the future, this research serves as a basis for proper decision-making in geothermal energy operations, monitoring, and infrastructure development

Evidence for a liquid silicate layer atop the Martian core

Seismic recordings made during the InSight mission1 suggested that Mars’s liquid core would need to be approximately 27% lighter than pure liquid iron2,3, implying a considerable complement of light elements. Core compositions based on seismic and bulk geophysical constraints, however, require larger quantities of the volatile elements hydrogen, carbon and sulfur than those that were cosmochemically available in the likely building blocks of Mars4. Here we show that multiply diffracted P waves along a stratified core–mantle boundary region of Mars in combination with first-principles computations of the thermoelastic properties of liquid iron-rich alloys3 require the presence of a fully molten silicate layer overlying a smaller, denser liquid core. Inverting differential body wave travel time data with particular sensitivity to the core–mantle boundary region suggests a decreased core radius of 1,675 ± 30 km associated with an increased density of 6.65 ± 0.1 g cm−3, relative to previous models2,4–8, while the thickness and density of the molten silicate layer are 150 ± 15 km and 4.05 ± 0.05 g cm−3, respectively. The core properties inferred here reconcile bulk geophysical and cosmochemical requirements, consistent with a core containing 85–91 wt% iron–nickel and 9–15 wt% light elements, chiefly sulfur, carbon, oxygen and hydrogen. The chemical characteristics of a molten silicate layer above the core may be revealed by products of Martian magmatism.

The Seismic Record of Wind in Alaska

ABSTRACT Seismic data contains a continuous record of wind influenced by different factors across the frequency spectrum. To assess the influences of wind on ground motion, we use colocated wind and seismic data from 110 stations in the Alaska component of the EarthScope Transportable Array. We compare seismic probability power spectral densities and wind speed and direction during 2018 to develop a quantitative measure of the seismic sensitivity to wind. We observe a pronounced increase in seismic energy as a function of wind speed for almost all stations. At frequencies below the microseism band, our observations agree with previous authors in finding that sensor emplacement and ground materials are important, and that much of the wind influence likely comes from associated changes in barometric pressure. Wind has the least influence in the microseism band, but that is only because its contribution to noise is much smaller than the ubiquitous microseism background. At frequencies above the microseism band, we find that wind sensitivity is correlated with land cover type, increasing with vegetation height. This sensitivity varies seasonally, which we attribute to snow insulation, the burial of vegetation and objects around the station, and potentially the role of frozen ground. Wind direction also manifests in seismic data, which we attribute to turbulent air on the lee side of station huts coupling with the ground and the seismometer borehole cap. We find some dependence on bedrock type, with a greater seismic response in unconsolidated sediment. These results provide guidance on site selection and construction, and make it possible to forecast seismic network performance under different wind conditions. When we examine the factors at work in a warming climate, we find reason to anticipate increasing seismic noise from wind in the Arctic over the decades to come.

The quality improvement method of vibroseis records

Vibroseis seismic acquisition technology is a method of acquiring seismic data utilizing correlation technology. Specifically, the seismic single shot record is obtained through correlation between the reference signal and the mother record. Specifically, the seismic single shot record is obtained through correlation between the reference signal and the mother record. Specifically, the seismic single shot record is obtained through correlation between the reference signal and the mother record. In line with pertinent technical regulations, greater correlation between the two signals equates to superior correlation outcomes. The reference signal is transmitted to the surface via the vibration of the vibrating plate. This is achieved using the vibroseis machine. However, due to the coupling relationship between the vibrating plate and the surface, the vibration signal output by the former is not equivalent to the vibration signal received by the latter. Consequently, the correlation between the reference signal and parent record fails to procure the best correlation result. In this paper, a technique is presented for establishing a correlation between the surface vibration signals captured by the geophone in proximity to the vibroseis and the reference record. This approach improves the quality of the correlated single shot, and holds significant potential for broad dissemination.

Integrated surface geochemical and seismic surveys for hydrocarbon exploration - A case study from southern Poland

Surface geochemical surveys were carried out in the Pawłosiów area in the eastern part of the Carpathian Foredeep. The research included an analysis of the molecular composition of soil gas samples as well as measurements of the calcite content, magnetic susceptibility and pH of soil samples. The results obtained were integrated with a geological-seismic model. Changes in the concentrations of total alkanes C2–C5 in relation to changes in indirect geochemical indicators showed “compensatory” character. This means that in places where alkane concentrations were increasing, negative anomalies of magnetic susceptibility and a decrease in pH values were observed. It may be related to the intensity of the oxidation processes or reduction of the magnetic minerals in, as well as the reduced permeability of, the Miocene layers in the zones analysed. Moreover, the complex geochemical-geophysical interpretation showed a zone of anomalous values of the total C2–C5 alkanes in the Pawłosiów area, which is suitable for prospecting. The research performed proved that a thorough analysis of the seismic record allowing subtle DHI anomalies appearing within the Miocene formations to be located, combined with the use of direct and indirect geochemical indicators, can help in identifying an area in terms of hydrocarbon potential. This applies in particular to this type of foreland basin, within which geological formations lie flat, and positive structures (anticlines) are hardly visible in seismic sections. In this type of structure, hydrocarbons can be accumulated in traps of a hybrid character (conventional and unconventional). The extensive zone of geochemical and geophysical anomalies found in the area of Pawłosiów may indicate the presence of this type of hydrocarbon accumulation.Comprehensive research, including direct and indirect geochemical methods in combination with a seismic survey, allows for a better assessment of the hydrocarbon potential of the studied area.

The Great Boundary Fault in the Indo-Gangetic foreland basin: A geomorphological perspective

Identifying active faults in alluvial plains with varying sedimentation rates, erosion, and extensive anthropogenic modifications is challenging. In tectonically active foreland basins, tectonics outweighs other controlling factors and produces a set of key fluvial geomorphic markers that are critical for precisely locating active faults. This study employs several key tectonic fluvial morphometric parameters, seismically induced soft-sediment deformation structures (SSDS) as seismites, and the displaced rocks of the Siwalik mountains to mark the surface positions of a buried basement fault system, namely the Great Boundary Fault (GBF) beneath the alluvial cover of the Indo-Gangetic foreland basin.The Great Boundary Fault (GBF) is a NE-SW trending, oblique-slip, branching reverse basement fault running from peninsular India to the Sub-Himalayas. About 400 km length of its NE segment is buried under thick sediments of the Indo-Gangetic foreland basin. This fault's surfaceward propagation deforms the overlying sediments via a network of subsidiary faults, resulting in 20 km wide broad fault zones. The extreme flatness of the Ganga plain conceals the primary faulting evidence but tectonic fluvial geomorphic signatures, the SSDS, and the laterally displaced Siwalik rocks, including south-verging thrusts at the frontal Himalayas, provide collective evidence of neotectonic activity along both fault branches. The primary objectives of this study are to characterise the GBF's buried segment in the Ganga plain through the geomorphic signatures and SSDS, to elucidate its extension up to the Main Boundary Thrust (MBT), and to understand the surfaceward propagation mechanism of its reverse faults through the alluvial-fills.Tectonic geomorphic parameters such as sinuosity spectra and knickpoints were analysed using ArcGIS and Matlab. Meander scar mapping was carried out using Google Earth Pro and Landsat imagery within ArcGIS to characterise the pattern of avulsions and adjustments of the floodplain linked to the tilting directions of the fault blocks.Fourteen prominent knickpoints of 4 to ≥6 m height were derived from the river profiles across the fault zone. Rivers on the up-thrown block possessed low sinuosity (as low as 1.1), whilst those on the down-thrown block had higher sinuosities (up to 3.1), indicating active uplift and rapid subsidence. The deflection of multiple river courses (Ganga, Ramganga, Burhiganga, Sot, Pangaili, and Deoha) and the presence of asymmetrical meander-belts demonstrate an eastward tilting of the tectonic block. The occurrence of liquefaction-induced SSDS close to the GBF corroborates its recent seismogenic nature. Field observation suggests these SSDS are likely related to the Usawan paleo-earthquake (estimated magnitude of 6.5–7.2), epicentered near the GBF. Based on the geometry and the venting characteristics, a new type of SSDS has been recognized, and the term “liquefaction vents” has been proposed for it. Their association with the other types of SSDS that are characteristically formed by >6.5 magnitude earthquakes suggests it is the minimum magnitude of earthquake required for the formation of liquefaction vents. The regional seismic record suggests a significant number of both large and moderate earthquakes around this fault.Finally, we synthesise the results to propose a growth model for the propagation of reverse faulting from the underlying basement bedrock through to the alluvial sediments and the surface of the Ganga plain.

Integrating self-supervised denoising in inversion-based seismic deblending

To limit the time, cost, and environmental impact associated with the acquisition of seismic data in recent decades, considerable effort has been put into so-called simultaneous shooting acquisitions, where seismic sources are fired at short time intervals between each other. As a consequence, waves originating from consecutive shots are entangled within the seismic recordings, yielding so-called blended data. For processing and imaging purposes, the data generated by each individual shot must be retrieved. This process, called deblending, is achieved by solving an inverse problem that is heavily underdetermined. Conventional approaches rely on the action of the adjoint of the blending operator that renders the blending noise into burst-like noise while preserving the signal of interest. Compressed sensing type regularization is then applied, where sparsity in some domain is assumed for the signal of interest. The domain of choice generally depends on the acquisition geometry and the separability between the signal and noise within the chosen domain. In this work, we introduce a new concept that consists of embedding a self-supervised denoising network into the plug-and-play (PnP) framework. A novel network is introduced whose design extends an existing blind-spot network architecture for partially coherent noise (i.e., correlated in time). The network is then trained directly on the noisy input data at each step of the PnP algorithm. By leveraging the underlying physics of the problem and the great denoising capabilities of our blind-spot network, our algorithm is shown to outperform standard industry methods while being comparable in terms of computational cost. Moreover, being independent of the acquisition geometry, our method can be easily applied to marine and land data without any significant modification.

Late Devensian to Holocene environmental change, Loch Lomond, UK: A seismic sedimentary record of deglaciation, paraglacial and postglacial landscape evolution

We present an interpretation of two-dimensional sub-bottom profiling data from Loch Lomond, Scotland, UK. Sediments deposited during and following the last glacier advance have been investigated for decades around the shores of Loch Lomond. For the first time, this study presents an interpretation of the subsurface providing a window into the late Quaternary and Holocene history of Loch Lomond and its surrounding. The seismic stratigraphy records the infill of the loch during the final stages of the Loch Lomond Stadial (LLS, 12.9–11.7 ka BP), through the Holocene and into the present day. Results reveal the presence of distinct seismic facies (SF) identifying four principal seismic horizons; SF-I, SF-II, SF-III, and SF-IV. The SF-I horizon represents the glaciated surface, interpreted as subglacial till (locally forming drumlins), glacial moraines or bedrock. Ice retreat was accompanied by glaciolacustrine sedimentation in a proglacial lake setting, depositing up to 44 m of laminated sediments and ice marginal fans (SF-IIa, b). A period of landscape instability followed with extensive deposition of mass transport deposits (SF-III). These deposits, characterised by chaotic seismic facies with an erosional basal surface, are up to 43 m thick and may represent up to 50 % of the sediment fill. SF-IV comprises finely laminated sediments deposited during the Holocene and highlights slower sedimentation rates in comparison to earlier phases of sedimentation. This study reveals new insights into the deglaciation of Loch Lomond, including previously unrecognised extensive mass transport deposits buried in the subsurface, associated with a period of paraglacial adjustment.

Application of the Empirical Mode Decomposition Method to Noise Reduction Using Seismic Event Data Recorded at Kirkuk Seismological Station.

This study aims to use the Empirical Mode Decomposition for reducing the noise of passive seismic signals recorded across seismic event recorded at Kirkuk station which is one of the Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology data, where human activities in Iraq's populous cities significantly impact the seismic recordings at Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology stations sites. In this paper, we present an algorithm based on the Empirical Mode Decomposition. It is a data driven method used as a propelling tool for analyzing and decomposing non-stationary and non-linear data without any previous assumptions. Empirical Mode Decomposition generates a finite and often small number of Intrinsic Mode Functions. The decomposition is based on the direct extraction of the energy related to various intrinsic time scales, an important parameter of the system. Empirical Mode Decomposition technique is applied to the available seismic records to reduce the noise level in the records, which helps in the interpretation of the records.

COMPUTATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION FOR SEISMIC ASSESSMENT OF EXISTING STRUCTURES

Increasing of seismic record in Brazil resulted in first Brazilian code of seismic NBR 15421:2006. Once publication succeed Brazilian sample building assessment must be developed in order to prevent or mitigate effects of horizontal accelerations from seismic. For preliminary screening of existent reinforced concrete structures qualitative Hirosawa method seems to be suitable to Brazilian reality. This paper aims to implement computationally seismic vulnerability assessment method in order to optimize assessments through opensource SMath Solver and programming language is C#. Adapted Hirosawa method compares resistance of building through seismic index of structure and Seismic demand index . Index is a product of indexes (Basic seismic index of structure, Irregularity index, Time index) and index is formed by zone index, ground index and usage index. Model structure proposed by literature are analyzed in different levels of seismic acceleration as well as types of soil defined by Brazilian seismic code in order to demonstrate usability of tool. Graphical interface and results obtained from the application are showed aiding in decision-taking about new refined assessments or feasible interventions.

Control of the technical condition of buildings and structures on permafrost soils by the changes in the frequencies of natural vibrations (according to seismic monitoring of a pile-type building – the Palace of culture of Norilsk)

The relationship between temperature fluctuations and changes in natural frequencies of a piletype engineering structure located on permafrost soils is investigated in connection with the development of methods for monitoring the technical condition of similar structures. The object of the study is the Palace of Culture of the polar branch of PJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel, located in Norilsk, where in recent years the thawing of the soils has a potential threat to the stability of engineering structures. The basic values of the frequencies of natural oscillations of the building were determined in August 2021 by the method of coherent reconstruction of the fields of standing waves and are 3.0, 3.7, 4.7 Hz on the short axis and 3.5 and 5.2 Hz on the long axis. The current (daily) frequency values are determined with an error of no more than 0.01 Hz from the amplitude spectra of seismic noise recordings (without active sources), which were obtained during continuous seismic monitoring from the end of August 2021 to the beginning of September 2022. From comparing the changes in the frequencies of natural oscillations with fluctuations in ambient temperature, it follows that during the year the frequencies change significantly (in winter their values are 11–12% higher than in summer), presumably due to defrosting/ freezing of the upper part of the soil. Against the background of this change, local fluctuations in frequency values were revealed due to cooling/ heating of the material of the building mainly at a positive ambient temperature (frequencies increase in direct proportion to temperature within 5–7%). According to the analysis of monitoring data after the annual cycle, the natural frequencies of the building in August 2021 and 2022 are not equal (the difference is up to 1.7%), which is presumably explained by the different depth of ground defrosting in the summer. To assess the impact of this phenomenon on the technical condition of the building, it is necessary to continue monitoring, first of all, to obtain data on changes in the natural frequ

Post-Earthquake Assessment for Seismic Risk Mitigation in Romania: Case-Studies Based on Recorded Data

"The seismic recordings from certain types of buildings in urban areas during moderate earthquakes from Vrancea-intermediate depth focal region are processed and analysed. One of the most important element in hazard evaluation at national level is the seismic recording network which has been upgraded in the last years up to over 20 strong motion accelerometers in Bucharest and 135 in Romania with easy data handling (accelerations easy to transform in displacements). The general behaviour of reinforced concrete buildings in Bucharest Metropolis during destructive seismic events from Vrancea-intermediate depth focal region is briefly described. The analysis of the elastic response spectra is made for four buildings subjected to the two recent earthquakes with magnitude higher than 4.8, of October 28, 2018 and January 31, 2020 from Vranceaintermediate depth seismic zone. The information consisting in maximum level of the pseudo-acceleration to which the buildings were subjected may be used to detect and quantify any exceedance of the code spectra of interest in near real-time. The recorded earthquakes data are transmitted in real time to the National Data Centre. The goal is to develop and implement modern techniques and tools able to estimate the effect of earthquakes on the built environment in the shortest time possible after a major earthquake. "

Monitoring performance of slopes via ambient seismic noise recordings: Case study in a colluvium deposit

Long-term monitoring of slopes is of significance for engineering geology research and geo-disaster prevention. There is a growing need to develop fast, nondestructive and affordable techniques that can detect gradual and cyclic changes inside slopes. For this purpose, we propose a fast and low-cost computational framework based on processing the single-point ambient seismic noise recordings by the horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) method. To test the efficiency of the proposed framework, we conduct a demonstration study in a road-cut slope in colluvium deposits in Southwest China. First, we carry out short-term ambient seismic noise surveys on the slope, delineate the shear wave velocity (Vs) structure of the slope, verify and establish this structure as the reference Vs model for the slope. Then we conduct the long-term monitoring of the ambient seismic noise on two profiles of the slope, calculate the HVSR curves and observe the time-dependent variations of the predominant peaks that reflect temporal changes of subsurface interfaces. Finally, we perform the Vs inversion to investigate changes in the Vs structure with rainfall. Through the monitoring, we identify the rainfall-induced slope failure and discover that both predominant frequency and shallow subsurface Vs of slope are negatively correlated with rainfall. The HVSR calculation, the predominant peak identification and the Vs inversion can all be implemented in minutes, which is much faster than the array-based surface wave method. The theoretical analysis and the demonstration application show that the framework we proposed in this study has great potential for monitoring changes in performance of slopes.

Amplitude and inter-event time statistics for the island volcanoes Stromboli, Mount Etna, Yasur, and Whakaari

Detailed analyses of past major and minor seismo-volcanic events can help to understand the eruptive behavior of volcanoes and the underlying physical and chemical processes. Catalogs of these eruptions and, specifically, seismo-volcanic events may be generated using continuous seismic recordings at stations in the proximity of volcanoes. Here, we apply a recently-developed automated approach Adaptive-Window Volcanic Event Selection Analysis Module (AWESAM) to seismic data from Stromboli (Italy), Mount Etna (Italy), Yasur (Vanuatu) and Whakaari (New Zealand). We perform an inter-event time analysis to identify characteristic patterns in the events’ recurrence time and the volcanic activity. Using this identical approach for all volcanoes, we were able to discover that despite their differing types and activity, they exhibit similar statistical behaviors. For Whakaari, we noticed a bimodal inter-event time distribution for large events. Since this observation is based on single station data, further in-depth investigations are needed once more data is available in future. We also derive a new amplitude-frequency relationship from seismo-volcanic events. With this relation, we can confirm a change in slope for large events at Stromboli, which is based on 10 years of data. Additionally, we apply a classification model to events from Stromboli to differentiate between low-period (LP) events and high-frequency (HF) events and found an alternating behavior in the frequency of these events before and after the two paroxysms in 2019.

Prediction of Marine Thin Shale Gas Reservoir with Seismic Phase-Controlled Nonlinear Stochastic Inversion

Due to the complicated interference sources and low signal-to-noise ratio of seismic records, conventional seismic inversion methods are difficult to accurately identify shale gas reservoirs with a thickness of less than 10 m. This presents great challenges to shale gas exploration and development in China. Seismic phase-controlled nonlinear stochastic inversion (SPCNSI) is related to the heterogeneity of underground media. With the constraints of the stratigraphic sequence or seismic facies models, the minimum value between the seismic model and seismic record can be solved through iterative processes. Based on the solved acoustic velocity in formation, the constraints for SPCNSI can be formed with the matching relationship between target layers and different sequences in three-dimensional space. The prediction resolution of an unconventional reservoir can be effectively improved by combining logging, geological and seismic information. The method is suitable for predicting thin shale gas reservoirs in complex geological structures. In this study, SPCNSI was developed to predict the thin-layer marine shale gas reservoir in the southeast of Chongqing; the horizontal and vertical distribution characteristics were proven in the Longmaxi Formation and the Wufeng Formation; thin layers with a thickness of less than 7 m were also discovered. According to the results, three sets of potential development areas were determined by the inversion method, and the accuracy and reliability of the method were verified by logging and productivity testing.