S-wave Velocity Profiles Research Articles

Near-surface velocity inversion and modeling method based on surface waves in petroleum exploration: a case study from Qaidam Basin, China

Surface waves are widely used in the study of underground structures at various scales because of their dispersion characteristics in layered media. Whether in natural seismology or engineering seismology, surface wave analysis methods have matured and developed for their respective fields. However, in oil and gas exploration, many data processors still tend to consider surface waves as noise that needs to be removed. To make more people pay attention to the application of surface waves and widely utilize surface waves carrying the near surface information in oil and gas exploration, this paper takes the data processing of LH site in Qinghai, China as an example to apply surface wave analysis methods to oil and gas exploration. We first preprocess and perform dispersion imaging method on the seismic record in the LH site to obtain frequency-phase velocity spectrum with good resolution and signal-to-noise ratio. Then, utilizing clustering algorithms, it automatically identifies and picks dispersion curves. Finally, through a simultaneous inversion algorithm of velocity and thickness, it inverts the dispersion curves and obtain S-wave velocity profiles in the depth range of 0–200 m. The near surface is divided into four zones based on velocity ranges and depth ranges. Additionally, we apply the surface waves inversion results as constraints to first-arrival tomography and obtain objectively accurate P-wave velocity profiles and Poisson’s ratio profiles. The results indicate that by applying surface wave analysis methods, the near surface velocity information carried by surface waves can be extracted, providing near surface velocity models for static correction and migration. At the same time, compared with the surface wave application in engineering seismology, the scale of oil and gas exploration is larger, so that the data processing of surface waves is particularly important, otherwise it will affect the picking of the dispersion curve and inversion.

Determination of the VS profile at a “noisy” industrial site via active and passive data: The critical role of Love waves and the opportunities of multicomponent group velocity analysis

To define the procedures necessary to unambiguously define the subsurface model, a comprehensive set of active and passive seismic data was collected in an industrial area characterized by an extremely high level of background microtremors. Passive data are recorded to define three observables: the dispersion curve of the vertical component of Rayleigh waves via miniature array analysis of microtremors, the Love-wave dispersion curve via extended spatial autocorrelation, and the horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio (HVSR). Active data used for the holistic analysis of surface waves are extracted from data recorded through a hybrid acquisition procedure accomplished with only two 3C geophones used to simultaneously define the HVSR at two points. Defined observables are combined according to three different approaches: the joint analysis of Rayleigh waves and HVSR, the joint analysis of Rayleigh and Love waves together with the HVSR, and the joint analysis of multicomponent group velocities together with the HVSR and Rayleigh-wave particle motion (RPM) curves. In agreement with the theory, data indicate that, in general, surface-wave modeling cannot be performed considering modal dispersion curves: dispersion obtained from passive data needs to be modeled considering the effective curve, whereas group velocity obtained from active data can be analyzed using the full velocity spectrum technique. Results indicate that joint inversion of Rayleigh-wave dispersion and HVSR does not necessarily ensure the correctness of the obtained S-wave velocity ([Formula: see text]) profile and that Love waves represent a key observable to fully constrain an unambiguous inversion procedure. However, the joint analysis of multicomponent group velocity spectra (from active multicomponent single-offset data) together with the HVSR and RPM curves is a further efficient way to obtain robust [Formula: see text] profiles through the active and passive data obtained by a single 3C geophone.

Multimode Rayleigh wave dispersion spectrum inversion using Wasserstein distance coupled with Bayesian optimization

We develop a new automatic framework for the nondestructive multichannel analysis of surface waves that combines multimode dispersion spectrum matching and a finite-element method (FEM)-based inversion to enhance the accuracy of subsurface profiling in site investigation activities. This framework eliminates the need for manual identification of the Rayleigh wave energy component and multimode assignment, reducing dependence on operator experience and judgment. The dispersion spectrum is generated through an FEM model that simulates 2D seismic wave propagation, taking into account the actual acquisition layout and lateral variations in the subsurface. We introduce the Wasserstein distance (WD) for evaluating the difference between the observed and simulated spectra and incorporate Bayesian optimization for efficiently inverting S-wave velocity profiles. The effectiveness of our framework is demonstrated through synthetic data examples, and the superiority of the WD-based objective function is illustrated by comparing it with the conventional mean square error-based objective function. Subsequently, we conduct a field test on a reclaimed landfill to validate our framework. This test confirms the ability of the framework to retrieve multimode Rayleigh waves and demonstrates its effectiveness in providing high-resolution S-wave profiles of the shallow subsurface.

Machine-learning models to predict P- and S-wave velocity profiles for Japan as an example

Machine-learning models to predict P- and S-wave velocity profiles for Japan as an example

Directional sources and distributed acoustic sensing deployments for near-surface characterization

Active near-surface surveys using distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) have been practically limited to 2D inline acquisitions followed by Rayleigh-wave dispersion analysis. In this study, we analyze different acquisition setups and the subsurface properties that can be estimated from them. First, we find a surface survey dedicated to Love-wave acquisition. We use a horizontal source and common-receiver sorting of the DAS data for a pure Love-wave velocity dispersion analysis yielding an S-wave velocity profile. Common-receiver sorting has the added benefit of practically eliminating the effect of the gauge length. Next, downhole DAS is used in a vertical seismic profile-type survey to recover a 1D P-wave velocity through checkshot analysis. Finally, we find that the horizontal portion of a fiber deployed in a deviated borehole records high-frequency data from surface sources. We use first arrivals for diving-wave tomography, yielding a 2D P-wave velocity model above and below the fiber. We validate the inversion results of all acquisitions through a comparison with geophone-derived velocity models. We conclude that source orientation plays a crucial role and should be considered during survey planning in conjunction with DAS directivity. As anticipated, fiber coupling can strongly influence the signal-to-noise ratio and needs to be adequately planned. In vertical boreholes, infilling offers a viable solution for deployment in existing wells. For deviated boreholes, installation inside the casing yields suboptimal coupling, but more adequate deployment protocols may yield high-frequency data useful for velocity model building and imaging. From a practical point of view, the acquisitions that we describe are difficult to justify due to their operational costs and limitations. Nonetheless, they highlight the potential of DAS in going beyond traditional analysis.

Interpretation Methods for Seismic Downhole Test in Inclined Boreholes

Geotechnical investigations often involve inclined boreholes, which can be used for downhole (DH) seismic surveys. However, as there is no interpretation method for downhole tests in inclined boreholes (IDH), this study proposes alternative interpretation methods based on the direct method (DM), interval method (IM), modified interval method (MIM), and refracted ray path method (RRM). We have named the proposed methods, adding an I to the original name to indicate that they are performed in an inclined well, i.e., DMI, IMI, MIMI, and RRMI. To analyze the applicability of the proposed methods, eight simple models with horizontal layers and four 2D models were used to obtain the P- and S-wave velocity profiles. Among all the proposed methods, the RRMI method showed the best fit between the calculated S-wave velocity (Vs) profile and the real models, providing good reliability. To test the equations and hypotheses, new interpretation steps were developed based on Snell's law and a modification of the numerical bisection method, which showed that the error increased slightly as the dip angle of the well decreased. The next step was to test the accuracy of the RRMI method in the field and develop downhole test processing software for vertical and inclined boreholes. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2023-09-10-016 Full Text: PDF

Linear site-response characteristics at central and eastern U.S. seismic stations

Earthquake S waves can become trapped, or resonate, between the free surface and high-impedance basal layers, strongly contributing to site response at specific frequencies. Strong S-wave resonances have been observed in the central and eastern U.S., where many sites sit on unlithified sediments underlain by stiff bedrock. To evaluate S-wave resonances in this region, we calculated 1D linear site-responses at 89 seismic stations with developed S-wave velocity profiles into bedrock. We found that S-wave resonances at the fundamental and strongest (peak) modes occur across large ranges of frequencies, each spanning more than two orders of magnitude — 0.21–54.0 Hz and 0.29–71.5 Hz, respectively. Amplifications of ∼5 and ∼6 are common at the fundamental frequency and peak modes, respectively; the largest amplification calculated was 13.2. Using simple regression analyses, we evaluated the skills of six proxies derived from the S-wave velocity profiles to predict the frequencies and corresponding amplifications of the fundamental and peak modes. We found that the depths to the 1.0 km/s and 2.5 km/s horizons, consistent with other studies, and to the maximum impedance contrasts strongly correlate with the resonance frequencies and that the fundamental-mode and peak amplifications correlate with the maximum impedance ratios. Correlations improved for data subsets based on the number and magnitude of impedance ratios underlying the sites and are the strongest at sites underlain by a single impedance ratio of 3.0 or greater. Finally, we calculated the S-wave horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratios (HVSR) at each possible seismic station and found, consistent with other studies, that the first peak can be used to estimate fundamental-mode frequencies and the corresponding amplifications. Thus, S-wave HVSR, can provide useful estimates of the fundamental-mode linear site response parameters at sites lacking S-wave velocity profiles. Furthermore, S-wave HVSR curves appear to be useful to broadly categorize impedance-ratio profiles.

Shallow S-wave Velocity Profile Estimation using Surface Velocity and Microtremor HVSR with a Linear Velocity Increase Approach

We propose a simple method for 1D S-wave velocity (Vs) profile estimation using a measured surface S-wave velocity (V1) and peak frequency of the observed microtremor horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio (HVSR). In this method, the S-wave velocity profile is presented as linear velocity increase with depth in sediments over a bedrock layer that has a given constant S-wave velocity. Thus, the profile can be parameterized with the measured surface S-wave velocity and the velocity gradient. The gradient can be estimated based on the agreement of the peak frequencies of the observed microtremor HVSR and the theoretical ellipticity of the fundamental mode of the Rayleigh wave. We examined the applicability of the proposed method using numerical tests as well as application to actual data at five sites in the Bandung Basin, Indonesia, where observed Rayleigh wave phase velocities from microtremor array surveys were available. The applicability was confirmed in numerical tests using sample models of soil profiles in the basin. Actual application indicated the appropriateness of the estimated S-wave velocity profiles due to the similarity of their theoretical Rayleigh wave phase velocities with the observed Rayleigh wave phase velocities. Since the proposed method needs prior confirmation of the linear increase of the S-wave velocity, it is suitable for use in spatial interpolation of shallow S-wave velocity profiles with simple data acquisition.

In situ estimation of effective rock elastic moduli by seismic ambient vibrations

In this study, we performed a non-invasive ambient noise investigation of unsaturated rock structures in the Bohemian Paradise (Bohemian Cretaceous Basin, Czech Republic). Our study focused on two key topics: 1) An in situ elastic moduli estimate of competent, horizontally deposited sandstone layers using ambient noise array measurements. Recordings were processed using an f-k array analysis, from which frequency-dependent Love and Rayleigh wave dispersion curves, as well as Rayleigh wave ellipticity, were retrieved. Data were inverted for the P- and S-wave velocity profiles, from which Young's and shear moduli were successfully estimated. 2) A study of the local response of the Kapelník rock tower. We analysed a dataset of ambient noise recordings obtained from the top of the tower and its foot. Information regarding tower oscillation frequencies and directions, together with amplification ratios, were retrieved from a particle motion polarisation analysis and from site-to-reference spectral ratios. Euler-Bernoulli beam theory was also employed for interpreting measured data using elastic moduli estimated from noise array measurements.

Lunar active seismic profiler for investigating shallow substrates of the Moon and other extraterrestrial environments

To investigate the structures and properties of shallow material in extraterrestrial environments, we have developed a lunar active seismic profiler (LASP), which integrates active seismic sources and receivers in a short (~1 m) array that can be deployed on a rover. The small active source generates a chirp waveform that sweeps over a wide frequency range (20–250 Hz). The receivers are coupled to the ground by their own weight, but nevertheless deliver acceptable performance. We improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the seismic signal by stacking waveforms, enabling a minimal source to support the exploration of geological substrates. By processing shot gather of the LASP data, we calculated a dispersion curve of surface waves and obtained an accurate S-wave velocity profile from surface to 1 m depth. The results suggest that regions with even small amounts of subsurface ice (~0.5 wt%) can be identified in LASP results by their anomalously high S-wave velocity. Field experiments demonstrate that the LASP can support estimates of 3D S-wave velocity distributions and the identification of a buried geological boundary. The LASP also detected different degrees of compaction at the experimental site. If two rovers carry these profilers, or if a single rover combines one with a separately deployed receiver or active seismic source, seismic refraction and seismic reflection analyses can be conducted simultaneously in addition to surface wave analyses. These seismic surveys for longer-offset data achieve the exploration of deeper substrates in extraterrestrial settings such as the Moon, Mars, and other solid bodies.

A Comparison of 1-D S-wave Velocity Profile Resulting from Microtremor Array Method and Lithology Profile from Borehole Data in Jakarta

The subsurface investigation is very important in seismic hazard assessment for the city scale because it greatly affects the propagation of seismic waves on the surface related to the amplification phenomenon caused by the thickness and hardness of the surface sediment. Local geology and geotechnical conditions for seismic hazard analysis are represented by site class which is determined based on the value of Vs30 or NSPT30, besides that it is also necessary to know the depth of the bedrock. In general, the availability of these data in the cities in Indonesia is very limited, so it is necessary to conduct a field survey which is one of the methods using the microtremor array survey method. This paper has presented the results of subsurface investigations in Kembangan Jakarta using the microtremor array method and their comparison with borehole data that was carried out at adjacent locations. The analysis results of those methods show a positive correlation between the 1-D shear wave velocity profile and lithology where the top layer has low S-wave velocity (Vs) correlated with soft rock. The S-wave velocity increases with depth which is correlated with hard rock that is indicated by lithology as hard sandstone. The results of this study are very useful for applying the array microtremor method in other cities considering it is very simple in operation.

Multi-objective particle swarm optimization for multimode surface wave analysis

Obtaining S-wave velocity profiles by inverting Rayleigh wave dispersion curves is crucial for the Rayleigh wave exploration method. Rayleigh wave inversion is a highly nonlinear and multi-extremum problem; therefore, global optimization algorithms are superior to local optimization methods for this inversion problem. Higher modes of dispersion curves have deeper penetration, which can improve the inversion quality. This study utilizes the multi-objective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO) algorithm, rather than a traditional single-objective optimization algorithm, to obtain S-velocity profiles from Rayleigh wave multimode phase velocity dispersion curves. The uncertainty of the inversion parameters is evaluated through the morphology of the Pareto front and the standard deviation of the Pareto optimal solution set. This is the first application of MOPSO in solving the multimode Rayleigh wave phase velocity dispersion curves joint inversion problem. It inverts three synthetic datasets, compares the inversion results with the synthetic data, and then conducts a comparative analysis with the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm and the multi-objective grey wolf optimization (MOGWO) algorithm in one of these synthetic models to evaluate the accuracy and stability of MOPSO to the joint inversion. In addition, this research inverts observed data from an expressway roadbed in Henan, China, to examine the applicability of MOPSO for the joint inversion of multimode dispersion curves. The MOPSO inversion closely yields S-wave velocity profiles that match the borehole data. The synthetic and observed data inversion results indicated that the MOPSO algorithm accurately inverts multimode dispersion curves.

Surface wave exploration technology for the tunnel overlying strata with vehicle vibration source

Subway tunnels are often built under the arterial roads in cities and the safety of overlying strata is important. Due to the limitation of urban space, many geophysical exploration methods maybe not be applicable. Most of the near surface exploration are carried out along the roads. This makes the continuously moving sources, including the vehicle and metro, to become important passive sources in the seismic detection. This type of signal has the characteristics of wide distribution, strong amplitudes, easy collection, and strong correlation. It carries abundant near-surface information and has high potential in non-destructive detection and monitoring. We obtain both the S-wave and P-wave profile with vehicle signals. Firstly, we propose an efficient method for equidistant linear array to extract the dispersion curves. The multiple vehicles signals were simulated with path integration method and the extracted dispersion curve has a good agreement with the theoretical data. In engineering and petroleum exploration, the P-wave velocity is more important than S-wave velocity sometimes. Previous study has shown that Poisson’s ratio is sensitive to the wavelength (W)-depth (D) relationship. Based on this observation, we proposed an inversion method to estimate the P-wave velocity structures directly. The traditional method is improved by adding the W/D-D information to the objective function, which is more sensitive to superficial layers. We select a high unevenness road above the operating subway. The vehicle signals are recorded along the roadside and the dispersion data is extracted. The inverted S-wave velocity profile can be used to identify warning geological positions such as water-rich weak interlayers. The resulting P-wave profile is also consistent with the drilling data. Our work successfully proves the effectiveness of vehicle signals and maps the overlying layers profile of subway tunnel.

S-wave velocity characteristics and mineralization of the southern tibet detachment system-yalaxiangbo dome

A series of extensional structures, including the southern Tibet detachment system (STDS), the north-south trending rifts (NSTR), and the northern Himalayan gneiss dome (NHGD), developed from the collision and compression between the Indian and Eurasian plates. These tectonic movements were accompanied by magmatism and polymetallic mineralization. Cuona Rift (CR) is located on the STDS next to the Yalaxiangbo Dome (YD) and passes through the Zhegucuo-longzi fault (ZLF), the Lhozhag fault (LZF), the Rongbu-Gudui fault (RGF), the Cuonadong dome (CD), and the YD. The study area contains numerous metal deposits, such as rare metal ore, lead zinc ore, gold deposits, and two geothermal fields, i.e., the Cuona geothermal field (CGF) and the Gudui geothermal field (GGF). Current research on the geological structures from the STDS to the YD is mainly based on magnetotelluric and natural seismic imaging. These surveys have a low resolution, making it impossible to image the shallow crust in detail. This study obtained about a 112 km S-wave velocity profile from the STDS to the YD using the multichannel surface wave imaging method. The profile results indicated that the average thickness of the sedimentary layer from the STDS to the YD is 400–500 m, while it is more than 800 m at certain fault zones. The CD is connected to the high-velocity body below the Zhaxikang ore concentration area (ZOCA) and may have the same provenance. The thermal conductivity reveals that the CGF, the GGF, and the ZOCA have high values and a more intense thermal radiation capacity. This drives the migration and circulation of the thermal fluids in the CGF and the GGF, causing them to continuously transmit heat to the shallow surface along the fault system. The migration of the thermal fluids extracts useful elements from the geological bodies through which it flows. When these elements mix with the atmospheric infiltration water, it precipitates to form the Zhaxikang hydrothermal superimposed transformation type lead-zinc polymetallic deposit.

Identification of Subsurface Structures Using H/V Curves from Earthquake Recordings: Application to Seismic Stations in Switzerland

We performed a study to test the performances of the Hybrid Heuristic Search (HHS) algorithm (Nagashima et al. 2014) using earthquake recordings at 23 instrumented sites in Switzerland. The HHS algorithm is based on the diffuse field theory and estimates the P- and S-wave velocity profiles by inverting horizontal-to vertical spectral ratio (H/V) curves of earthquake recordings. In this study we inverted the H/V curves computed using the arrivals of local and regional earthquakes with a maximum local magnitude of 4.6. We compared the results of the inversion technique to the information available for each investigated site (e.g., site characterization analysis). Our results emphasize the importance of site characterization data for the definition of the parameter space in the near surface, and the potential to extend the investigated depth to much higher depths than the standard site characterization measurements. The additional constraints in the inversion are important to drive the inversion towards a unique solution. Our analysis confirms the potential of the HHS algorithm to invert the full earthquake H/V curve for subsurface investigation and its applicability to areas with low magnitude earthquakes. In addition, the HHS algorithm can be a useful technique to investigate deeper structures and extend the velocity profile to depths that are not resolved by classical site characterization techniques.

Imaging the lithospheric structure and plumbing system below the Mayotte volcanic zone

Teleseismic receiver-functions and Rayleigh-wave dispersion curves are jointly inverted for quantifying S-wave velocity profiles beneath the active volcanic zone off Mayotte. We show that the lithosphere in the east-northeast quadrant is composed of four main layers, interpreted as the volcanic edifice, the crust with underplating, the lithospheric mantle, and the asthenosphere, the latter two presenting a main low-velocity zone. The depths of the old (10–11 km) and new Moho (28–31 km) coincide with the two magma reservoirs evidenced by recent seismological and petrological methods. We propose that the main magma reservoir composed of mush with an increasing amount of liquid extends down to 54 km depth. This magma storage develops from a rheological contrast between the ductile lower and brittle upper lithospheric mantle and accounts for most of the volcanic eruption-related seismicity. Finally, the abnormally small thickness of the lithospheric mantle (33 km) is likely a result of a thermal thinning since the onset of Cenozoic magmatism.

Joint estimation ofS-wave velocity and damping ratio of the near-surface from active Rayleigh wave surveys processed with a wavefield decomposition approach

SUMMARYThe use of surface wave measurements to derive an S-wave velocity profile of the subsurface has become a widely applied procedure; however, their potential use to reconstruct the S-wave material damping properties of the subsoil is generally overlooked, due to the difficulties in obtaining consistent surface wave amplitude information from field data and translating them into robust estimates of the dissipative properties of the near-surface. In this work, we adapt a wavefield decomposition technique for the processing of elastic surface wave data to the extraction of the complete set of properties of Rayleigh waves generated by a controlled source and propagating in dissipative geomaterials. Retrieved information includes multimodal phase velocity and ellipticity as well as the frequency-dependent attenuation coefficient. We exploit the key advantages of wavefield decomposition processing (joint interpretation of multicomponent recordings, coupled estimation of wave propagation parameters, modelling of multiple superimposing modes) to maximize the robustness of the retrieval of Rayleigh wave properties, especially of the dissipative ones. For the subsequent interpretation of Rayleigh wave dispersion, ellipticity and attenuation data we implement a joint Monte Carlo inversion yielding a coupled estimate of S-wave velocity and damping ratio profile for the subsurface; we incorporate a series of geophysical constraints to narrow down the searched parameter space to realistic soil models. We apply this processing and inversion scheme to a bespoke synthetic data set and to a field survey for the characterization of a strong motion station; in both cases, we succeed in retrieving Rayleigh wave multimodal dispersion, ellipticity and attenuation curves. From the inversion of data from the simulated seismogram we are able to reconstruct the properties of the synthetic model. As for the real case, we determine an S-wave velocity and damping ratio model for the soil column below the station, through which we are able to model the inelastic earthquake local response observed at the site. Basing on the results obtained for the real case, we argue that one of the advantages brought by our processing method—the possibility to process active Rayleigh wave data acquired by a 2-D array illuminated by different source positions—may play a key role in allowing to retrieve dissipative properties of the near-surface closer to the material damping of the soil materials, and less influenced by scattering determined by possible discontinuities in the subsurface.

Application of ambient noise tomography for deep void detection

This study aims to take the advantage of ambient noise recordings rich in low-frequency components for deep site characterization. We investigate the capabilities of a recently developed ambient noise tomography (ANT) method for imaging deep buried voids via both synthetic and field experiments. A challenging synthetic model with two deep voids was used to demonstrate the practicality of this ANT approach. To further test the method's capability, we conducted a field experiment at a bridge construction site in Miami, Florida, which contained a large and deep void (28 m to 44 m depth). The cross-correlation functions (CCFs) of the traffic noise recordings were directly inverted to provide subsurface S-wave velocity profiles. The results demonstrate that the method is capable of imaging deep voids. The in-situ standard penetration test (SPT) data was then compared to the inverted S-wave velocity obtained by the ANT approach. It shows that the trend of Vs and SPT values are generally in agreement, including the identification of the void and its depth. The field results suggest that the ANT is a useful geophysical tool for roadway imaging, particularly for detection of deep voids that are difficult to be imaged by active-seismic methods.

Joint passive seismic imaging based on surface wave inversion and reflection wavefield retrieval: A case study in the sedimentary basin areas adjacent to Well Songke-2

Owing to their cost-effectiveness, environmental friendliness, and high-efficiency, passive seismic methods are widely used in geophysical exploration. However, field passive seismic data suffer from low signal-to-noise ratio, as well as the fact that different types of seismic waves are naturally mixed together, which can affect the accuracy of subsurface imaging results and the subsequent geological interpretation. In this paper, we demonstrate that these problems can be addressed and present a case study on passive seismic detection in sedimentary basin areas adjacent to Well Songke-2 in Songliao Basin. To obtain accurate and reliable imaging results of the sedimentary strata, a detailed practical scheme is proposed, where fundamental and higher mode surface wave dispersion curves are inverted for obtaining the near-surface S-wave velocity profile, and the body wave component of ambient noise is utilized to retrieve the reflection wavefield information. The obtained profiles from surface wave inversion and reflection wavefield retrieval illustrate similar underground structures. The marker boundaries T2 (1.5 s) and T4 (2.1 s) are well demonstrated, and a low velocity stratum (0.4 s) is detected at a shallow depth of around 400–600 m. Further, the results are highly consistent with the data obtained from borehole logging of Well Songke-2 and the deep reflection seismic profile adjacent to this area, which indicates that the surface wave and body wave in passive seismic data can be utilized together to contribute to a detailed and accurate subsurface imaging and interpretation. Overall, this study investigated and validated the reliability and accuracy of the combination use of passive seismic methods for geological structure exploration, which can further boost their applications for geological interpretation in sedimentary basin areas.

Structure of the Kathmandu basin inferred from microtremor measurements: a preliminary study

SUMMARY This research aims at characterizing the deep sedimentary basin of Kathmandu (Nepal) from microtremor measurements, by using two surveys carried out in November 2015 and November 2018. The data collected are sufficient for a qualitative investigation of the seismic response of such a complex basin. The measurements were undertaken in the framework of a collaboration between the NSET (National Society for Earthquake Technology, Nepal) and the OGS (National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics, Italy). During the two campaigns, a series of passive seismic surveys were made, taking into consideration both single broad-band sensors and arrays. The 2015 study initially focused on the Lalitpur area (southern part of Kathmandu) and was later extended to the northern and more urbanized area of the capital city of Nepal. The 2018 survey focused on estimating the S-wave velocity field of the entire stratigraphic sequence by array and a repetition of some Horizontal to Vertical Spectral Ratio (HVSR) measurements close to two boreholes with reliable stratigraphy. Two inversion methods, using the data from the seismic arrays, were useful to infer the S-wave velocity profiles of the shallower layers and to interpret some HVSRs. The outcome is a map of the periods of single station data representing the seismic response of the basin. Comparing these results with the strong motion data of the Gorkha 2015 main shock, we confirm that the longer periods are not only the effects of the earthquake source, but also of the local response of the basin itself.