Seismic Wave Velocity Structure Research Articles

Vertical high-velocity structures and seismic activity in western Shandong Rise, China: Case study inspired by double-difference seismic tomography

Abstract In this article, we collected the seismic phase arrival data (115°–120°E, 34°–39°N) of 2,833 local natural earthquakes above magnitude 1.0 recorded by 128 seismograph stations provided by the China Earthquake Networks Center covering the period from January 2008 to October 2023. We extracted the first arrival P- and S-wave arrival time data and obtained 26,351 P- and 26,349 S-wave absolute arrival times and 99,627 P-differential and 99,625 S-differential arrival times. Then, we determined 3-D P and S wave velocity structures under the Luxi region by using the double-difference tomography method. The results show lateral heterogeneities under the Luxi region, and the distribution of surface basins and uplift zones is associated with seismic velocities within the crust. The vertical section shows the widespread presence of vertical high-velocity bodies within the crust of the Luxi region, indicating seismological evidence of mantle upwelling in the region. Meanwhile, our imaging results also clearly indicate the presence of a significant low-velocity anomaly at depths of 13–17 km, which corresponds to the presence of a high-conductivity layer at that depth obtained from electromagnetic bathymetry. The transition zone between high and low velocities exists at a depth of 7–13 km, which plays an important role in the transfer of lithospheric stresses from the deep to the shallow part of the lithosphere. Combined with the results of the previous deep seismic wave velocity structure, petrology, and geological investigations, the deep dynamical background of the formation of slip tectonics and seismic mechanism in the Luxi area can be attributed to the go-slip activity of the Tan-Lu fault Zone, the subduction of the Pacific Plate, and the magmatism generated by mantle upwelling.

Crustal and Upper‐Mantle Structure Below Central and Southern Mexico

AbstractThe Mexican subduction zone is a complex convergent margin characterized by a slab with an unusual morphology, an abnormal location of the volcanic arc, and the existence of slow earthquakes (slow slip events and tectonic tremors). The number of seismic imaging studies of the Mexican subduction zone has increased over the past decade. These studies have revealed the seismic wave velocity structure beneath Central and Southern Mexico. However, the existing tomographic models are either confined to specific areas or have coarse resolution. As a consequence, they do not capture the lateral and finer‐scale variations in the mantle and the crust structure. Here, we fit frequency‐dependent traveltime differences between observed and synthetic seismograms in a three‐dimensional model of Central and Southern Mexico to constrain crustal and upper mantle seismic velocity structures jointly. We use ∼3,300 seismic records, filtered between 5 and 50 s, from 74 regional earthquakes. We perform point spread function tests to assess the resolution and trade‐offs between model parameters. Our tomographic model reveals several seismic wave velocity features. These features include the geometry of the Cocos slab, the partial melting zone beneath the Trans‐Mexican Volcanic Belt, and the Yucatan slab diving below Los Tuxtlas Volcanic Field that are consistent with previous studies. We also identify horizontal structures in the lower crust and the shallow upper mantle that were not previously identified. These structures include slow seismic wave velocity anomalies that may be correlated with ultraslow seismic velocity zones and high conductivity regions, where slow earthquakes have been identified.

The combined effects of post-spinel and post-garnet phase transitions on mantle plume dynamics

Mineralogical studies indicate that two major phase transitions occur near the depth of 660 km in the Earth's pyrolitic mantle: the ringwoodite (Rw) to perovskite (Pv) + magnesiowüstite (Mw) and the majorite (Mj) to perovskite (Pv) phase transitions. Seismological results also show a complicated phase boundary structure at this depth in plume regions. However, previous geodynamical modeling has mainly focused on the effects of the Rw–Pv+Mw phase transition on plume dynamics and has largely neglected the effects of the Mj–Pv phase transition. Here, we develop a 3-D regional spherical geodynamic model to study the combined influence of these two phase transitions on plume dynamics. Our results show the following: (1) A double phase boundary occurs in the high-temperature center of the plume, corresponding to the double reflections in seismic observations. Other plume regions feature a single, flat uplifted phase boundary, causing a gap of high seismic velocity anomalies. (2) Large amounts of relatively low-temperature plume materials can be trapped in the transition zone due to the combined effects of phase transitions, forming a complex truncated cone shape. (3) The Mj–Pv phase transition greatly enhances the plume penetration capability through 660-km phase boundary, which has a significant influence on the plume dynamics. Our results provide new insights which can be used to better constrain the 660-km discontinuity variations, seismic wave velocity structure and plume dynamics in the mantle transition zone. The model can also help to estimate the mantle temperature and Clapeyron slopes at the 660 km phase boundary.

Application of Double Difference Tomography Method to Determine The 3D Seismic Wave Velocity Structure of GoLF Geothermal Field

GoLF geothermal eld is located in South Solok Regency, 150 km SE of Padang city, West Sumatra.Geology, geochemistry and geophysical surveys had been conducted since 2008. Geophysical survey which had been performed including microseismic and magnetotelluric surveys. Seismic velocity structure modelling need to be conducted in order to characterize geothermal reservoir.This study uses microseismic data recorded from 36 seismometers which installed in two time recording time ranges; from September 2010 to April 2011 and from September 2012 to December 2013, with microseismic events recorded respectively 135 and 2692 events. To maximize the result of picking waveform, the data is processed using the Master Event Cross Correlation method to update the catalog data and get more accurate arrival time. Furthermore, the author used TomoDD software to produce hypocenter relocation and the 3D velocity structure under GoLF's geothermal reservoir. The results of the 3D velocity model can be used to determine the structure and phase of the fluid under GoLF geothermal field.

Seismic velocity structure in the source region of the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake sequence, Japan

AbstractWe investigate seismic wave velocity structure and spatial distribution of the seismicity in the source region of the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake sequence. A one‐dimensional mean velocity shows that the seismogenic zone has a high‐velocity and low‐Vp/Vs ratio relative to the average velocity structure of Kyushu Island. This indicates that the crust is relatively strong, capable of sustaining sufficiently high strain energy to facilitate two large (Mj > 6.5) earthquakes in close proximity to one another in rapid succession. Three‐dimensional tomography of the seismogenic zone around the source of the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake sequence yields Vp = 6 km/s and Vs = 3.5 km/s. Most large‐displacement areas (asperities) of the Mj 7.3 event overlap with the seismogenic zone and the overlying surface layer. Aftershock seismicity is distributed deeper than the conventional seismogenic zone, which suggests decreased strength due to fluids or increased stress, both caused by coseismic slip.

Elastic properties of CaCO3 high pressure phases from first principles**Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 41174071, 41373060, 41374096, and 41403099) and the Seismic Fund of Institute of Earthquake Science, China Earthquake Administration (CEA) (Grant Nos. 2012IES0408, 2014IES0407, and 2016IES0101).

Elastic properties of three high pressure polymorphs of CaCO3 are investigated based on first principles calculations. The calculations are conducted at 0 GPa–40 GPa for aragonite, 40 GPa–65 GPa for post-aragonite, and 65 GPa–150 GPa for the -h-CaCO structure, respectively. By fitting the third-order Birch–Murnaghan equation of state (EOS), the values of bulk modulus and pressure derivative are 66.09 GPa and 4.64 for aragonite, 81.93 GPa and 4.49 for post-aragonite, and 56.55 GPa and 5.40 for -h-CaCO, respectively, which are in good agreement with previous experimental and theoretical data. Elastic constants, wave velocities, and wave velocity anisotropies of the three high-pressure CaCO phases are obtained. Post-aragonite exhibits 25.90%–32.10% anisotropy and 74.34%–104.30% splitting anisotropy, and -h-CaCO shows 22.30%–25.40% anisotropy and 42.81%–48.00% splitting anisotropy in the calculated pressure range. Compared with major minerals of the lower mantle, CaCO high pressure polymorphs have low isotropic wave velocity and high wave velocity anisotropies. These results are important for understanding the deep carbon cycle and seismic wave velocity structure in the lower mantle.

Temperature profile in the lowermost mantle from seismological and mineral physics joint modeling

The internal structure of the core-mantle boundary (CMB) region of the Earth plays a crucial role in controlling the dynamics and evolution of our planet. We have developed a comprehensive model based on the radial variations of shear velocity in the D'' layer (the base of the lower mantle) and the high-P,T elastic properties of major candidate minerals, including the effects of post-perovskite phase changes. This modeling shows a temperature profile in the lowermost mantle with a CMB temperature of 3,800 +/- 200 K, which suggests that lateral temperature variations of 200-300 K can explain much of the large velocity heterogeneity observed in D''. A single-crossing phase transition model was found to be more favorable in reproducing the observed seismic wave velocity structure than a double-crossing phase transition model.

Three-Dimensional Seismic Wave Velocity Structure around the Hakusan volcano

Three-Dimensional Seismic Wave Velocity Structure around the Hakusan volcano

A 3D finite element modeling on the relationship between crustal stress and earthquake activity in Liaoning and its vicinity

Based on the latest result in research on 3D seismic wave velocity structure of crust and uppermost mantle and taking geological setting and fracture zones into consideration, a 3D geological model for the studied region is built up. The boundary constraint and force loading boundary condition for the model are determined according to the characteristics of crustal stress field deduced from earthquake focal mechanism and in-situ stress measurement data. Using linear elastic material model a 3D finite element modeling is conducted to study the characteristics of crustal stress field. A comparison analysis between the simulated stress field and earthquake locations reveals that the moderate and strong earthquakes generally occurred in the zones with high shear stress gradient. Furthermore, the paper notices a few potential earthquake-prone regions.

A Method for Determination of the Three-Dimensional Seismic Velocity Structure from Local Earthquake Data.

We have developed an inverse method to estimate a three-dimensional seismic wave velocity structure using seismic arrival time data obtained from local earthquakes. The method is characterized by a simultaneous determination of a two-dimensional depth distribution of a velocity boundary, a three-dimensional velocity distribution, station corrections and hypocenters. The depth distributions of velocity boundaries and the distributions of the slowness perturbations for P and S waves are modeled by power series of latitude, longitude, and depth, This representation of the three-dimensional seismic structure is advantageous not only in reducing the number of unknown parameters, but also in analytically evaluating the boundary depths, velocities, and partial derivatives of travel times with respect to the unknown parameters. Ray tra-jectories connected between hypocenters and stations are determined by the so-called shooting method for ray tracing scheme under a simplified velocity distribution with the exact boundary depth distribution. Numerical experiments have proved that our inverse method can successfully estimate the three-dimensional velocity structure.

The upper boundary of the Philippine sea plate beneath the western Kanto region estimated from S-P-converted wave

In the Kanto-Tokai district of central Japan, the configuration of the subducting Philippine Sea plate has been estimated using three-dimensional velocity inversions of the seismic wave velocity structure and the distribution of microearthquakes. However, it is difficult to show the configuration of the Philippine Sea plate from the distribution of microearthquakes beneath the western Kanto region, i.e. the Yamanashi and Nagano prefectures, because seismic activity is quite low there. A clear X-phase between P- and S-phases on seismograms from an earthquake is observed at temporary seismological stations located in this area. This X-phase is identified as the S to P converted wave at the upper boundary of the subducting Philippine Sea plate. Thus we have been able to deduce the shape of the Philippine Sea plate and to show that it dips northwest.

後続波から推定される沈み込むプレート境界の地震波速度構造

後続波から推定される沈み込むプレート境界の地震波速度構造

Seismic Wave Velocity Structure beneath the Iwo-jima Volcanoes

The seismic wave velocity structure in the Iwo-jima volcanoes area, having three layers of which velocities are as follows : first layer (upper) is 1 km/sec (Vp), second layer is 2.3 km/sec (Vp) and third layer is 4.0 km/sec (Vp). The Ohmori coefficient, k, for earthquakes in this island area is inferred to be 2.5 from the seismic prospecting.

Constraints on the seismic wave velocity structure beneath the Tibetan Plateau and their tectonic implications

We combine observations of group and phase velocity dispersion of Rayleigh waves, of the waveform of a long‐period PL phase, of Pn and Sn velocities from unreversed refraction profiles using earthquakes, and of teleseismic S‐P travel time residuals to place bounds on the seismic wave velocity structure of the crust and upper mantle under Tibet. From surface wave measurements alone, the Tibetan crustal thickness can be from 55 to 85 km, with corresponding uppermost mantle shear wave velocities of about 4.4 to 4.9 km/s, respectively. The Pn and Sn velocities were determined to be 8.12±0.06 and 4.8±0.1 km/s, respectively, using travel time data at Lhasa from earthquakes in and on the margins of Tibet. Combining these results, the crustal thickness is most likely to be between 65–80 km with an average shear wave velocity in the upper crust less than 3.5 km/s. A synthesis of one PL waveform does not provide an additional constraint on the velocity structure but is compatible with the range of models given above. In contrast to observations obtained for eight earthquakes in the Himalaya, measurements of both teleseismic S and P wave arrival times for nine earthquakes within Tibet show unusually large intervals between P and S compared with the Jeffreys‐Bullen Tables. Thus the Pn and Sn velocities apparently do not reflect high velocities in the mantle to a great depth beneath Tibet. From the dependence of the seismic velocities of olivine on pressure and temperature and from the similarity of the measured Pn and Sn velocities beneath Tibet and beneath shields and platforms, the velocities at the Moho beneath Tibet are compatible with the temperature being 250°–300° higher than beneath shields and platforms, i.e., 750°C if the temperature beneath the platforms is close to 500°C. Such a temperature could reach or exceed the solidus of the lower crust. Simple one‐dimensional heat conduction calculations suggest that the volcanic activity could be explained by the recovery of the geotherm maintained by a mantle heat flux of about 0.9 HFU at the base of the crust. If the distribution of radioactive heat production elements were not concentrated at the top of the crust, radioactive heating could also contribute significantly to the recovery of the geotherm and thus lower the required mantle heat flow. Thus the idea of a thickened crust in response to horizontal shortening is compatible both with these data and with these calculations.Appendices are available with entire article on microfiche. Order from the American Geophysical Union, 2000 Florida Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20009. Document J81‐004; $1.00. Payment must accompany order.