Thick Sedimentary Basin Research Articles

The upper crustal shear wave structure of the Zagros collision zone from local earthquake Rayleigh wave tomography

The Zagros fold-and-thrust belt is the principal response to the Arabia–Eurasia continental collision, which generates significant seismic activity in Iran. Surface wave tomography can be a proper tool for crustal structure imaging in this region. We used observed dispersion curves of Rayleigh wave derived from high-quality local-earthquake waveforms to obtain 2D tomographic maps in the period range 1–28 s beneath the Zagros collision zone. Subsequently, local pseudo-dispersion curves for individual grid points are inverted for shear-wave velocity structure, in order to obtain a 3D velocity model of the crust. Our results indicate shallow low-velocity structures near the suture zone. Moreover, a low-velocity flexure shape in the south of the Zagros Mountain Front Fault could be due to the thick sedimentary basin beneath the Dezful embayment. Relatively an uplifting of the deeper structures beneath Sanandaj-Sirjan and the high Zagros might could be led to high-velocity structures at mid-crustal depths. The variation of shear-wave velocity along the Zagros indicates the inhomogeneous structures along this folding and thrust belt.

What Was the Level of Ground Motion across Europe during the Great A.D. 365 Crete Earthquake?

Abstract Historical and archeological data report that an earthquake was felt over the whole eastern Mediterranean on 21 July A.D. 365. The impact of the tsunami it generated, which may have caused several thousands of fatalities, has been widely studied, whereas the impact of the seismic waves has hardly been explored. Here, we present simulations of the ground motion caused by the A.D. 365 event at 316 sites now instrumented by seismological stations throughout Europe. The simulation approach is based on the modeling of a series of rupture scenarios coupled with empirical Green’s functions (EGFs) obtained at the stations from a recent Mw 6.4 earthquake. The broadband and remarkably also the accelerometric records in urbanized areas can be exploited at distances as far as ∼2000 km. Then, we use three empirical models to estimate the macroseismic intensity across Europe from the simulated peak ground accelerations and peak ground velocities. The presence of stations in thick sedimentary basins (lower Danube valley, Po plain, urban accelerometric network in the alpine valley of Grenoble) shows that local basin amplification effects can dominate acceleration values at frequencies favorable to human earthquake perception (~0.5–1 Hz), even for basins located at more than 1500 km from the earthquake. Thus, our simulations indicate that the A.D. 365 earthquake was likely felt by the populations as far as the Po plain and as the city of Grenoble, about 1800 km away, and presumably in other large European basins such as the Pannonian basin. It is possible that the perception of the earthquake up to such distances contributed to its “universal” character perpetuated in archival sources. At closer distances (300–500 km), the simulated intensity levels indicate that the earthquake probably caused no damage.

Mechanical strength and nature of lithospheric deformation beneath the rifted sedimentary basins of the east India passive margin

The study of gravity signatures corresponding to sediment load over the passive margins is helpful to constrain the mechanical properties of continental rift systems as well as the adjacent ocean basins. Seismic reflection, free-air gravity and well information from the East India Passive Margin (EIPM) are investigated through spectral approach and 2D process-oriented gravity modelling for quantifying effective elastic plate thickness (Te) to understand the rift mechanisms and the sedimentary basins evolution. The characteristics of lithosphere within the major structural domains along the margin are quite variable. A narrow necking zone (40 km) in the southern segment, and approximately a 70 km hyper-thinned and exhumed domains are inferred in the central segment, while a narrow hyper-thinned domain (30–35 km) is observed in the northern segment of the margin. The southern segment of EIPM, adjacent to Southern Granulite Terrain has low Te values ranging from 5 to 10 km. The segment in the central margin, offshore Dharwar Craton has moderate Te values of 15–20 km. And the northern segment adjacent to onshore Eastern Ghats Mobile Belt has relatively high mechanical strength with Te values ranging from 25 to 35 km. The pattern of Te values and extent of major structural domains along the margin indicates that the southern, central and northern segments evolved as three different modes of rifting such as transform, hyperextended and hypoextended, respectively. In the oceanic domain, the lithospheric strength broadly increases with age following the thermal induced cooling plate model (600 °C isotherm). The thick sedimentary basin of the Bay of Bengal had attained the high value of elastic thickness (Te > 45 km) in the last 23 Myrs. The significant rheological strengthening of the oceanic lithosphere may be attribute to the following reasons: 1) increase in shear-wave velocity anomaly at a depth of 150 km and upper mantle density, 2) change in plate curvature caused by excessive deposition of Bengal Fan sediments in the deep ocean basins and subduction of oceanic plate under the Eurasian plate near the Bengal Fan and 3) modification of stress state of the lithosphere as a convergent interaction of the Indian plate with SE Asia.

Dueling dynamics of low-angle normal fault rupture with splay faulting and off-fault damage

Despite a lack of modern large earthquakes on shallowly dipping normal faults, Holocene Mw > 7 low-angle normal fault (LANF; dip<30°) ruptures are preserved paleoseismically and inferred from historical earthquake and tsunami accounts. Even in well-recorded megathrust earthquakes, the effects of non-linear off-fault plasticity and dynamically reactivated splay faults on shallow deformation and surface displacements, and thus hazard, remain elusive. We develop data-constrained 3D dynamic rupture models of the active Mai’iu LANF that highlight how multiple dynamic shallow deformation mechanisms compete during large LANF earthquakes. We show that shallowly-dipping synthetic splays host more coseismic slip and limit shallow LANF rupture more than steeper antithetic splays. Inelastic hanging-wall yielding localizes into subplanar shear bands indicative of newly initiated splay faults, most prominently above LANFs with thick sedimentary basins. Dynamic splay faulting and sediment failure limit shallow LANF rupture, modulating coseismic subsidence patterns, near-shore slip velocities, and the seismic and tsunami hazards posed by LANF earthquakes.

Combining SH- and P-wave seismic reflection survey to support seismic response analysis. A case study from Cavezzo (Italy) after the 2012 Emilia earthquake

In some geological settings, such as thick sedimentary basins, the deeper layers may also significantly contribute to the amplification of the ground motion during an earthquake, particularly at low frequencies. To properly quantify the influence of the deeper geology on the seismic ground motion at the surface, the use of indirect geophysical exploration techniques is particularly suitable, as it can produce realistic representations of the subsoil structure over a large range of depths. This paper focuses on the acquisition and processing of combined shear- (S) and compressional-wave (P) seismic reflection data to obtain an accurate geological/geophysical model with reliable seismic velocities for local-scale seismic site response studies, as needed for hazard assessment and calculation of earthquake scenarios. As an application case, we focus on a microzonation study performed for the Cavezzo municipality in Northern Italy. The investigated site is located in the epicentral area of the 2012 Emilia earthquake in the Po Valley, which is a typical deep sediment-filled basin. Specifically, in this study we were able to: (1) confirm the advantages of reflection seismic prospecting for soft-sediment basin characterization; (2) evaluate the resolution of S- and P-wave signals and their depth of penetration; (3) improve the knowledge on the geological structure of the Cavezzo area by measuring S- and P-wave interval velocities in Plio-Quaternary formations.

Estimation of the Sedimentary Basin Structure of the Southeastern Part of the Ishikari Lowland, Hokkaido, Inferred from Receiver Function

There is a very thick (>10 km) sedimentary basin in the Ishikari lowland, the central Hokkaido. This thick sedimentary basin affects strong ground motions observed from earthquakes, e.g., the 2018 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi Earthquake occurred in the southeastern part of the Ishikari lowland. Such a thick sedimentary basin structure is difficult to explore by using microtremor array or seismic reflection. This study investigated the sedimentary basin structures at 16 strong motion stations in the southeastern part of the Ishikari lowland by using the borehole-to-surface spectral ratio and the receiver function method based on the observed strong-motion records. First, at the KiK-net stations, the surface-to-borehole spectral ratio was obtained from observed strong-motion records. The S-wave velocity structure models between the surface and the borehole seismograph were estimated by fitting theoretical spectral ratios to the observed one. Next, the velocity structure models between the surface and the seismic bedrock were derived from the receiver function calculated from the observed records. We used the downhill simplex method to obtain the velocity structure model from the receiver function. The inverse analysis with three different initial models resulted in variations in the estimated velocity structure models. Synthetic velocity waveforms of the aftershock of the 2018 Eastern Iburi earthquake were calculated based on the estimated velocity structure models. The synthetic velocities (0.1-1 Hz) agree with the S waves of the observed records. The synthetic waveforms obtained from three models at each site were very similar. We compare the resulted velocity models with the microtremor array surveys carried out by previous studies. The fundamental mode phase velocities calculated from the velocity structure models obtained from the receiver functions correspond to the observed phase velocity from the microtremor array survey in higher (>0.4-0.8 Hz) frequencies. However, in lower frequencies (<0.4 Hz), the observed phase velocities at HKD184, IKRH03, and IBUH03 agree with the higher-mode phase velocities than the fundamental ones. This agreement suggests that the higher-mode Rayleigh waves dominate the observed phase velocities in the lower frequencies. The velocity structure models estimated from the receiver function analysis indicated that the low Vs (<1.1 km/s) layer deposited thickly in the western part of the Ishikari lowland and the middle Vs (1.1<Vs<2.7 km/s) layers were thick in the eastern part of the lowland. The depth of the estimated seismic bedrock was 12 km at HDKH04, located in the southeastern part of the lowland, which was the deepest between the study sites.

Polyphase Permo-Carboniferous magmatism adjacent to the Intra-Sudetic Fault: constraints from U–Pb SHRIMP zircon study of felsic subvolcanic intrusions in the Intra-Sudetic Basin, SW Poland

The SHRIMP U–Pb dating of zircons from felsic subvolcanic rocks in the Carboniferous formations of the Intra-Sudetic Basin in SW Poland verifies previous views on the timing of Late Palaeozoic magmatic activity in this area and constrains the links between regional tectonics and intra-basinal volcanism in the mid-European Variscides. Two main stages of magmatism are identified: the Late Carboniferous late orogenic stage, and the Early Permian post-orogenic stage. The Carboniferous late orogenic subvolcanic to volcanic activity was contemporaneous with the formation of the Karkonosze granite pluton to the west and comprised episodic emplacement of predominantly felsic laccoliths and sills within the basin fill during the Westphalian–Stephanian in two sub-stages at ca. 313–310 Ma and 306–305 Ma. Local folding of the Carboniferous succession peaked at ca. 303–300 Ma adjacent to the Intra-Sudetic Fault, in relation to late-stage sinistral movements along this regional wrench fault. The emplacement of minor subvolcanic intrusions at ca. 293 Ma completed the activity in the northern Intra-Sudetic Basin; this Permian post-orogenic volcanism, however, developed fully in areas further south. The predominance of subvolcanic intrusions over extrusions in Carboniferous can be linked to the trapping of rising magmas within the several kilometres thick sedimentary basin fill. Zircon xenocrysts in the Carboniferous subvolcanic rocks indicate that older crustal lithologies, possibly metamagmatic and metasedimentary rocks of dominantly Neoproterozoic–Palaeozoic ages, were involved in petrogenesis as magma sources and/or contaminants. The crustal influence on magma formation was stronger during the earlier magmatic events.

Moment Tensor Solutions for Earthquakes in the Southern Korean Peninsula Using Three-Dimensional Seismic Waveform Simulations

Precise estimates of earthquake source properties are crucial for understanding earthquake processes and assessing seismic hazards. Seismic waveforms can be affected not only by individual event properties, but from the Earth’s interior heterogeneity. Therefore, for accurate constraints on earthquake source parameters, the effects of three-dimensional (3D) velocity heterogeneity on seismic wave propagation need evaluation. In this study, regional moment tensor solutions for earthquakes around the southern Korean Peninsula were constrained based on the spectral-element moment tensor inversion method using a recently developed high-resolution regional 3D velocity model with accurate high-frequency waveform simulations. Located at the eastern margin of the Eurasian plate, the Korean Peninsula consists of complex geological units surrounded by thick sedimentary basins in oceanic areas. It exhibits large lateral variations in crustal thickness (&amp;gt; 10 km) and seismic velocity (&amp;gt;10% dlnVs) at its margins in the 3D model. Seismic waveforms were analyzed from regional earthquakes with local magnitudes &amp;gt; 3.4 that occurred within and around the peninsula recorded by local broadband arrays. Moment tensor components were inverted together with event locations using the numerically calculated Fréchet derivatives of each parameter at periods ≥ 6 s. The newly determined solutions were compared with the results calculated from the one-dimensional (1D) regional velocity model, revealing a significant increase in a double-couple component of &amp;gt; 20% for earthquakes off of the coastal margins. Further, compared to initial solutions, ≤ 5 km change in depth was observed for earthquakes near the continental margin and sedimentary basins. The combination of a detailed 3D crustal model and accurate waveform simulations led to an improved fit between data and synthetic seismograms. Accordingly, the present results provide the first confirmation of the effectiveness of using 3D velocity structures for accurately constraining earthquake source parameters and the resulting seismic wave propagation in this region. We suggest that accurate 3D wave simulations, together with improved source mechanisms, can contribute a reliable assessment of seismic hazards in regions with complex continental margin structures and sedimentary basins from offshore earthquakes whose seismic waveforms can be largely affected by 3D velocity structures.

Interaction of thin-skinned detached faults and basement-involved strike-slip faults on a transform margin: the Moattama Basin, Myanmar

Abstract The Sagaing Fault (SF), one of the world's most active strike-slip faults, defines a plate boundary on the eastern West Burma Block margin, from the Andaman Spreading centre, northwards for &gt;1600 km to the eastern Himalayas. In the Northern Andaman Sea the SF traverses the Late Miocene–Recent Moattama Basin. There, 2D and 3D seismic reflection data show highly unusual fault patterns, that overall resemble a giant (area &gt;33 000 km 2 ) horsetail structure. A horsetail pattern typically implies loss of displacement at a fault tip, which is potentially incompatible with the SF forming a transform margin. In the thinner, northern part of the Late Miocene–Recent basin three branches of the SF can be identified. These become lost in the thickest (&gt;7 km), central part of the basin, and two branches emerge to the south where the basin thins. The fault patterns are interpreted to represent a previously unknown interaction of thin- and thick-skinned styles, where relatively shallow detached structures and sediment loading have interacted with basement-involved strike-slip faults that form a releasing bend geometry at the basement level. The Moattama Basin demonstrates how very thick sedimentary basins can produce fault patterns that differ from classic structural models.

Imaging crustal features and Moho depths through enhancements and inversion of gravity data from the Philippine island arc system

The Philippine archipelago is a complex island arc system, where many regions still lack geopotential field studies. The high-resolution isostatic anomaly and free-air anomaly digital grids from the World Gravity Map (WGM) were processed and analyzed to present a general discussion of the Philippines’ gravity signatures and contribute to understanding its regional geology and tectonics. The isostatic anomaly map was continued upward to investigate the high-density ophiolitic basement rocks and low-gravity sedimentary basins at depth. The first vertical derivative (1VD) filter was applied to the free-air anomaly grid map to locate regional structures represented by density contrast boundaries. The depth to the top of the Moho and basement rock over the Sulu Sea was computed using the two-dimensional (2-D) radially averaged power spectrum analysis. Three-dimensional (3-D) gravity inversion was applied to some major sedimentary basins in the Philippines to present 3-D subsurface density contrast models. The interpreted gravity maps highlighted prominent geologic features (e.g., trench manifestation, ophiolite distribution, basin thickness). The negative isostatic anomalies (< 0 mGal) represent the thick sedimentary basins, while the moderate signatures (0 to 80 mGal) correspond to the metamorphic belts. The distinct very high-gravity anomalies (> 80 mGal) typify the ophiolitic basement rocks. The gravity data’s upward continuation revealed contrasting deep gravity signatures; the central Philippines with continental affinity (with 20–35 mGal) was distinguished from the regions with oceanic affinity (with 45–200 mGal). The 1VD map over the Sulu Sea showed anomalies associated with shallow features dominantly related to the Cagayan Ridge. The 2-D radially averaged power spectrum analysis exposed gravity anomalies with tectonic significance (e.g., basement characterization, Moho depth estimation). The estimated average Moho depth in the Sulu Sea is from 12 to 22 km, while the average basement depth is within the range of 5 to 11 km. Lastly, the 3-D subsurface density contrast models characterized the very low-density zones representing the deep (> 7 km) sedimentary basins in the northern Cagayan Valley and southern Central Luzon basins. Furthermore, thin (~ 3.5 km) sedimentary formations are inferred for the low-density areas in northern Agusan-Davao and eastern Cotabato basins.

Radial Anisotropy and Sediment Thickness of West and Central Antarctica Estimated From Rayleigh and Love Wave Velocities

AbstractMany recent Antarctic seismic structure studies use Rayleigh wave data and thus determine only the SV structure. Love waves provide greater resolution for shallow structure, and coupled with Rayleigh waves, can constrain radial anisotropy by comparing vertically (VSV) and horizontally (VSH) polarized shear velocities. In this study, we jointly analyze Rayleigh and Love wave phase and group velocities from ambient noise to develop a new radially anisotropic velocity model for West and Central Antarctica with an improved shallow crustal resolution using all broadband data collected in Antarctica over the past 20 years. Group and phase velocity maps for Rayleigh and Love waves are estimated and inverted for shear wave velocity structure using a Monte Carlo method. We determine a new sediment distribution map that reveals a thick sedimentary basin (∼4 km) beneath the Southeastern Ross Embayment. Sediment thicknesses at interior basins such as the Polar Subglacial Basin and Bentley Subglacial Trench are modest (&lt;1.5 km), suggesting that these basins are sediment‐starved. The shallow crust as well as the mid‐to‐lower crust in several places shows strong positive anisotropy (VSH &gt; VSV), likely due to lattice preferred orientation of mica‐bearing rocks. However, large regions of the mid‐to‐lower crust show negative anisotropy, likely due to lattice preferred orientation of plagioclase. The uppermost mantle is characterized by strong positive radial anisotropy (4%–8%) in West Antarctica, with the largest anisotropy beneath the Transantarctic and Whitmore Mountains, likely resulting from horizontal olivine preferred orientation due to tectonic activity.

Crustal Structure Beneath the Northern Appalachians and the Eastern Grenville Province

AbstractSoutheastern Canada and the northeastern USA include terranes that were tectonized since the Archean, making this region an excellent place to investigate the evolution of continental crust. Our study area covers the Archean southeastern Superior Province, the Proterozoic eastern Grenville, and the Phanerozoic northern Appalachians comprising terranes with either Peri‐Laurentian or Peri‐Gondwanan heritage. Adopting a Rayleigh wave ambient noise tomography method, we used noise data recorded between 2013 and 2015, and obtained high resolution anisotropic tomographic images of the crust enabling us to discuss tectonic implications. The azimuthal anisotropy orientations follow a dominant NE‐SW trend across the study area, but some localized changes of anisotropy direction in the Bay of Fundy and across the Appalachian front are observed. The crust beneath the older Superior and Grenville provinces is generally fast, whereas the Appalachians include strong slow anomalies, especially at upper crustal depths, where they represent thick sedimentary basins beneath the St. Lawrence valley, the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and the Bay of Fundy. We suggest that the boundary between the Peri‐Laurentian and the Peri‐Gondwanan terranes at depth is marked by a Moho‐offset feature observable in our models. A generally similar crustal seismic signature for the two youngest easternmost tectonic domains suggest that they were never separated by a wide ocean basin. Our results provide important evidence for evolution of the continental crust during and after accretionary/collisional episodes in the study area.

North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) Climate Index Hidden in Ocean Generated Secondary Microseisms

AbstractWith the role of surface winds in the generation of ocean waves, secondary microseisms induced by ocean wave‐wave interactions represent a unique interconnection between the solid Earth, the ocean and global atmospheric circulation patterns. In this study, temporal changes in the ocean generated seismic wavefield in Northeast Atlantic are monitored offshore West of Ireland using ocean bottom seismometers located on top of a thick sedimentary basin. Comparisons with numerical seismic simulations and ocean wave model hindcast data suggest those variations are correlated with changing patterns in ocean wave‐wave interactions closely linked to secondary microseism generation areas. Here we show how those changes, accentuated by the specific structure of the Irish offshore margin, reveal the signature of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) in the Earth’s background seismic wavefield. In the North Atlantic, secondary microseism sources likely fluctuate with the changing storm track in response to variations in the NAO.

Teleseismic Attenuation, Temperature, and Melt of the Upper Mantle in the Alaska Subduction Zone

AbstractSeismic deployments in the Alaska subduction zone provide dense sampling of the seismic wavefield that constrains thermal structure and subduction geometry. We measure P and S attenuation from pairwise amplitude and phase spectral ratios for teleseismic body waves at 206 stations from regional and short‐term arrays. Parallel teleseismic travel‐time measurements provide information on seismic velocities at the same scale. These data show consistently low attenuation over the forearc of subduction systems and high attenuation over the arc and backarc, similar to local‐earthquake attenuation studies but at 10× lower frequencies. The pattern is seen both across the area of normal Pacific subduction in Cook Inlet, and across the Wrangell Volcanic Field where subduction has been debated. These observations confirm subduction‐dominated thermal regime beneath the latter. Travel times show evidence for subducting lithosphere much deeper than seismicity, while attenuation measurements appear mostly reflective of mantle temperature less than 150 km deep, depths where the mantle is closest to its solidus and where subduction‐related melting may take place. Travel times show strong delays over thick sedimentary basins. Attenuation signals show no evidence of absorption by basins, although some basins show signals anomalously rich in high‐frequency energy, with consequent negative apparent attenuation. Outside of basins, these data are consistent with mantle attenuation in the upper 220 km that is quantitatively similar to observations from surface waves and local‐earthquake body waves. Differences between P and S attenuation suggest primarily shear‐modulus relaxation. Overall the attenuation measurements show consistent, coherent subduction‐related structure, complementary to travel times.

Seismogeological Characteristics and Stratification on the Geological Section in the Arctic Regions of the Siberian Platform and the Laptev Sea Shelf

Analysis of the latest seismic data has shown that thick sedimentary basins are developed in the western part of the Laptev Sea and on the continental margin of the Siberian Platform. They are separated by a large basement high, the presence of which makes it difficult to compare sedimentary complexes on the continent and in a water area. An integrated analysis of geological and geophysical data on the continental margin of the Siberian Platform, the Laptev Sea, and adjacent folded structures was carried out. Furthermore, seismogeological models of sedimentary complexes on the continent and in a water area were constructed and correlated, potential fields were analyzed, and a structural map of the top of the crystalline basement was constructed. A comparative analysis of the geological and geophysical materials showed that the western part of the Laptev Sea is a northern continuation of the Siberian Platform and the oil and gas potential of this part of the sea will be associated mainly with the Upper Proterozoic–Paleozoic deposits.

Regional broad-band ground-shaking modelling over extended and thick sedimentary basins: an example from the Lower Rhine Embayment (Germany)

The simulation of broad-band (0.1 to 10 + Hz) ground-shaking over deep and spatially extended sedimentary basins at regional scales is challenging. We evaluate the ground-shaking of a potential M 6.5 earthquake in the southern Lower Rhine Embayment, one of the most important areas of earthquake recurrence north of the Alps, close to the city of Cologne in Germany. In a first step, information from geological investigations, seismic experiments and boreholes is combined for deriving a harmonized 3D velocity and attenuation model of the sedimentary layers. Three alternative approaches are then applied and compared to evaluate the impact of the sedimentary cover on ground-motion amplification. The first approach builds on existing response spectra ground-motion models whose amplification factors empirically take into account the influence of the sedimentary layers through a standard parameterization. In the second approach, site-specific 1D amplification functions are computed from the 3D basin model. Using a random vibration theory approach, we adjust the empirical response spectra predicted for soft rock conditions by local site amplification factors: amplifications and associated ground-motions are predicted both in the Fourier and in the response spectra domain. In the third approach, hybrid physics-based ground-motion simulations are used to predict time histories for soft rock conditions which are subsequently modified using the 1D site-specific amplification functions computed in method 2. For large distances and at short periods, the differences between the three approaches become less notable due to the significant attenuation of the sedimentary layers. At intermediate and long periods, generic empirical ground-motion models provide lower levels of amplification from sedimentary soils compared to methods taking into account site-specific 1D amplification functions. In the near-source region, hybrid physics-based ground-motions models illustrate the potentially large variability of ground-motion due to finite source effects.

Horizontal-to-Vertical Spectral Ratio (HVSR) Method for Earthquake Risk Determination of Jakarta City with Microtremor Data

Jakarta is the capital of the Republic of Indonesia which lies above a thick sedimentary basin. Geographically, Jakarta is 200 km away from the Indo-Australian subduction zone that sinks under the island of Java. There are many vital buildings and with the thick sediments underlying the city of Jakarta. Therefore, this region has a considerable seismic vulnerability. This will be dangerous if there is an earthquake that has the same frequency as the natural frequency of the building. It will cause a resonance resulting in amplification of seismic waves in the area. Each building has a different natural frequency, one that affects is the height of the building. To characterize the subsurface structure of the Jakarta Basin, microtremor data processing was obtained from the recording of 95 stations which was operated in October 2013 - February 2014 using Horizontal-to-Vertical Spectral Ratio (HVSR) method. HVSR is a method for obtaining subsurface information from single station measurements by comparing the Fourier spectrum of horizontal components to its vertical components. This ratio is a function of the frequency that will produce the H/V curve. The dominant frequency value on the HVSR curve represents the natural frequency of the area. The Seismic Vulnerability Index (Kg), which serves to determine the soil weak zone, can be calculated from the H/V curve. The dominant frequency value maps generated for the Jakarta area range from 0.2-0.22 Hz for low frequencies and 1-8.6 Hz for high frequencies. The large dominant frequency correlates with the thin sediment layer. Based on the frequency range, the south and northwest regions of Jakarta have relatively shallow basement depths compared to other regions. The resulting amplification value map can be divided into 4 maps with different period ranges. From the four maps, the North Jakarta area or the area around Jakarta’s coastline is most at risk of amplification with an H/V value up to 11 because the area is associated with alluvial deposits and coastal sediments. The seismic vulnerability distribution map in Jakarta City ranges from 15-850 relatively high in northeast and north of Jakarta.

Determining Moho Depth beneath Sedimentary Basins Using Regional Pn Multiples

The study of the Moho beneath thick sedimentary basins involving natural earthquakes is challenging, as low‐velocity materials often cause strong reverberations that mask Moho signals. Here, we develop a method to determine the depth of the Moho by taking advantage of the presence of the sediments. The method utilizes the first Pn crustal multiple from regional earthquakes PnPn and its differential travel time with respect to Pn. PnPn is usually weak in amplitude; thus, it is difficult to identify in regions without a sedimentary cover. However, PnPn is significantly amplified in the presence of low‐velocity sediments because of an increase in the near‐surface P‐to‐P reflection coefficient. The arrival time, amplitude, and wave shape of PnPn, if normalized by the reference Pn, are insensitive to earthquake source parameters, such as focal mechanism and focal depth. We demonstrate the potential of this method using both 1D and 2D waveform simulations. Synthetic waveforms suggest that PmpPn and PnPmp (one Pn leg merges to PmP near the source or the receiver) largely contribute to the PnPn amplitudes, which depend on the near‐surface structure at their free‐surface P‐to‐P reflection points. We further validate the method with two field examples in the Imperial Valley; one is near the United States–Mexico border, and the other is in Oklahoma in the central United States. Both examples suggest that the method can be used to study the Moho either near the source or the receiver.

Testing the limits of virtual deep seismic sounding via new crustal thickness estimates of the Australian continent

We apply virtual deep seismic sounding (VDSS) to data collected from both permanent and temporary seismic stations in Australia with the goal of examining (i) the resilience of the method to the presence of complex lithospheric structure, and (ii) the effectiveness of different approaches for estimating bulk crustal properties (namely thickness and Vp). Data from the permanent WRAB in the Northern Territory station is ideal for benchmarking VDSS (large number and favourable distribution of recorded earthquakes), with the results from several approaches agreeing on a thickness of 40-42 km. Application of VDSS to data from the temporary BILBY array, a linear distribution of broadband stations that traverses central Australia, shows that strong Moho reflections can be retrieved with as few as two earthquakes even at the transition between crustal blocks of different character and in the presence of thick sedimentary basins. Crustal thickness varies between 36-54 km and compare well with the reflectivity character of nearby deep seismic reflection lines. Furthermore, we find that off-line estimates of crustal thickness, calculated by binning the source regions according to back-azimuth, produce estimates of crustal thickness that are consistent with the regional geology. Overall, we find that VDSS is a powerful technique for estimating crustal thickness and velocity due to its insensitivity to complex short-wavelength structure and requirement of a small number earthquakes to produce a stable result. However, not all schemes tested for extracting bulk crustal properties appear to be robust and stringent data quality checking is still required during implementation.

Miocene to Quaternary basin evolution at the southeastern Andean Plateau (Puna) margin (ca. 24°S lat, Northwestern Argentina)

AbstractThe Andean Plateau of NW Argentina is a prominent example of a high‐elevation orogenic plateau characterized by internal drainage, arid to hyper‐arid climatic conditions and a compressional basin‐and‐range morphology comprising thick sedimentary basins. However, the development of the plateau as a geomorphic entity is not well understood. Enhanced orographic rainout along the eastern, windward plateau flank causes reduced fluvial run‐off and thus subdued surface‐process rates in the arid hinterland. Despite this, many Puna basins document a complex history of fluvial processes that have transformed the landscape from aggrading basins with coalescing alluvial fans to the formation of multiple fluvial terraces that are now abandoned. Here, we present data from the San Antonio de los Cobres (SAC) area, a sub‐catchment of the Salinas Grandes Basin located on the eastern Puna Plateau bordering the externally drained Eastern Cordillera. Our data include: (a) new radiometric U‐Pb zircon data from intercalated volcanic ash layers and detrital zircons from sedimentary key horizons; (b) sedimentary and geochemical provenance indicators; (c) river profile analysis; and (d) palaeo‐landscape reconstruction to assess aggradation, incision and basin connectivity. Our results suggest that the eastern Puna margin evolved from a structurally controlled intermontane basin during the Middle Miocene, similar to intermontane basins in the Mio‐Pliocene Eastern Cordillera and the broken Andean foreland. Our refined basin stratigraphy implies that sedimentation continued during the Late Mio‐Pliocene and the Quaternary, after which the SAC area was subjected to basin incision and excavation of the sedimentary fill. Because this incision is unrelated to baselevel changes and tectonic processes, and is similar in timing to the onset of basin fill and excavation cycles of intermontane basins in the adjacent Eastern Cordillera, we suspect a regional climatic driver, triggered by the Mid‐Pleistocene Climate Transition, caused the present‐day morphology. Our observations suggest that lateral orogenic growth, aridification of orogenic interiors, and protracted plateau sedimentation are all part of a complex process chain necessary to establish and maintain geomorphic characteristics of orogenic plateaus in tectonically active mountain belts.