Seismic scattering and absorption mapping of debris flows, feeding paths, and tectonic units at Mount St. Helens volcano

Acknowledgments We thank Edoardo Del Pezzo, Ludovic Margerin, Haruo Sato, Mare Yamamoto, Tatsuhiko Saito, Malcolm Hole, and Seth Moran for the valuable suggestions regarding the methodology and interpretation. Greg Waite provided the P wave velocity model of MSH. An important revision of the methods was done after two blind reviews performed before submission. The suggestions of two anonymous reviewers greatly enhanced our ability of imaging structures, interpreting our results, and testing their reliability. The facilities of the IRIS Data Management System, and specifically the IRIS Data Management Center, were used for access to waveform and metadata required in this study, and provided by the Cascades Volcano Observatory – USGS. Interaction with geologists and geographers part of the Landscape Dynamics Theme of the Scottish Alliance for Geoscience, Environment and Society (SAGES) has been important for the interpretation of the results.

基于广义Lippmann-Schwinger方程的地震波场模拟算法与应用

In the last several decades, due to the fast development of computer, numerical simulation has been an indispensable tool in scientific research. Numerical simulation methods which based on partial difference operators such as Finite Difference Method (FDM) and Finite Element Method (FEM) have been widely used. However, in the realm of seismology and seismic prospecting, one usually meets with geological models which have piece-wise heterogeneous structures as well as volume heterogeneities between layers, the continuity of displacement and stress across the irregular layers and seismic wave scattering induced by the perturbation of the volume usually bring in error when using conventional methods based on difference operators. The method discussed in this paper is based on elastic theory and integral theory. Seismic wave equation in the frequency domain is transformed into a generalized Lippmann-Schwinger equation, in which the seismic wavefield contributed by the background is expressed by the boundary integral equation and the scattering by the volume heterogeneities is considered. Boundary element-volume integral method based on this equation has advantages of Boundary Element Method (BEM), such as reducing one dimension of the model, explicit use the displacement and stress continuity across irregular interfaces, high precision, satisfying the boundary at infinite, etc. Also, this method could accurately simulate the seismic scattering by the volume heterogeneities. In this paper, the concrete Lippmann-Schwinger equation is specifically given according to the real geological models. Also, the complete coefficients of the non-smooth point for the integral equation are introduced. Because Boundary Element-Volume integral equation method uses fundamental solutions which are singular when the source point and the field are very close，both in the two dimensional and the three dimensional case, the treatment of the singular kernel affects the precision of this method. The method based on integral transform and integration by parts could treat the points on the boundary and inside the domain. It could transform the singular integral into an analytical one both in two dimensional and in three dimensional cases and thus it could eliminate the singularity. In order to analyze the elastic seismic wave scattering due to regional irregular topographies, the analytical solution for problems of this type is discussed and the analytical solution of P waves by multiple canyons is given. For the boundary reflection, the method used here is infinite boundary element absorbing boundary developed by a pervious researcher. The comparison between the analytical solutions and concrete numerical examples validate the efficiency of this method. We thoroughly discussed the sampling frequency in elastic wave simulation and find that, for a general case, three elements per wavelength is sufficient, however, when the problem is too complex, more elements per wavelength are necessary. Also, the seismic response in the frequency domain of the canyons with different types of random heterogeneities is illustrated. We analyzed the model of the random media, the horizontal and vertical correlation length, the standard deviation, and the dimensionless frequency how to affect the seismic wave amplification on the ground, and thus provide a basis for the choice of the parameter of random media during numerical simulation.

Lg尾波衰减成像研究——北京及邻区衰减成像

With the development of the technology of earthquake observation, more and more researchers work at many fields' of seismicity using seismic kinetic property, as the result, the study of attenuation has also made great progress, especially in the mechanism of the attenuation and the physical process. Aki put forward single back scattering theory to explain the forming of the seismic coda wave in 1969. Then, researchers started to develop the study in seismic scattering and attenuation. My thesis is also based on that theory. We assume that the Lg wave is a superposition fo high-mode surface waves, the coda of Lg is caused by scattering. Sato proposed Single Isotropic Scattering model (SIS model) to interpreted the scatter property, and he also formulated the geometrical spreading term. Then Xie (1988) developed the single spectral-ratio (SSR) method to obtain the Lg coda Q and the frequency dependent factor n. Later, he get to lateral images in the area of scatter ellipse. SSR method is explored and used in the study of Lg coda waves of regional earthquakes in my thesis. Choosing the earthquakes records with high ratio of signal-noise ,which were recorded at the stations from 1989 to 1999, we obtain the single trace Lg coda Q and its frequency dependent factor n. The results proved that SIS model is the reasonable model to explain the Lg coda wave, and SSR method also can be used to process Lg coda of regional earthquakes to get to the satisfied Lg coda Q. Based on the Lg coda Q we obtained using the former method, we explore the programs to inverse the regional Lg coda Q independently, and then make use of them to inverse the Lg coda Q of Beijing and adjacent area. The inversion result is satisfied. We conclude that the distribution of Qo (Q in lHz) is marked by the inhomogeneity, which is related to the tectonic structure: The value of Qo in uplift area, for example, Yanshan uplift, Taihang uplift, Luxi Uplift, is higher than the depression area, for example, Jizhong depression, Huanghua depression, and Jiyang depression, and the border between the higher Q area and lower Q area is very clear; Lg coda Q is also related to the velocity structure, higher velocity area is also with higher Q, lower velocity area is with lower Q; and higher heat-flow area is companied with lower Q. All in all, the value of Q reflects the difference of characteristics of lithofaces, porosity, the liquid content between the pores and heat flow. So, the Q value difference between uplift area and depression area reveals the difference of tectonic structure, lithology and physical character of the rock. So, the study of Lg coda Q is help to understand the earthquakes propagation mechanism through the inhomogenous medium, the cause of the coda, attenuation mechanism of the coda. Making use of the lateral images of Q, with velocity images, heat flow results, and other experimental result, we will be promoted to understand the complex structure of the crust, its inhomogenous character, and so on.

地震波散射非线性反演问题不动点理论及方法的研究

How to create a new method to solve the problem or reduce the influence of that the result of the seismic waves scattering nonlinear inversion is not uniqueness is a main purpose of this research work in the paper. On the background of research into the seismic inversion, new progress of the nonlinear inversion is introduced at the first chapter in this paper. Especially, the development, basic theories and assumptions on some major theories of seismic inversion are analyzed, discussed and summarized in mathematics and physics. Also, the problems faced by the mathematical basis of investigations of the seismic inversion are discussed, and inverse questions of strongly seismic scattering due to strong heterogeneous media in the Earth interior are analyzed and viewed. What the kernel of paper is that gathers all our attention making a new nonlinear inversion method of seismic scattering. The paper provides a theory and method of how to introduce the fixed-point theory into the nonlinear seismic scattering inversion and how to obtain the solution, and gives the actually method to create a serials of contractive mappings of velocity parameter's in the mapping space of wave. Therefore, the results testify the existence of fixed point of velocity parameter and give the method the find it. Further, the paper proves the conclusion that the value obtained by taking the fixed point of velocity parameter into wave equation is the fixed point of the wave of the contractive mapping. Thence, the fixed point is the global minima since the stabilities quality of the fixed point. Based on the new theory, in the chapter three, many inverse results are obtained in the numerical value test. By analysis the results one could find a basic facts that all the results, which are inversed by the different initial model, are tended to the true value in theoretical true model. In other words, the new method mostly eliminates the non-uniqueness that which is existed in seismic waves scattering nonlinear inversion in degree. But, since the test results are quite finite now, more test is need here to positive our theory. As a new theoretical method, it must be existed many weaken in it. The chapter four points out all the questions which is bother us. We hope more people to join us to solve the problem together.

Seismic Responses of a Hemispherical Alluvial Valley to SV Waves: A Three-Dimensional Analytical Approximation

An analytical solution to the three-dimensional scattering and diffraction of plane SV-waves by a saturated hemispherical alluvial valley in elastic half-space is obtained by using Fourier-Bessel series expansion technique. The hemispherical alluvial valley with saturated soil deposits is simulated with Biot's dynamic theory for saturated porous media. The following conclusions based on numerical results can be drawn: (1) there are a significant differences in the seismic response simulation between the previous single-phase models and the present two-phase model; (2) the normalized displacements on the free surface of the alluvial valley depend mainly on the incident wave angles, the dimensionless frequency of the incident SV waves and the porosity of sediments; (3) with the increase of the incident angle, the displacement distributions become more complicated; and the displacements on the free surface of the alluvial valley increase as the porosity of sediments increases.

Seismic reflection experiments imaging the physical nature of crustal structures in southern California

Seismic reflection methods have been extensively used to probe the Earth's crust and suggest the nature of its formative processes. The analysis of multi-offset seismic reflection data extends the technique from a reconnaissance method to a powerful scientific tool that can be applied to test specific hypotheses. The treatment of reflections at multiple offsets becomes tractable if the assumptions of high-frequency rays are valid for the problem being considered. Their validity can be tested by applying the methods of analysis to full wave synthetics.

Three studies illustrate the application of these principles to investigations of the nature of the crust in southern California. A survey shot by the COCORP consortium in 1977 across the San Andreas fault near Parkfield revealed events in the record sections whose arrival time decreased with offset. The reflectors generating these events are imaged using a multi-offset three-dimensional Kirchhoff migration. Migrations of full wave acoustic synthetics having the same limitations in geometric coverage as the field survey demonstrate the utility of this back projection process for imaging. The migrated depth sections show the locations of the major physical boundaries of the San Andreas fault zone. The zone is bounded on the southwest by a near-vertical fault juxtaposing a Tertiary sedimentary section against uplifted crystalline rocks of the fault zone block. On the northeast, the fault zone is bounded by a fault dipping into the San Andreas, which includes slices of serpentinized ultramafics, intersecting it at 3 km depth. These interpretations can be made despite complications introduced by lateral heterogeneities.

In 1985 the Calcrust consortium designed a survey in the eastern Mojave desert to image structures in both the shallow and the deep crust. Preliminary field experiments showed that the major geophysical acquisition problem to be solved was the poor penetration of seismic energy through a low-velocity surface layer. Its effects could be mitigated through special acquisition and processing techniques. Data obtained from industry showed that quality data could be obtained from areas having a deeper, older sedimentary cover, causing a re-definition of the geologic objectives. Long offset stationary arrays were designed to provide reversed, wider angle coverage of the deep crust over parts of the survey. The preliminary field tests and constant monitoring of data quality and parameter adjustment allowed 108 km of excellent crustal data to be obtained.

This dataset, along with two others from the central and western Mojave, was used to constrain rock properties and the physical condition of the crust. The multi-offset analysis proceeded in two steps. First, an increase in reflection peak frequency with offset is indicative of a thinly layered reflector. The thickness and velocity contrast of the layering can be calculated from the spectral dispersion, to discriminate between structures resulting from broad scale or local effects. Second, the amplitude effects at different offsets of P-P scattering from weak elastic heterogeneities indicate whether the signs of the changes in density, rigidity, and Lame's parameter at the reflector agree or are opposed. The effects of reflection generation and propagation in a heterogeneous, anisotropic crust were contained by the design of the experiment and the simplicity of the observed amplitude and frequency trends. Multi-offset spectra and amplitude trend stacks of the three Mojave Desert datasets suggest that the most reflective structures in the middle crust are strong Poisson's ratio (σ) contrasts. Porous zones or the juxtaposition of units of mutually distant origin are indicated. Heterogeneities in σ increase towards the top of a basal crustal zone at ~22 km depth. The transition to the basal zone and to the mantle include increases in σ. The Moho itself includes ~400 m layering having a velocity higher than that of the uppermost mantle. The Moho maintains the same configuration across the Mojave despite 5 km of crustal thinning near the Colorado River. This indicates that Miocene extension there either thinned just the basal zone, or that the basal zone developed regionally after the extensional event.

Imaging of crustal scatterers using multiple seismic arrays

Array seismology is an useful tool to perform a detailed investigation of the Earth’s interior. Seismic arrays by using the coherence properties of the wavefield are able to extract directivity information and to increase the ratio of the coherent signal amplitude relative to the amplitude of incoherent noise. The Double Beam Method (DBM), developed by Krüger et al. (1993, 1996), is one of the possible applications to perform a refined seismic investigation of the crust and mantle by using seismic arrays. The DBM is based on a combination of source and receiver arrays leading to a further improvement of the signal-to-noise ratio by reducing the error in the location of coherent phases. Previous DBM works have been performed for mantle and core/mantle resolution (Krüger et al., 1993; Scherbaum et al., 1997; Krüger et al., 2001). An implementation of the DBM has been presented at 2D large-scale (Italian data-set for Mw=9.3, Sumatra earthquake) and at 3D crustal-scale as proposed by Rietbrock & Scherbaum (1999), by applying the revised version of Source Scanning Algorithm (SSA; Kao & Shan, 2004). In the 2D application, the rupture front propagation in time has been computed. In 3D application, the study area (20x20x33 km3), the data-set and the source-receiver configurations are related to the KTB-1994 seismic experiment (Jost et al., 1998). We used 60 short-period seismic stations (200-Hz sampling rate, 1-Hz sensors) arranged in 9 small arrays deployed in 2 concentric rings about 1 km (A-arrays) and 5 km (B-array) radius. The coherence values of the scattering points have been computed in the crustal volume, for a finite time-window along all array stations given the hypothesized origin time and source location. The resulting images can be seen as a (relative) joint log-likelihood of any point in the subsurface that have contributed to the full set of observed seismograms.

Bandwidth requirements for shallow, high-resolution seismic reflection

The optimum bandwidth for shallow, high-resolution seismic reflection differs from that required for conventional petroleum reflection. An understanding of this issue is essential for correct choice of acquisition instrumentation. Numerical modelling of simple Bowen Basin coal structures illustrates that, for high-resolution imaging, it is important to accurately record all frequencies up to the limit imposed by earth scattering. On the contrary, the seismic image is much less dependent on frequencies at the lower end of the spectrum. These quantitative observations support the use of specialised high-frequency geophones for high-resolution seismic imaging. Synthetic seismic inversion trials demonstrate that, irrespective of the bandwidth of the seismic data, additional low-frequency impedance control is essential for accurate inversion. Inversion provides no compelling argument for the use of conventional petroleum geophones in the high-resolution arena.