东亚及西太平洋边缘海高分辨率面波层析成像

根据欧亚大陆及西太平洋地区58个数字地震台站约12000个长周期波形记录,挑选出4100条面波大圆传播路径,采用面波频散及波形拟合反演方法,对东亚及西太平洋边缘海地区(60°E-160°E,20°S-60°N)的地壳上地幔进行了高分辨率三维S波速度成像. 结果表明,从上地壳到70km深,在东亚东部及西太平洋边缘海地区为高速分布,西部以青藏高原为中心呈极低速分布. 自地中海经土耳其、伊朗、喜马拉雅山到缅甸、印尼群岛的特提斯汇聚碰撞带,显示为低速异常链. 从85km至250km深,在东亚东部及西太平洋边缘海,自北向南显示出一条巨型低速异常带,西部地区为高速异常分布.以东经110°E为界,东西两部分岩石圈、软流圈的结构与深部动力过程有着巨大的差异. 此界线以西主要是印度板块与欧亚板块碰撞引起的岩石圈汇聚增厚区,东部则主要是由于软流圈上涌(地幔热物质上升)引起的岩石圈拉张减薄区.     

南极地震学研究进展

归纳总结了在南极开展地震学研究中的各种主要方法及其研究成果,较全面地介绍了南极地震学研究的现状与进展．首先对南极地震活动性作了简单的介绍,然后分别介绍了利用面波和体波研究地壳上地幔结构的主要成果,最后从地震各向异性的角度归纳介绍了南极大陆部分区域面波方位各向异性及剪切波分裂研究的主要成果．研究表明,南极大陆地震活动性较低、地震强度较小,仅在横贯南极山脉区域、维多利亚地、阿黛利地、威尔克斯地等有较明显的地震活动; 横贯南极山脉将南极大陆分为东南极和西南极两个不同的地质构造区域,东南极地壳和上地幔地震波速度偏高,西南极则偏低;上地幔各向异性较为明显并普遍存在,且西南极各向异性强度稍高于东南极克拉通．      

Shear wave velocity structure of the upper mantle under the NW Indian Ocean

Shear wave velocity structure of the NW Indian ocean is analysed by using fundamental mode Rayleigh wave dispersion data of 67 events occurred during 1990–98 at the central Indian Ridge and Carlsberg Ridge and recorded at Hyderabad Geoscope station (HYB). These events provide a dense coverage of the NW Indian ocean and Chagos-Laccadive Ridge (CLR) in the back-azimuthal range of 192–253° with respect to HYB. The dispersion curves, corrected for continental and young ocean paths, indicate large variations in the shear wave velocity structure of the region. The group velocities along the CLR path support a typical aseismic ridge-type structure. However, the central region bounded between the Central Indian Ridge and India in the back-azimuth of 206–234° indicates a decrease in the group velocity by 0.1 km/s. Inversion of these data sets indicates presence of aseismic-ridge type lithospheric structure for CLR, a thin lithosphere and high velocity block in the depth range of 125–200 km for the central region, and a continental-type lithospheric structure for the northern-most part of the Indian ocean. It is inferred that the dynamic state of the upper mantle in this region has been significantly perturbed during the recent geological past.     

Mesozoic evolution of West Antarctica and the Weddell Sea Basin: new paleomagnetic constraints

Paleomagnetic data from the Antarctic Peninsula and our recent results from the Ellsworth-Whitmore Mountains block suggest that since the Middle Jurassic these two West Antarctic blocks have undergone little relative movement and together have rotated relative to the East Antarctic craton. New data from Lower Cretaceous rocks from the Thurston Island region of West Antarctica suggest that on the basis of paleomagnetic constraints, the Antarctic Peninsula, Ellsworth-Whitmore Mountains and Thurston Island blocks define a single entity which we call Weddellia; some motion between these blocks is possible within the limits of the paleomagnetic data.Between the Middle Jurassic and Early Cretaceous, Weddellia remained attached to West Gondwanaland while East Antarctica moved southward (dextrally) relative to Weddellia. From the Early Cretaceous to mid-Cretaceous, Weddellia rotated clockwise 30° and moved sinistrally approximately 2500 km relative to East Antarctica, to its present-day position. We suggest the Early to mid-Cretaceous to be the time of the main if not initial opening of the Weddell Sea.     

Seismic evidence for deep low-velocity anomalies in the transition zone beneath West Antarctica

We present a three-dimensional (3D) SV-wave velocity model of the upper mantle beneath the Antarctic plate constrained by fundamental and higher mode Rayleigh waves recorded at regional distances. The good agreement between our results and previous surface wave studies in the uppermost 200 km of the mantle confirms that despite strong differences in data processing, modern surface wave tomographic techniques allow to produce consistent velocity models, even at regional scale. At greater depths the higher mode information present in our data set allows us to improve the resolution compared to previous regional surface wave studies in Antarctica that were all restricted to the analysis of the fundamental mode. This paper is therefore mostly devoted to the discussion of the deeper part of the model. Our seismic model displays broad domains of anomalously low seismic velocities in the asthenosphere. Moreover, we show that some of these broad, low-velocity regions can be more deeply rooted. The most remarkable new features of our model are vertical low-velocity structures extending from the asthenosphere down to the transition zone beneath the volcanic region of Marie Byrd Land, West Antarctica and a portion of the Pacific-Antarctic Ridge close to the Balleny Islands hotspot. A deep low-velocity anomaly may also exist beneath the Ross Sea hotspot. These vertical structures cannot be explained by vertical smearing of shallow seismic anomalies and synthetic tests show that they are compatible with a structure narrower than 200 km which would have been horizontally smoothed by the tomographic inversion. These deep low-velocity anomalies may favor the existence of several distinct mantle plumes, instead of a large single one, as the origin of volcanism in and around West Antarctica. These hypothetical deep plumes could feed large regions of low seismic velocities in the asthenosphere.     

Pb in the western Indian Ocean: distribution, disequilibrium, and partitioning between dissolved and particulate phases

²²⁶Ra profiles have been measured in the western Indian Ocean as part of the 1977–1978 Indian Ocean GEOSECS program. These profiles show a general increase in deep and bottom water Ra concentration from the Circumpolar region to the Arabian Sea. A deep Ra maximum which originates in the Arabian Sea and in the Somali basin at about 3000 m depth spreads southward into the Mascarene basin and remains discernible in the Madagascar and Crozet basins. In the western Indian Ocean, the cold Antarctic Bottom Water spreads northward under the possibly southward-flowing deep water, forming a clear benthic front along the Crozet basin across the Southwest Indian Ridge into the Madagascar and Mascarene basins. The Antarctic Bottom Water continues to spread farther north to the Somali basin through the Amirante Passage at 10°S as a western boundary current. The benthic front and other characteristic features in the western Indian Ocean are quite similar to those observed in the western Pacific where the benthic front as a distinctive feature was first described by Craig et al. [15]. Across the Mid-Indian Ridge toward the Ceylon abyssal plain near the triple junction, Ra profiles display a layered structure, reflecting the topographic effect of the mid-ocean ridge system on the mixing and circulation of the deep and bottom waters. Both Ra and Si show a deep maximum north of the Madagascar basin. Linear relationships between these two elements are observed in the deep and bottom water with slopes increasing northward. This suggests a preferential input of Ra over Si from the bottom sediments of the Arabian Sea and also from the flank sediments of the Somali basin.     

Crustal structure in the Mizuho Plateau, East Antarctica, by a two-dimensional ray approximation

Studies on the crustal and upper-mantle structure in Antarctica have been one of the major contributions to Antarctic research since the International Geophysical Year of 1957–1958. Many refraction surveys with small charge size have been conducted in Antarctica, but long-range experiments were also made in 5 regions on the margin of the Antarctic continent.In 1979–1981, the scientific program of the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition was focused on the earth sciences, and in particular, an explosion seismic experiment along a long survey line was the major item during these years. An experiment along a 300 km-long line with three shots and 27 observation stations was successfully made in the northern Mizuho Plateau, East Antarctica.From the analysis of travel times and the amplitude study of synthetic seismograms, the crustal structure of the northern Mizuho Plateau was determined. The depths of the Conrad and the Moho discontinuties were determined as 31 km and 42 km, respectively. The P-wave velocity and depth relation was determined as 6.0 km/s on the surface of the bedrock, 6.3 km/s at a depth of 2 km, 6.8 km/s at the Conrad and 7.9 km/s at the Moho. The velocity in the crust increases gradually. The crustal structure obtained is representative of East Antarctica.     

基于约束三维重力反演的南极大陆地壳密度结构研究

地壳密度是表征其物质组成以及结构特征的一个基本参数,是深入理解构造演化、地球动力学等问题的重要基础.本文利用最新发布的布格重力异常数据,以现有的三维S波速度模型、地表热流以及岩石学数据作为约束条件,采用引入深度加权函数的三维重力反演算法,获取了南极大陆三维精细密度结构模型.研究结果显示,南极大陆地壳尺度范围内密度异常在-0.25～0.20g·cm^-3之间.大致以南极横断山脉为界,受中生代与新生代多期拉张活动的影响,西南极上地壳密度异常以低值为主,与东南极克拉通的高密度异常呈现明显对比关系.通过对比发现,反演的密度结构与岩石圈强度信息存在较好的相关性.进一步分析西南极裂谷系统的密度结构与岩石圈强度,认为受新生代拉张活动和岩浆活动影响的局部地区除外,热沉降作用很可能使得地壳趋于冷却.此外,西南极的低密度特征延伸到南极横断山脉,结合现有的研究结果认为可能需要多种机制来解释南极横断山脉的隆升过程.     

Lateral variation of Rayleigh wave dispersion character Part III: Atlantic Ocean,Africa and Indian Ocean

Summary In continuation of Part II, investigations of the lateral variation of group velocity dispersion character of Rayleigh waves were carried out for the Atlantic and Indian Oceans and for Africa. Maximum group velocity at such short periods as 25 to 30 seconds is observed in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, in agreement with earlier observations from the East Pacific Rise, but was not observed for the Indian Rise. Less continental dispersion regions are found in Africa and in the whole of the Arabian Peninsula. Eastern half of the Indian Ocean seems to have a typical oceanic crustal structure. The dispersion patterns were checked in every area by earlier data. All results so far obtained by the present author on the lateral variation of dispersion characteristics have been compiled into a world map.     

基于GRACE资料研究南极冰盖消减对海平面的影响

利用5年的GRACE重力数据,计算了南极1°×1°等效水量时间序列,得到每个格网的趋势项,结果表明在西南极Amundsen区域有明显的负增长,超过-80 mm/a,南极半岛存在着负增长,东南极Enderby Land地区质量增长;计算得到2002年7月到2007年9月南极、东南极和西南极冰盖的等效体积变化分别为-78±37 km³/a,-3±46 km³/a和-75±50 km³/a,对应海平面变化的贡献为0.21±0.1 mm/a,0.008±0.127 mm/a和0.2±0.14 mm/a.该结果与国际最新研究结果一致.同时发现冰后回弹是影响利用GRACE研究南极冰盖质量变化的关键因素.     

S-wave Velocity Models in the Scotia Sea Region, Antarctica, from Nonlinear Inversion of Rayleigh Waves Dispersion

—More than 60 events recorded by four recently deployed seismic broadband stations around Scotia Sea, Antarctica, have been collected and processed to obtain a general overview of the crust and upper mantle seismic velocities.¶Group velocity of the fundamental mode of Rayleigh waves in the period between 10 s to 30–40 s is used to obtain the S-wave velocity versus depth along ten different paths crossing the Scotia Sea region. Data recorded by two IRIS (Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology) stations (PMSA, EFI) and the two stations of the OGS-IAA (Osservatorio Geofisico Sperimentale—Instituto Antarctico Argentino) network (ESPZ, USHU) are used.¶The Frequency-Time Analysis (FTAN) technique is applied to the data set to measure the dispersion properties. A nonlinear inversion procedure, "Hedgehog," is performed to retrieve the S-wave velocity models consistent with the dispersion data.¶The average Moho depth variation on a section North to South is consistent with the topography, geological observations and Scotia Sea tectonic models.¶North Scotia Ridge and South Scotia Ridge models are characterised by similar S-wave velocities ranging between 2.0 km/s at the surface to 3.2 km/s to depths of 8 km/s. In the lower crust the S-wave velocity increases slowly to reach a value of 3.8 km/s. The average Moho depth is estimated between 17 km to 20 km and 16 km to 19 km, respectively, for the North Scotia Ridge and South Scotia Ridge, while the Scotia Sea, bounded by the two ridges, has a faster and thinner crust, with an average Moho depth between 9 km and 12 km.¶On other paths crossing from east to west the southern part of the Scotia plate and the Antarctic plate south of South Scotia Ridge, we observe an average Moho depth between 14 km and 18 km and a very fast upper crust, compared to that of the ridge. The S-wave velocity ranges between 3.0 and 3.6 km/s in the thin (9–13 km) and fast crust of the Drake Passage channel. In contrast the models for the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula consist of two layers with a large velocity gradient (2.3–3.0 km/s) in the upper crust (6-km thick) and a small velocity gradient (3.0–4.0) in the lower crust (14-km thick).     

Combined Gravimetric–Seismic Crustal Model for Antarctica

The latest seismic data and improved information about the subglacial bedrock relief are used in this study to estimate the sediment and crustal thickness under the Antarctic continent. Since large parts of Antarctica are not yet covered by seismic surveys, the gravity and crustal structure models are used to interpolate the Moho information where seismic data are missing. The gravity information is also extended offshore to detect the Moho under continental margins and neighboring oceanic crust. The processing strategy involves the solution to the Vening Meinesz-Moritz’s inverse problem of isostasy constrained on seismic data. A comparison of our new results with existing studies indicates a substantial improvement in the sediment and crustal models. The seismic data analysis shows significant sediment accumulations in Antarctica, with broad sedimentary basins. According to our result, the maximum sediment thickness in Antarctica is about 15 km under Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf. The Moho relief closely resembles major geological and tectonic features. A rather thick continental crust of East Antarctic Craton is separated from a complex geological/tectonic structure of West Antarctica by the Transantarctic Mountains. The average Moho depth of 34.1 km under the Antarctic continent slightly differs from previous estimates. A maximum Moho deepening of 58.2 km under the Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains in East Antarctica confirmed the presence of deep and compact orogenic roots. Another large Moho depth in East Antarctica is detected under Dronning Maud Land with two orogenic roots under Wohlthat Massif (48–50 km) and the Kottas Mountains (48–50 km) that are separated by a relatively thin crust along Jutulstraumen Rift. The Moho depth under central parts of the Transantarctic Mountains reaches 46 km. The maximum Moho deepening (34–38 km) in West Antarctica is under the Antarctic Peninsula. The Moho depth minima in East Antarctica are found under the Lambert Trench (24–28 km), while in West Antarctica the Moho depth minima are along the West Antarctic Rift System under the Bentley depression (20–22 km) and Ross Sea Ice Shelf (16–24 km). The gravimetric result confirmed a maximum extension of the Antarctic continental margins under the Ross Sea Embayment and the Weddell Sea Embayment with an extremely thin continental crust (10–20 km).     

Tomographic inversion of P410s delay times for simultaneous determination of P and S velocities of the upper mantle beneath the Baltic Shield

Teleseismic data recorded by stations in the Swedish National Seismic Network (SNSN) are used for a study of upper mantle structure beneath the Baltic Shield using the receiver function technique. The data show very clear conversions from the 410 and 660 km discontinuities. The signals associated with P to S conversions at these discontinuities arrive 1-2 s earlier than predicted by global models such as IASP91 or PREM. We interpret this as a manifestation of higher than average velocities in the mantle beneath the shield, consistent with lower than average global temperatures. For a 1400 km profile along the network, we observe variations of around 1 second in delay times of P410s and slightly less for P660s. Under the assumption that the mantle discontinuities are at a given constant depth, the delay times of the mantle converted phases are tomographically inverted to reveal P and S velocity structure below the stations. Synthetic tests show that this tomographic inversion has the potential to resolve P and S velocity variations at structural scales adequate for upper mantle studies. Results from application to real data appear to be consistent with independently produced mantle velocity structures deduced from normal tomographic arrival time data. For the P velocity model, a north-dipping body of (relatively) low velocity is found for the central part of the profile at 58-64°N. A sharp contrast from low to high velocities that may be associated with the Proterozoic-Archean boundary is found at 66°N.     

Seismic ray path variations in a 3D global velocity model

A three-dimensional (3D) ray tracing technique is used to investigate ray path variations of P, PcP, pP and PP phases in a global tomographic model with P wave velocity changing in three dimensions and with lateral depth variations of the Moho, 410 and 660 km discontinuities. The results show that ray paths in the 3D velocity model deviate considerably from those in the average 1D model. For a PcP wave in Western Pacific to East Asia where the high-velocity (1-2%) Pacific slab is subducting beneath the Eurasian continent, the ray path change amounts to 27 km. For a PcP ray in South Pacific where very slow (−2%) velocity anomalies (the Pacific superplume) exist in the whole mantle, the maximum ray path deviation amounts to 77 km. Ray paths of other phases (P, pP, PP) are also displaced by tens of kilometers. Changes in travel time are as large as 3.9 s. These results suggest that although the maximal velocity anomalies of the global tomographic model are only 1-2%, rays passing through regions with strong lateral heterogeneity (in velocity and/or discontinuity topography) can have significant deviations from those in a 1D model because rays have very long trajectories in the global case. If the blocks or grid nodes adopted for inversion are relatively large (3-5°) and only a low-resolution 3D model is estimated, 1D ray tracing may be feasible. But if fine blocks or grid nodes are used to determine a high-resolution model, 3D ray tracing becomes necessary and important for the global tomography.     

基于GRACE RL06数据监测和分析南极冰盖27个流域质量变化

本文基于CSR最新公布的GRACE RL06版本数据,采用Slepian空域反演法估算了南极冰盖27个流域的质量变化.Slepian空域反演法结合了Slepian空间谱集中法和空域反演法的技术优势,能够有效降低GRACE在小区域反演时信号出现的严重泄漏和衰减,进而精确获得南极冰盖在每个流域的质量变化.相对于GRACE RL05版本数据,RL06在条带误差的控制上要更加优化,获得的南极冰盖质量变化时间序列也更加平滑,但在趋势估算上差别并不明显(小于10Gt/a).本文的估算结果显示:在2002年4月至2016年8月期间,整个南极冰盖质量变化速率为-118.6±16.3Gt/a,其中西南极为-142.4±10.5Gt/a,南极半岛为-29.2±2.1Gt/a,东南极则为52.9±8.6Gt/a.南极冰盖损失最大的区域集中在西南极Amundsen Sea Embayment(流域20-23),该地区质量变化速率为-203.5±4.1Gt/a,其次为南极半岛(流域24-27)以及东南极Victoria-Wilkes Land (流域13-15),质量变化速率分别为-29.2±2.1Gt/a和-19.0±4.7Gt/a,其中Amundsen Sea Embayment和南极半岛南部两个地区的冰排放呈现加速状态.南极冰盖质量显著增加的区域主要有西南极的Ellsworth Land(流域1)和Siple Coast(流域18和19)以及东南极的Coats-Queen Maud-Enderby Land (流域3-8),三个地区质量变化速率分别为17.2±2.4Gt/a、43.9±1.9Gt/a和62.7±3.8Gt/a,质量增加大多来自降雪累积,比如:Coats-Queen Maud-Enderby Land在2009年和2011年发生的大规模降雪事件,但也有来自冰川的增厚,如:Siple Coast地区Kamb冰流的持续加厚.此外,对GRACE估算的南极冰盖质量变化年际信号进行初步分析发现,GRACE年际信号与气候模型估算的冰盖表面质量平衡年际信号存在显著的线性相关关系,但与主要影响南极气候年际变化的气候事件之间却不存在线性相关关系,这说明南极冰盖质量变化的年际信号主要受冰盖表面质量平衡的支配,而气候事件对冰盖表面质量平衡的影响可能是复杂的非线性耦合过程.     

ANNUAL SEA LEVEL VARIABILITY INDUCED BY CHANGES IN SEA ICE EXTENT AND ACCUMULATION ON ICE SHEETS: AN ASSESSMENT BASED ON REMOTELY SENSED DATA

Changes of mean annual net accumulation at the surface on the grounded ice sheets of East Antarctica, West Antarctica and Greenland in response to variations in sea ice extent are estimated using grid-point values 100 km apart. The data bases are assembled principally by bilinear interpolation of remotely sensed brightness temperature (Nimbus-5 ESMR, Nimbus-7 SMMR), surface temperature (Nimbus-7 THIR), and surface elevation (ERS-1 radar altimeter). These data, complemented by field data where remotely sensed data are not available, are used in multivariate analyses in which mean annual accumulation (derived from firn emissivity) is the dependent variable; the independent variables are latitude, surface elevation, mean annual surface temperature, and mean annual distance to open ocean (as a source of energy and moisture). The last is the shortest distance measured between a grid point and the mean annual position of the 10% sea ice concentration boundary, and is used as an index of changes in sea ice extent as well as of mean concentration. Stepwise correlation analyses indicate that variations in sea ice extent of ± 50 km would lead to changes in accumulation inversely of ± 4% on East Antarctica, ± 10% on West Antarctica, and ±4% on Greenland. These results are compared with those obtained in a previous study using visually interpolated values from contoured compilations of field data; they substantiate the findings for the Antarctic ice sheets (±4% on East Antarctica, ±9% in West Antarctica), and suggest a reduction by one half of the probable change of accumulation on Greenland (from ±8%). The results also suggest a reduction of the combined contribution to sea level variability to ±0.19 mm a-1 (from ±0.22 mm a-1).     

The P-wave velocity structure of Deception Island,Antarctica, from two-dimensional seismic tomography

Deception Island is a volcanic island with a flooded caldera that has a complex geological setting in Bransfield Strait, Antarctica. We use P-wave arrivals recorded on land and seafloor seismometers from airgun shots within the caldera and around the island to invert for the P-wave velocity structure along two orthogonal profiles. The results show that there is a sharp increase in velocity to the north of the caldera which coincides with a regional normal fault that defines the northwestern boundary of the Bransfield Strait backarc basin. There is a low-velocity region beneath the caldera extending from the seafloor to > 4 km depth with a maximum negative anomaly of 1 km/s. Refracted arrivals are consistent with a 1.2-km-thick layer of low-velocity sediments and pyroclastites infilling the caldera. Synthetic inversions show that this layer accounts for only a small portion of the velocity anomaly, implying that there is a significant region of low velocities at greater depths. Further synthetic inversions and melt fraction calculations are consistent with, but do not require, the presence of an extensive magma chamber beneath the caldera that extends downwards from ≤ 2 km depth.     

利用ICESat数据解算南极冰盖冰雪质量变化

南极冰盖冰雪质量变化反映了全球气候变化,并且直接影响着全球海平面变化.ICESat测高卫星的主要任务之一就是要确定南北两极冰盖的质量变化情况并评估其对全球海平面变化的影响.本文利用2003年10月至2008年12月的ICESat测高数据,针对南极DEM分辨率有限的特殊性,通过求解坡度改正值,解决重复轨道地面脚点不重合的问题,计算了南极大陆(86°S以北区域,后文所述南极冰盖均不包括86°S以南区域)在这5年里的冰雪质量变化情况,得到东南极冰盖的质量变化为-18±20Gt/a,西南极-26±6Gt/a,南极冰盖的冰雪质量变化为-44±21Gt/a,对全球海平面上升的影响约为0.12mm·a~(-1).解算结果表明,南极冰盖质量亏损主要集中在西南极阿蒙森海岸附近冰川以及东南极波因塞特角区域.     

Implication of seismic noise for determining the structure of the upper Earth Rock Mass

An assertion that the cross-correlation function of seismic noise, considered as a result of the superposition of the surface waves, excited by the sources, randomly distributed over the Earth’s surface, determines the Green function of the surface wave is verified by numerical modeling. The maximum wave periods, for which this assertion is correct, are estimated and the errors in determination of the phase and group velocity of the surface waves are evaluated. The procedure for the determination of the correlation function and estimation from it of the group velocity are tested thoroughly based on the example of the pair of the BJT and TLY stations in Asia. This procedure is used for obtaining the group and phase velocities of the Rayleigh waves on the traces between the OBN-ARU and PUL-ARU stations. The velocity sections of the transverse waves are built based on the dispersion curves of the phase and group velocities of averages along these traces. The region of the lowered velocity in the upper mantle at depths of 150–300 km is revealed on both traces. From the analysis of correlation functions, which are subjected to narrow-band filtering, it is shown that the frequency composition of noise varies from the East and from the West from the profiles between the stations: in the East (Siberia) the noise has an appreciably lower-frequency than in the West (Western Europe).     

Crust and upper mantle heterogeneities in the southwest Pacific from surface wave phase velocity analysis

Direct earthquake-to-station Rayleigh and Love wave data observed on high gain broadband records are analyzed in order to improve the lateral resolution of the uppermost mantle in the southwest Pacific region. We used data of nine permanent Geoscope and Iris stations located in the southern hemisphere and nine other stations as part of two temporary networks, the first one installed in New Caledonia and Vanuatu (hereafter named Cavascope network) by ORSTOM and the EOST from Louis Pasteur University in Strasbourg (France) and the second one installed in the Fiji, Tonga and Niue islands (hereafter named Spase network) by Washington University in St. Louis (USA). In order to collect more significant details on the surficial structures, we included the analysis of short period waves down to 8 s. A multiple frequency filtering technique has been used to recover phase velocities of Rayleigh and Love waves for selected earthquakes with magnitude greater than 5.5 and with known centroid moment tensor (CMT). About 1100 well-distributed seismograms have been processed in the period range 8–100 s and corrections for topography and water depth have been applied to the observed phase velocities. The geographical distribution of phase velocity anomalies have then been computed using the tomographic method developed by Montagner [Montagner, J.P., 1986a. Regional three-dimensional structures using long-period surface waves. Ann. Geophys. 4 (B3), 283–294]. Due to a poor knowledge of dense, well-distributed, crustal thickness values and corresponding velocity models, we did not perform or speculate on the construction of an S-wave 3D velocity model; therefore, we limited this study to the interpretation of the phase velocity distribution. The location of phase velocity anomalies are well determined and the deviations are discussed within the framework of the geological context and compared with other tomographic models. At long periods, from 40 s to 100 s, our results agree well with most of previous studies: the tomographic imaging shows a large contrast between low and high phase velocities along the Solomon, New Hebrides and Fiji–Tonga trenches. The lowest phase velocity anomalies are distributed beneath northern and southern Fiji basins and the Lau basin (corresponding to the volume situated just above the dipping slabs), whereas the highest values are displayed beneath the Pacific plate and the eastern part of Indian plate downgoing under the North Fiji basin. At shorter periods, our results show that the phase velocity distributions are well correlated with the large structural crustal domains. The use of local temporary broadband stations in the central part of the studied area gives us the opportunity to observe surface waves showing well-dispersed trains, allowing extended velocity measurements down to 8 s although aliasing due to multipaths become important. The continental regions (Eastern Australia, New Guinea, Fiji islands and New Zealand) show low velocities which are likely due to thick continental crust, whereas the Tasmanian, D'Entrecasteaux, and the Northern and Southern Fiji basins are characterized by higher velocities suggesting thinner oceanic crust. Additional analysis including the anisotropic case and S-wave velocity inversion with depth is in progress.