Continental mantle seismic anisotropy: a new look at the Twin Sisters massif

Recent interpretations of upper continental mantle seismic anisotropy observations have often relied on fabric measurements and calculated anisotropies of upper mantle xenoliths. Seismic ray paths of P and S waves, which provide information on azimuthal compressional wave anisotropy and shear wave splitting, are tens to hundreds of kilometers, whereas, xenoliths are usually only a few centimeters in diameter. To place better constraints on field-based anisotropy observations and to evaluate anisotropy information provided by xenoliths, it is important to examine anisotropy in large ultramafic massifs which have originated in the upper mantle. One such massif is the Twin Sisters Range located in the western portion of the North Cascades of Washington State, USA. The Twin Sisters massif, a slab of unaltered dunite, is 16 km in length, 6 km in width and 3 km thick. Exposed along its south and west sides are mafic granulite facies rocks, which likely represent lower continental crustal fragments. The ultramafic rocks are porphyroclastic in texture, consisting of strained, flattened porphyroclasts of olivine and enstatite and strain-free olivine mosaics. Olivine fabrics are typical of those formed at high temperatures and low strain rates. Petrofabrics and calculated anisotropies of individual samples vary throughout the massif, however, overall anisotropy of the body is significant, with maximum P and S waves anisotropies of 5.4% and 3.9%, respectively. The maximum delay time for split shear waves traveling through a 100-km-thick slab is 0.8 s and two directions of shear wave singularity are observed. The directions of maximum shear wave splitting and shear wave singularities do not coincide with the directions of maximum and minimum compressional wave velocity. In general, individual hand samples show significantly higher anisotropy than the overall anisotropy of the massif. It is concluded that simple averages of xenolith anisotropies are unreliable for use in the interpretation of field anisotropy observations.     

基于时频域极化滤波的勒夫型槽波提取

矿井槽波地震勘探数据中,含有多种类型地震波,包括线性极化的纵波、横波、勒夫型槽波和椭圆极化的瑞利型槽波。由于槽波频散现象严重,不同类型槽波互相重叠,在地震记录上难以区分,合理地进行波场分离是槽波数据处理的重要环节。根据不同类型槽波振动极化特征,提出基于S变换的时频域自适应协方差矩阵极化滤波方法;在时频域中,针对槽波水平双分量信号建立自适应协方差矩阵;利用矩阵对应特征值和特征向量,计算椭圆率和方位角参数来描述槽波极化振动特征;依据极化参数建立极化滤波函数,对槽波地震信号进行波场分离。经过理论合成信号和实际数据测试表明,该方法可以有效地从槽波地震记录中提取出勒夫型槽波,避免其它类型地震波在槽波数据处理过程中产生的干扰,为槽波地震勘探数据处理提供新的技术手段。      

地球各向异性介质中地震波动理论、检测与应用研究

地下岩石的各向异性主要表现在地震波速度随传播方向发生变化,不同类型体波间相互耦合,横波发生分裂,波速度频散依赖于传播方向等。薄互层与裂隙定向分布等产生视各向异性,它在石油地震勘探、地震预测和岩石圈物理与动力学研究中有极大潜力和应用前景,并受到广泛重视。为此,文中讨论了地震各向异性研究在解决地球科学问题中的重要性与必要性;系统地介绍了中国在地震各向异性研究领域的各个方面,如波动传播、波场激发、数值模拟、偏移与反演成像,以及应用于油气资源探测、深部地球物理研究和地质灾害监测等方面所取得的新进展。结合笔者参加的第八届地震各向异性国际学术讨论会,及ＳＥＧ,ＩＡＳＰＥＩ,ＩＵＧＧ等有关学术会议情况,综述了国际上在该领域内的主要成果与发展动向,分析了国际上各国地震各向异性研究现状及存在问题,并对我国在该领域研究的进一步开展提供了主攻问题与相应建议。     

青藏高原东部及其邻区力学耦合的岩石圈变形模式

根据青藏高原东部及其邻区布设的143个宽频带固定和流动地震台站的远震记录的SKS波分裂分析获得了各台站的快波偏振方向和快慢波之间的时间延迟。SKS分裂分析结果总体上反映了高原东部的上地幔物质流动方向,即高原内部表现为环绕喜马拉雅东构造结的顺时针旋转。在造山运动过程中有关岩石圈地壳和地幔力学耦合的造山变形方式,用从GPS和第四纪断裂滑动速率数据确定的地面变形场和由地震波各向异性数据推断的地幔变形场联合分析来定量求得。在青藏高原东部和云南、四川等地区新近快速增加的GPS和SKS波分裂观测数据,提供了对青藏高原岩石圈地幔实际变形方式的检验。这些新的数据不仅加强了高原内部力学耦合岩石圈的证据,而且也解释了高原外部相同的耦合特征。文中引入简单剪切变形和纯剪切变形的概念,用于解释高原内外不同的耦合变形特征。青藏高原和周围区域力学耦合岩石圈的垂直连贯变形有两个方面的大陆动力学含义:第一,岩石圈垂直强度剖面被一个重要的条件所约束,即要求与重力势能变化相关的应力能够从地壳传递到地幔;第二,青藏高原各向异性的空间变化反映了一个岩石圈变形的大尺度模式,以及从高原内部的简单剪切变形向高原外部的纯剪切变形的过渡带。文中提出的力学耦合岩石圈变形模型与当前已有的多种造山运动变形模型具有不同的变形含义,因此,地幔变形在青藏高原隆升过程中起主要作用。     

Mapping upper mantle anisotropy beneath SE France by SKS splitting indicates Neogene asthenospheric flow induced by Apenninic slab roll-back and deflected by the deep Alpine roots

The presence of two regional seismic networks in southeastern France provides us high-quality data to investigate upper mantle flow by measuring the splitting of teleseismic shear waves induced by seismic anisotropy. The 10 three-component and broadband stations installed in Corsica, Provence, and western Alps efficiently complete the geographic coverage of anisotropy measurements performed in southern France using temporary experiments deployed on geodynamic targets such as the Pyrenees and the Massif Central. Teleseismic shear waves (mainly SKS and SKKS) are used to determine the splitting parameters: the fast polarization direction and the delay time. Delay times ranging between 1.0 and 1.5 s have been observed at most sites, but some larger delay times, above 2.0 s, have been observed at some stations, such as in northern Alps or Corsica, suggesting the presence of high strain zones in the upper mantle. The azimuths of the fast split shear waves define a simple and smooth pattern, trending homogeneously WNW–ESE in the Nice area and progressively rotating to NW–SE and to NS for stations located further North in the Alps. This pattern is in continuity with the measurements performed in the southern Massif Central and could be related to a large asthenospheric flow induced by the rotation of the Corsica–Sardinia lithospheric block and the retreat of the Apenninic slab. We show that seismic anisotropy nicely maps the route of the slab from the initial rifting phase along the Gulf of Lion (30–22 Ma) to the drifting of the Corsica–Sardinia lithospheric block accompanied by the creation of new oceanic lithosphere in the Liguro–Provençal basin (22–17 Ma). In the external and internal Alps, the pattern of the azimuth of the fast split waves follows the bend of the alpine arc. We propose that the mantle flow beneath this area could be influenced or perhaps controlled by the Alpine deep penetrative structures and that the Alpine lithospheric roots may have deflected part of the horizontal asthenospheric flow around its southernmost tip.     

裂缝介质中不同震源横波分裂现象的数值模拟

采用TTI介质中二维三分量一阶交错网格应力-速度弹性波方程,模拟胀缩源、垂直集中力源、剪切源在垂直裂缝介质中的井间地震波场,分析了不同方位角情况下波场的传播特征,并讨论了横波分裂时的能量分配情况。结果表明:地震波从各向同性介质进入各向异性介质时会观测到快慢横波;在一定方位角的情况下,垂直裂缝介质中会得到快慢横波,这为进一步分析横波分裂特征和地震实际数据提供了依据。      

南极洲普里兹湾岩石圈各向异性:海底地震仪观测

为了研究南极普里兹湾岩石圈深部应力场及其动力学,采用S波分裂旋转相关法,对中国第31次南极科学考察成功回收的3个站位海底地震仪数据(5个远震记录)进行了反演,获得了普里兹湾洋陆过渡带岩石圈各向异性特征.结果表明,台站所在区域各向异性显著,在较小的范围内存在明显的空间差异,快S波偏振方向变化范围是N40°E ~ N60°E,快慢波时间延迟变化范围为0.2~1.3 s.洋盆的各向异性主要取决于海底扩张地幔流作用,大陆及附近的各向异性主要受上地幔顶部残留构造的影响,而中间过渡带各向异性层厚度较小集中在地壳内,它可能受海底扩张地幔流和残留构造共同作用.      

Aligned fractures in carbonate rocks: laboratory and in situ measurements of seismic anisotropy

By vertical seismic profiling and shear wave analysis we show that a packet of carbonate reservoir rocks, found at nearly 3000 m depth in the North German Basin, is seismically anisotropic. For vertical paths of wave propagation the estimated velocity difference of the split shear waves is 10%. No shear wave birefrigence is observed within the hangingwall which, therefore, has to be regarded as isotropic or transversely isotropic. Additional laboratory investigations of the petrography of drilled carbonate samples and of their seismic velocities show that the anisotropy is most probably caused by subvertical fractures with preferred azimuthal orientation. The strike direction of the aligned fractures determined by analysis of split shear waves is approximately N55°E. This value agrees with recently published directions of maximum horizontal tectonic stress in pre-Zechstein sediments in the eastern part of the North German Basin, but it is in contrast to the world stress map. Received: 20 April 1999 / Accepted: 25 August 1999     

黏弹性和速度各向异性对薄层反射的影响

煤层具有强波阻抗差、低阻抗的特性,对地震勘探来说是一种典型的薄层。因为其黏弹性和速度各向异性导致薄层反射波场异常,为了定量分析黏弹性和速度各向异性对薄层地震反射的影响,针对强波阻抗差薄层模型,基于波动方程数值模拟方法,正演得到弹性速度各向同性、黏弹性速度各向同性及黏弹性速度各向异性的地震波场,并对比分析了3种模型的弹性波地震反射特征。研究结果表明:黏弹性对薄层的反射产生不可忽略的影响,会明显降低薄层弹性波的反射振幅,但黏弹性速度各向同性与各向异性对薄层的弹性波反射影响差异不大。相比于弹性各向同性情况,黏弹性会引起反射纵波（PP波）瞬时频率最大可达8%的改变量,而对转换横波（PS波）仅有3%的改变量,可以忽略不计。上述研究为利用构造煤品质因子极低的特征来预测构造煤提供了可能。      

Seismic anisotropy structure beneath the southeastern Mediterranean from shear-wave splitting

Analysis of seismic anisotropy in the crust and the uppermost mantle gives lots of information about the ambient mantle flow, stress state, and the dynamic processes inside the Earth. Thus, seismic anisotropy and its main distinctive features beneath the southeastern Mediterranean region are studied through the analysis of teleseismic shear-wave splitting observed at six broadband seismic stations belonging to the GEOFON and the MedNet. Although the number of the recording stations is small; a total of 495 splitting parameters are obtained, which revealed significant variations in the observed fast polarization directions beneath the study area. The stations in northern Egypt and Cyprus show fast velocity directions oriented roughly N–S to NNE–SSW, coincident with many previous results. A slightly different splitting pattern comprising NE–SW fast polarization directions is observed in the stations located along the Dead Sea fault in the southeastern Mediterranean; which are consistent with the current strike-slip motion between Africa and Arabia. In addition, NW–SE fast polarization directions are recognized in the latter group. The observed delay times vary greatly but their averages lie between 0.35 and 1 s. Although large-scale mechanisms, such as the absolute plate motion of Africa and Arabia towards Eurasia and the differential motion between Arabia and Africa can be invoked to predominantly explain the origin of anisotropic features, we suggest that density-driven flow in the asthenosphere is a possible additional cause of the wide range of the splitting pattern observed beneath some stations.     

Directional dependence of P- and S-wave propagation and polarization in foliated rocks from the Kola superdeep well: Evidence from laboratory measurements and calculations based on TOF neutron diffraction

We have measured P- and S-wave velocities on two amphibolite and two gneiss samples from the Kola superdeep borehole as a function of pressure (up to 600 MPa) and temperature (up to 600 °C). The velocity measurements include compressional (Vp) and shear wave velocities (Vs1, Vs2) propagating in three orthogonal directions which were in general not parallel to inherent rock symmetry axes or planes. The measurements are accompanied by 3D-velocities calculations based on lattice preferred orientation (LPO) obtained by TOF (Time Of Flight) neutron diffraction analysis which allows the investigation of bulk volumes up to several cubic centimetres due to the high penetration depth of neutrons. The LPO-based numerical velocity calculations give important information on the different contribution of the various rock-forming minerals to bulk elastic anisotropy and on the relations of seismic anisotropy, shear wave splitting, and shear wave polarization to the structural reference frame (foliation and lineation). Comparison with measured velocities obtained for the three propagation directions that were not in accordance with the structural frame of the rocks (foliation and lineation) demonstrate that for shear waves propagating through anisotropic rocks the vibration directions are as important as the propagation directions. The study demonstrates that proper measurement of shear wave splitting by means of two orthogonal polarized sending and receiving shear wave transducers is only possible when their propagation and polarization directions are parallel and normal to foliation and lineation, respectively.     

弱各向异性介质地震波传播特征分析

随着油气田勘探精度要求越来越高,各向异性已成为不得不考虑的重要因素,因此对地震波在各向异性介质中传播特征的研究具有一定的价值。利用Thomsen提出的弱各向异性理论,通过理论模型数值计算,分析了Thomsen各向异性参数对弱各向异性VTI介质中三种体波的影响。分析结果表明:①参数ε、δ分别影响qP波大角度、中小角度传播的各向异性;②参数(ε-δ)影响qSV波中等角度传播时的各向异性;③参数γ影响qSH波大角度传播的各向异性,且群速度的各向异性要比相速度的各向异性更明显,并会出现复杂的交会区。通过这些研究分析,进一步认识了弱各向异性介质相速度及群速度随各向异性参数变化的规律。     

海上多波多分量地震技术新进展与发展方向

中国海洋石油领域开展了首次海上多波多分量地震试验。试验效果是不错的,主要表现在烃类检测和模糊区成像上。同时充分利用已有资料对方位各向异性进行了初步的研究和探讨。从纵横波剖面的对比和频谱分析结果看,浅层横波的纵向分辨率高于纵波,中深层二者差不多。我国在多波的基础性研究方面还很欠缺,在许多方面还有待加强。     

基于行波分离的VTI介质逆时偏移

现阶段,各向同性介质假设已经不能满足复杂地质构造条件下的成像需求,忽略介质各向异性影响会使速度估计不准确,成像精度降低。为此,笔者从VTI介质一阶速度—应力方程出发,利用Poynting矢量特性对地震波进行方向行波分离,得出了基于上下行波分离的互相关成像条件,并将其应用在复杂VTI介质中。通过层状模型和SEG/EAGE岩丘模型测试验证了该算法的有效性以及在成像上的优越性;另外,当偏移速度不准确时,本文方法仍能够有效压制偏移噪声,成像质量更佳。     

On the temporal stability of the coda of ambient noise correlations

We analyze the sensitivity of cross correlations to the anisotropy of the incident field in the context of seismic ambient noise monitoring of small velocity changes. Numerical simulations of elastic waves are performed in a 2D scattering plate with a focus on the comparative character of the direct and coda waves in the cross-correlation. We show that coda waves reconstructed from cross-correlations are far more robust than direct waves in the presence of azimuthal anisotropy of the incident field. We observe similar behavior with real data recorded on Erebus volcano, where a database of impulsive icequakes is used to simulate an anisotropic source field. We propose a simplified approach to evaluate the sensitivity of scattered waves to the anisotropy of the incoming noise field. We rely on previous results obtained for direct waves and on intrinsic properties of scattered waves to predict the errors produced by strong source anisotropy with numerical experiments. These results also yield realistic values for monitoring the accuracy to be expected with real data at crustal scales. Our analysis shows that high-precision noise-based monitoring could be performed with coda waves in the correlation functions, even in the presence of variations in the azimuthal distribution of the ambient noise field.     

横波地震技术在伊敏一露天矿中的应用

以伊敏煤田某露天煤矿横波地震勘探为例,介绍了制做适合野外施工的低噪声、大能量、且易于操作的横波震源的方法,并将各种特性的横波震源在不同介质中进行激发效果试验。根据试验结果确定了震源类型及数据采集参数,其中横波震源为12齿、重150kg、尺寸为110cm×90cm×20cm的爬钉型震板,在加载500kg的重物时耦合效果较好。横波资料的处理基本上与纵波处理的方法相同,由于该区反射波信噪比较高,区内地形平坦,静校正问题较易解决。在资料解释中利用反射波同相轴的形态,在时间剖面上圈定了断层、煤层冲刷带及煤层尖灭点的位置。另外应用速度谱资料求取的平均速度预测了该露天煤矿15、16煤的底板深度。     

Sound velocities and elasticity of cordierite and implications for deep crustal seismic anisotropy

The elastic properties of cordierite, a common volatile-bearing metamorphic mineral, were measured using Brillouin spectroscopy under ambient conditions. We obtain a bulk modulus of K_S =129(1) GPa, and a shear modulus of G=54.0(4) GPa. The bulk modulus of cordierite is much larger than those of other crustal framework silicates (e.g., quartz and feldspars), but is similar to K_S for denser upper mantle phases such as olivine. This is likely a result of the cordierite crystal structure, as suggested by a similarly high value of K_S for minerals with closely related structures. Cordierite has an unusually high K/G ratio of about 2.4, and a Poisson’s ratio of 0.31,which may be a diagnostic seismic properties of areas in which cordierite-rich metamorphic rocks occur. The overall velocity anisotropy of cordierite is relatively low (<14%) in comparison with many other metamorphic minerals. Calculated velocities for a representative lower crustal rock suggest that cordierite is not likely to explain the high seismic anisotropy observed in some lower crustal sections. Cordierite would have a strong influence on the bulk seismic anisotropy only in rocks where it is present in large concentrations and has a strong preferred orientation. Although such rocks are known to occur, they are uncommon. Received: 23 Deceber 1997/ Revised, accepted: 12 October 1998     

Seismic studies of frozen ground in Arctic areas

Seismiv surveys have been applied to investigate the structure of frozen ground, to identify and contour natural and man-caused unfrozen layers in permafrost (taliks), to constrain the position of the permafrost table in the Arctic inner shelf, and to study the related coastal stability. They are the classic methods common in shallow seismic exploration and new techniques specially designed at the Institute of Earth’s Cryosphere (Tyumen’) for different wave components. The joint use of compressional and shear waves provides a higher-quality interpretation of seismic data in permafrost applications. In the case of a single wave component, shear waves are advantageous over P waves.     

Intrinsic versus extrinsic seismic anisotropy: Surface wave phase velocity inversion

The precise determination and interpretation of anisotropy are relatively difficult because the apparent anisotropy is usually a mixture of intrinsic and extrinsic anisotropy, which might partly hide the true properties of the medium investigated. The artificial anisotropy can be due to the fact that seismic waves do not ‘see’ the real details of a medium, but a ‘filtered’ (or ‘upscaled’) version of the Earth model. This can be due to a bad quality of the data coverage, to limited frequency band effects, or to errors in the approximate theory. With the limitation to layered Earth models, through comparisons of the results of the homogenization method with those of the periodic isotropic two-layered model as an analytical solution, we illustrate that the Backus theory for the long wavelength equivalent effect can be extended to calculate the extrinsic anisotropy, due to upscaling effects at discontinuities for the general isotropic layered model, when its spatial scale is much less than or equal to the seismic wavelength. We find that the extrinsic radial S-wave anisotropy produced by the vertical heterogeneities in the upper mantle of the Earth can be as large as 3% (about 30% extrinsic anisotropy of the 10% radial anisotropy). To better recover information from seismic data, we propose a surface wave phase velocity inversion method based on the first-order perturbation theory. We show that resolution at discontinuities can be improved by adding overtone modes of surface wave data. For more general layered models, the homogenization method could be considered, which can flexibly adapt the scale of the model to seismic wavelengths. However, the periodic isotropic two-layered model can also help to analytically quantify the amount of extrinsic radial, and possibly azimuthal anisotropy produced by the tilted fine layering.     

基于BISQ模型双相各向同性介质中地震波数值模拟

基于BISQ机制,推导了双相各向同性介质中弹性波数值模拟方程,并借助交错网格有限差分方法进行了波场模拟。证实了三种波(快纵波、慢纵波、横波SV)的存在和波场特征;在合成地震记录中,观测列三种波的反射,由于各种波相互之间的转换,转换波在地震记录中显示也很清楚,这使得波场变得更为复杂化。