Estimating Crustal Heterogeneity from Double-difference Tomography

Seismic velocity parameters in limited, but heterogeneous volumes can be inferred using a double-difference tomographic algorithm, but to obtain meaningful results accuracy must be maintained at every step of the computation. MONTEILLER et al. (2005) have devised a double-difference tomographic algorithm that takes full advantage of the accuracy of cross-spectral time-delays of large correlated event sets. This algorithm performs an accurate computation of theoretical travel-time delays in heterogeneous media and applies a suitable inversion scheme based on optimization theory. When applied to Kilauea Volcano, in Hawaii, the double-difference tomography approach shows significant and coherent changes to the velocity model in the well-resolved volumes beneath the Kilauea caldera and the upper east rift. In this paper, we first compare the results obtained using MONTEILLER et al.'s algorithm with those obtained using the classic travel-time tomographic approach. Then, we evaluated the effect of using data series of different accuracies, such as handpicked arrival-time differences (``picking differences'), on the results produced by double-difference tomographic algorithms. We show that picking differences have a non-Gaussian probability density function (pdf). Using a hyperbolic secant pdf instead of a Gaussian pdf allows improvement of the double-difference tomographic result when using picking difference data. We completed our study by investigating the use of spatially discontinuous time-delay data.     

变阻尼约束层析成像及其在VSP资料中的应用(英文)

初至波走时层析成像已经取得了广泛的应用,然而,由于观测系统的限制,射线在模型中分布不均匀,导致层析结果的分辨能力不足。变阻尼约束方法应用不均匀的先验信息来匹配不均匀的数据分布,可以减小速度模型校正量与射线覆盖程度的相关性。本文将变阻尼约束方法应用于初至波旅行时层析成像中,并将平滑约束方法加入正则化方程组中来避免单独使用变阻尼约束带来的不稳定性,利用阿尔法滤波器对反演中间迭代结果进行平滑和去噪,采用LSQR算法求解线性方程组来提高收敛速度和压制误差传递。本文应用上述层析成像算法对VSP观测系统进行速度反演,分别应用于检测板速度模型数据和实际VSP资料速度反演中,结果表咀变阻尼约束层析成像可以改善射线不均匀覆盖带来的影响,从而提高速度反演结果的质量;VSP资料检波点附近的速度反演结果可靠性高。     

Designing and testing a network of passive seismic surveying and monitoring in Dehdasht (South Western Iran)

From August 2016 to July 2017, a passive seismic survey was conducted in South Western Iran as a part of a pilot project aimed to improve the imaging in geologically complex areas. Passive seismic methods have shown to be a useful tool to infer the physical properties of the underground geological structures where traditional hydrocarbon exploration methods are challenging. For this purpose, a dense passive seismic network consisting of 119 three-component borehole seismic stations was deployed over an area of 400 km² around the city of Dehdasht. This paper focuses on the details of the network design, which was devoted to high-resolution seismological applications, including local earthquake tomography and seismic attenuation imaging. In this regard, we describe the instrument types and the station installation procedures used to obtain high-quality data that were used to retrieve three-dimensional models of P- and S-wave velocity and P-wave attenuation in the area using tomographic inversion techniques. We also assess the network performance in terms of the seismic ambient noise levels recorded at each station site, and we revise the horizontal orientation of the sensors using surface waves from teleseismic earthquakes.     

Wave equation tomographic velocity inversion method based on the Born/Rytov approximation

This paper discusses Born/Rytov approximation tomographic velocity inversion methods constrained by the Fresnel zone. Calculations of the sensitivity kernel function and traveltime residuals are critical in tomographic velocity inversion. Based on the Born/Rytov approximation of the frequency-domain wave equation, we derive the traveltime sensitivity kernels of the wave equation on the band-limited wave field and simultaneously obtain the traveltime residuals based on the Rytov approximation. In contrast to single-ray tomography, the modified velocity inversion method improves the inversion stability. Tests of the near-surface velocity model and field data prove that the proposed method has higher accuracy and Computational efficiency than ray theory tomography and full waveform inversion methods.     

海洋拖缆地震资料初至波走时层析反演

初至波走时层析反演技术作为建立近地表速度模型的重要手段,是解决陆地资料复杂静校正问题的关键技术。而折射波广泛发育的海洋地震资料,对折射波信息的关注与运用并没有得到广泛的重视。本文首次将层析反演方法应用于海洋拖缆地震数据的近海底速度模型的建立。本文方法与陆地资料层析反演的主要区别在于:①在震源信号的最小相位化处理后进行初至时间的拾取,避免了混合相位子波初至拾取不准带来的误差;②以海水深度与海水速度作为反演约束条件,减小了迭代误差。实测二维资料的层析反演结果表明,本文方法可反演出较为精确的海洋地层速度结构。      

Complex Inversion of MRT Signals under Different Loop Configurations for Groundwater Exploration

Surface nuclear magnetic resonance (SNMR) is a relatively new geophysical method for non‐invasive groundwater exploration and aquifer characterization. Conventional SNMR surveys based on one‐dimensional (1‐D) inversion of amplitude data recorded only using coincident loops provide limited or distorted groundwater distribution information, especially in regions with strong lateral heterogeneity and complicated hydrological environments. The simplistic approach limits the applicability and efficiency of SNMR, which was therefore made more effective in this study using a sophisticated signal response formulation. The elliptical polarization parameters of the excitation magnetic fields and 2‐D sensitivity kernels (including real and imaginary parts) of three commonly used loop configurations were first calculated. After all the individual complex signals of five simulated measurement series along a profile were incorporated. The 2‐D magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) complex inversion scheme was then used to perform high resolution tomography of synthetic models under the three loop configurations, taking full advantage of the different sensitivity distributions offered by the different loop configurations and the high sensitivity of the imaginary parts of signals to deep structures. Contrast analyses of the tomographic results showed that the complex inversions significantly decreased model ambiguities and increased depth resolution even with artificial noise added. Coincident loop measurements usually gave the best vertical resolution, and separated loops provided better lateral resolution. However, various factors would influence phase data, meaning that the complex inversion of field data is neither very reliable nor very common at present.     

Application of tomographic inversion in studying airglow in the mesopause region

It is pointed out that observations of periodic nightglow structures give excellent information on atmospheric gravity waves in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere. The periods, the horizontal wavelengths and the phase speeds of the waves can be determined from airglow images and, using several cameras, the approximate altitude of the luminous layer can also be determined by triangulation. In this paper the possibility of applying tomographic methods for reconstructing the airglow structures is investigated using numerical simulations. A ground-based chain of cameras is assumed, two-dimensional airglow models in the vertical plane above the chain are constructed, and simulated data are calculated by integrating the models along a great number of rays with different elevation angles for each camera. After addition of random noise, these data are then inverted to obtain reconstructions of the models. A tomographic analysis package originally designed for satellite radiotomography is used in the inversion. The package is based on a formulation of stochastic inversion which allows the input of a priori information to the solver in terms of regularization variances. The reconstruction is carried out in two stages. In the first inversion, constant regularization variances are used within a wide altitude range. The results are used in determining the approximate altitude range of the airglow structures. Then, in the second inversion, constant non-zero regularization variances are used inside this region and zero variances outside it. With this method reliable reconstructions of the models are obtained. The number of cameras as well as their separations are varied in order to find out the limitations of the method.     

On the Performance of Pilot-Point Based Hydraulic Tomography with a Geophysical a Priori Model

We present a novel method to estimate the hydraulic and storage properties of a heterogeneous aquifer system using pilot-point-based hydraulic tomography (HT) inversion in conjunction with a geophysical a priori model. The a priori model involved a soil stratification obtained by combining electrical resistivity tomography inversion and field data from hydrogeological experiments. Pilot-point densities were assigned according to the stratification, which also constrained aquifer parameters during HT inversion. The forward groundwater flow model, HydroGeoSphere, was supplied to the parameter-estimation tool, PEST, to perform HT inversion. The performance of our method was evaluated on a hypothetical, two-dimensional, multi-layered, granitic aquifer system representative of those commonly occurring in the Kandi region in Telangana. Inversion results were compared using two commonly adopted methods of modeling parameter-heterogeneity: (1) using piece-wise zones of property values obtained from geostatistical interpolation of local-scale estimates; and (2) HT inversion starting from a homogeneous parameter field with a uniform distribution of pilot-points. Performances of the inverted models were evaluated by conducting independent pumping tests and statistical analyses (using a Taylor diagram) of the model-to-measurement discrepancies in drawdowns. Our results showed that using the aforementioned geophysical a priori model could improve the parameter-estimation process.     

京津唐地区地壳三维P波速度结构与地震活动性分析

本文利用华北遥测地震台网和首都圈数字地震台网112个台站记录到的1993~2004年发生在首都圈地区3983次地震的P波绝对到时资料和相对到时资料,采用双差地震层析成像方法联合反演了京津唐地区地壳三维P波速度结构和震源参数.京津唐地区的三维P波速度结构图像在浅层上很好地反映了地表地质、地形的特征.在平原和凹陷的盆地处呈现P波低速速度异常,而在隆起的山区或基岩出露区显示为P波高速速度异常.在研究区域内震级M≥6.0历史地震和经过重新定位后的震级M_L≥3.0的地震的震源位置在10 km深度和15 km深度处的P波相对速度扰动图上的投影都显示出相似的特点,即:绝大部分的地震的震源位置在P波相对速度扰动图上的投影分布在低、高速异常的交界地带,且偏高速体一侧,只有极少数的地震分布在P波速度异常体内部.     

初至波相位走时层析

近地表速度结构通常是利用射线走时层析或菲涅尔体走时层析等反演方法得到的,但它们的目标函数仍利用射线走时残差构建,导致反演精度不高.为此,本文提出了基于散射积分算法的初至波相位走时层析成像方法.该方法的核心是:(1)提出了依赖于频率的相位走时概念;(2)利用依赖于频率的相位走时信息,而非单一的无限频率射线走时;(3)发展了一种改进的相位展开方法,即通过监测相位不连续性和2π周期判定来消除相位折叠现象;(4)考虑了地震波传播的有限频特征,即基于波动理论而非传统的射线路径或有限空间的菲涅尔体构建核函数.通过利用Overthrust模型的数值实验及与传统射线走时层析和菲涅尔体走时层析的对比表明:本文提出的方法是一种有效的初至波走时反演方法.同时,基于Overthrust模型的数值试验还证明了下列结论,即通过挖掘更多的走时信息的确可以获得更高的反演精度和分辨率.     

偏离大圆路径传播对四川西部面波相速度成像的影响

面波成像是研究地壳上地幔横波速度结构的一种重要方法．通常,面波相速度或群速度成像假设面波沿大圆路径传播．但是,在地下介质速度结构变化较大时,面波会偏离大圆路径传播,从而导致基于大圆路径假设下的面波成像结果存在一定的误差. 我们采用基于射线追踪的面波成像方法,研究了面波的偏离大圆路径传播对四川西部地区面波相速度成像结果的影响．使用快速行进法(fast marching method)进行面波传播路径的射线追踪,采用子空间反演法(subspace inversion)进行迭代反演,对理论模型合成数据和川西台阵的短周期背景噪声相速度频散数据进行成像分析,并与使用大圆路径传播的成像结果进行对比．对理论模型的测试结果表明,当速度结构变化较大时,基于偏离大圆路径传播的面波成像能够更好地恢复模型异常．对川西台阵的真实数据反演结果显示:在短周期为6 s时,基于偏离大圆路径传播的反演方法较基于大圆路径传播的反演方法所获得的相速度异常的幅度更大些,在四川盆地区域两者的差异接近0.2 km/s;在周期为10 s时,两种反演方法的差异显著减小,基本都在0.1 km/s以内．这主要是因为6 s周期的面波相速度对复杂的上地壳浅层结构更为敏感,从而使得面波的偏离大圆路径传播效应对反演结果的影响更为显著．本文结果表明,当某一周期不同路径的面波相速度测量值变化较大,例如相对于平均相速度的异常超过10％时,则需考虑采用基于偏离大圆路径传播的面波成像方法,否则速度异常较大区域的反演结果可能会造成较大的偏差．      

多震相菲涅耳体射线走时同时反演成像

高频假设下的地震射线理论以及相应的地震成像理论表明,在射线稀疏条件下,不可能得到较高分辨率的构造成像;而有限频射线理论更符合实际地震的传播规律,即地震波的走时不仅与中心射线(传统的几何射线)上的速度分布有关,而且与中心射线附近一定范围(称其为第一菲涅耳体)内的速度异常分布有关.鉴于此,本文提出了计算多震相地震波菲涅耳体有限频射线的方法,并定义了走时敏感核函数,同时给出了利用多震相菲涅耳体有限频射线进行速度模型和反射界面同时反演成像的公式.利用多震相走时资料,使用传统射线层析成像方法与有限频射线层析成像方法进行了速度和界面的同时反演成像.结果表明,当射线密度较小时,无论是对速度模型的重建还是对反射界面几何形状的更新,有限频射线层析成像方法均优于传统射线层析成像方法, 而变频有限频射线层析成像则是实际地震层析成像的首选反演算法.      

Fault plane parameters of Tancheng M8? earthquake on the basis of present-day seismological data

The great Tancheng earthquake of M8? occurred in 1668 was the largest seismic event ever recorded in history in eastern China. This study determines the fault geometry of this earthquake by inverting seismological data of present-day moderate-small earthquakes in the focal area. We relocated those earthquakes with the double-difference method and found focal mechanism solutions using gird test method. The inversion results are as follows: the strike is 21.6°, the dip angle is 89.5°, the slip angle is 170°, the fault length is about 160 km, the lower-boundary depth is about 32 km and the buried depth of upper boundary is about 4 km. This shows that the seismic fault is a NNE-trending upright right-lateral strike-slip fault and has cut through the crust. Moreover, the surface seismic fault, intensity distribution of the earthquake, earthquake-depth distribution and seismic-wave velocity profile in the focal area all verified our study result.

     

Addressing non-uniqueness in linearized multichannel surface wave inversion

The multichannel analysis of the surface waves method is based on the inversion of observed Rayleigh-wave phase-velocity dispersion curves to estimate the shear-wave velocity profile of the site under investigation. This inverse problem is nonlinear and it is often solved using 'local' or linearized inversion strategies. Among linearized inversion algorithms, least-squares methods are widely used in research and prevailing in commercial software; the main drawback of this class of methods is their limited capability to explore the model parameter space. The possibility for the estimated solution to be trapped in local minima of the objective function strongly depends on the degree of nonuniqueness of the problem, which can be reduced by an adequate model parameterization and/or imposing constraints on the solution.
In this article, a linearized algorithm based on inequality constraints is introduced for the inversion of observed dispersion curves; this provides a flexible way to insert a priori information as well as physical constraints into the inversion process. As linearized inversion methods are strongly dependent on the choice of the initial model and on the accuracy of partial derivative calculations, these factors are carefully reviewed. Attention is also focused on the appraisal of the inverted solution, using resolution analysis and uncertainty estimation together with a posteriori effective-velocity modelling. Efficiency and stability of the proposed approach are demonstrated using both synthetic and real data; in the latter case, cross-hole S-wave velocity measurements are blind-compared with the results of the inversion process.     

A sample of controlled experiments in diff radion tomography1

Various applications of a new geophysical reconstruction method, generalized acoustical diffraction tomography (GADT), which is based on transmission data as input are considered. Conventional diffraction tomography methods normally require linearization with respect to a uniform reference medium and regular sampling along a straight line. Thus, these methods will not work well when the background is strongly non-uniform and/or the acquisition geometry is arbitrary. However, GADT can, in principle, handle both irregularly spaced data, curved acquisition lines, and non-uniform background models. A number of controlled model tank and field experiments, where the model and the test object(s) are known a priori, have been carried out. After acquiring the tomographic data in each experiment, these are used to compute a reconstruction of the model, which can then be compared with the actual, known model. The method's ability to yield high-quality images of the different targets is demonstrated.     

潜水波层析成像速度建模技术在鄂尔多斯黄土塬区的应用研究

针对鄂尔多斯盆地西缘黄土塬区复杂地表和复杂地下构造导致难以准确成像问题,采用浅层潜水波层析反演（DWT）速度建模技术,同时辅以中深层反射波层析成像技术,形成一套实用叠前深度偏移速度建模方法。首先生成一个基于钻井和解释信息的起始近地表速度,其次利用潜水波层析反演建立初始近地表模型,将其与常规处理获得的中深层速度模型进行匹配拼接,建立起初始的起伏地表全速度模型,然后在此基础上利用基于反射波的网格层析进行中深层速度建模,经过多轮次迭代,最终获得可靠的高精度速度模型。鄂尔多斯盆地西缘MJT工区地震资料的成像处理验证了这一套速度建模技术的有效性,地下构造成像更合理也更精确。      

Merging active and passive data sets in traveltime tomography: The case study of Campi Flegrei caldera (Southern Italy)

We propose a strategy for merging both active and passive data sets in linearized tomographic inversion. We illustrate this in the reconstruction of 3D images of a complex volcanic structure, the Campi Flegrei caldera, located in the vicinity of the city of Naples, southern Italy. The caldera is occasionally the site of significant unrests characterized by large ground uplifts and seismicity. The P and S velocity models of the caldera structure are obtained by a tomographic inversion based on travel times recorded during two distinct experiments. The first data set is composed of 606 earthquakes recorded in 1984 and the second set is composed of recordings for 1528 shots produced during the SERAPIS experiment in 2001. The tomographic inversion is performed using an improved method based on an accurate finite‐difference traveltime computation and a simultaneous inversion of both velocity models and earthquake locations. In order to determine the adequate inversion parameters and relative data weighting factors, we perform massive synthetic simulations allowing one to merge the two types of data optimally. The proper merging provides high resolution velocity models, which allow one to reliably retrieve velocity anomalies over a large part of the tomography area. The obtained images confirm the presence of a high P velocity ring in the southern part of the bay of Pozzuoli and extends its trace inland as compared to previous results. This annular anomaly represents the buried trace of the rim of the Campi Flegrei caldera. Its shape at 1.5 km depth is in good agreement with the location of hydrothermalized lava inferred by gravimetric data modelling. The Vp/Vs model confirms the presence of two characteristic features. At about 1 km depth a very high Vp/Vs anomaly is observed below the town of Pozzuoli and is interpreted as due to the presence of rocks that contain fluids in the liquid phase. A low Vp/Vs body extending at about 3–4 km depth below a large part of the caldera is interpreted as the top of formations that are enriched in gas under supercritical conditions.     

非线性层析反演速度建模技术

深度速度模型的构建仍然是地震成像中的巨大挑战,获得一个精确的深度速度模型和减少深度成像项目周期都是至关重要的。常规层析反演速度建模每次迭代相当于一次线性反演,且需要重新的拾取工作,导致非常耗时,效率低下。本文提出非线性层析反演速度建模技术来建立速度模型。拾取共成像点道集的RMO量,转换到叠前域,作为运动学不变量,通过层析反演迭代进行模型更新。用一个多次的线性反演来逼近一个非线性的物理过程,避免重复的拾取工作,大大提高项目的运转效率。通过实例证明该方法的有效性。      

Temporal sampling and role of flux measurements for subsurface heterogeneous characterization in groundwater basins using hydraulic tomography

Accurate characterization of heterogeneity in groundwater basins is crucial to the sustainable management of groundwater resources. This study explores the temporal sampling issues and the role of flux measurements in the characterization of heterogeneity in groundwater basins using numerical experiments. The experiments involve a digital basin imitating the groundwater basin of the North China Plain (NCP), where the groundwater exploitation reduction program is ongoing. Using the experiments, we champion that the reduction program could collect groundwater level information induced by operational variations of existing pumping wells at different locations in the basin. Such a dataset could serve as a basin-scale hydraulic tomography (HT) to characterize the basin-scale heterogeneity cost-effectively. Both steady-state and transient-state inversion experiments demonstrate the advantage of HT surveys in characterizing basin-scale heterogeneity over conventional pumping tests at fixed well locations. Additionally, head data at the early, intermediate, and late time from well hydrographs should be selected for the HT analysis to maximize HT's power and save computational costs. When accurate geological zones are incorporated in prior information, flux measurements significantly improve parameter estimates based on conventional pumping tests. However, their effects are less noticeable for long-term HT surveys in such basin-scale aquifers without fissures or fractures. This basin-scale tomographic survey example serves a guide for field data collection and optimization of the analysis of future basin-scale HT.     

Three—dimensional P velocity structure in Beijing area

A detail three-dimensional P wave velocity structure of Beijing,Tianjin and Tangshan area(BTT area)was deter-mined by inverting local earthquake data.In total 16 048 Pwave first arrival times from 16048 shallow and mid-depth crustal earthquakes,which occurred in and around the BTT area from 1992to 1999were used.The first arrival times are recorded by Northern China Unived Telemetry Seismic Network and Yanqing-Huailai Digital Seismic Network.Hypocentral parameters of 1 132 earthquakes with magnitude ML=1.7-6.2 and the three-dimensional P wave velocity structure were obtained simultaneously.The inversion result reveals the com-plicated lateral heterogeneity of P wave velocity structure around BTT area.The tomographic images obtained are also found to explain other seismological observations well.