Changes in the Diffuse CO2 Emission and Relation to Seismic Activity in and around El Hierro, Canary Islands

Significant changes in the diffuse emission of carbon dioxide were recorded in a geochemical station located at El Hierro, Canary Islands, before the occurrence of several seismic events during 2004. Two precursory CO₂ efflux increases started thirteen and nine days before two seismic events of magnitude 2.3 and 1.7, which took place near El Hierro Island, Canary Islands, on March 23 and April 15, reaching a maximun value of 51.1 and 46.2 g m⁻² d⁻¹, respectively, five and eight days before the two seismic events. Other similar increases started thirteen and five days before the occurrence of two seismic events of magnitude 1.3 and 1.5 which took place on October 15 and 21 respectively, reaching the maximum values four and one day before the earthquakes. These changes were not related to variations in atmospheric or soil parameters. The Material Failure Forecast Method (FFM), which analyzes the rate of precursory phenomena, was successfully applied to forecast the first seismic event that took place in El Hierro Island in 2004.     

Microseismic field affected by local geological heterogeneities and microseismic sounding of the medium

Experiments and numerical model studies have shown that heterogeneities of the Earth’s crust distort the spectrum of the low frequency microseismic field, decreasing spectral amplitudes of a specific frequency f at the Earth’s surface over high velocity heterogeneities and increasing them above low velocity heterogeneities. The frequency f is connected with the depth of a heterogeneity H and the velocity of the fundamental mode of Rayleigh waves V _R (f) through the relation H = 0.5 V _R (f)/f. The low frequency microseismic field is considered as the superposition of trains of Rayleigh fundamental modes with different frequency spectra. The paper proposes an experimentally tested technology enabling the determination of the deep structure of complex geological objects using data on the microseismic background field.     

Coda Q Estimates in the Andaman Islands Using Local Earthquakes

The attenuation property of Andaman Island has been investigated analyzing coda waves from 57 local earthquakes in the magnitude range of 2.0–4.9, using the single backscattering model. These earthquakes waveforms, recorded on five broadband seismographs sited over the island from north to south during Nov. 2003 to March 2004, have been used to calculate the frequency dependent Coda Q (Q _c ) applying the time domain coda-decay method. The Coda Q, computed at central frequencies from (0.5–12) Hz and five-lapse time windows from 40 to 80 s, progressively increases from 105 f ^0.88 in the north Andaman to 135 f ^0.79 in the south Andaman with an average of 119 f ^0.80. The average Q _c values vary from 75 ± 42 at 0.5 Hz to 697 ± 54 at 12 Hz central frequency for 40 s lapse time window, while for 80 s lapse time window its variation is from 117 ± 38 at 0.5 Hz to 1256 ± 115 at 12 Hz. The Q _c estimated at different lapse times manifests a significant variation from 122f ^0.75 to 174f ^0.73, corresponding to lapse time window lengths of 40 and 80 s, respectively. The variation of Q _c with frequency, lapse time and also with the location of seismograph reflects the marked structural and compositional inhomogeneity with depth along the Andaman Islands. These observations are well correlated with the seismicity pattern and distinct high angle subduction beneath the island.     

On the Causes of Frequency-Dependent Apparent Seismological Q

Variability of the Earth’s structure makes a first-order impact on attenuation measurements which often does not receive adequate attention. Geometrical spreading (GS) can be used as a simple measure of the effects of such structure. The traditional simplified GS compensation is insufficiently accurate for attenuation measurements, and the residual GS appears as biases in both Q ₀ and η parameters in the frequency-dependent attenuation law Q(f) = Q ₀ f ^η . A new interpretation approach bypassing Q(f) and using the attenuation coefficient χ(f) = γ + πf/Q _e(f) resolves this problem by directly measuring the residual GS, denoted γ, and effective attenuation, Q _e. The approach is illustrated by re-interpreting several published datasets, including nuclear-explosion and local-earthquake codas, Pn, and synthetic 50–300-s surface waves. Some of these examples were key to establishing the Q(f) concept. In all examples considered, χ(f) shows a linear dependence on the frequency, γ ≠ 0, and Q _e can be considered frequency-independent. Short-period crustal body waves are characterized by positive γ _SP values of (0.6–2.0) × 10^?2 s^?1 interpreted as related to the downward upper-crustal reflectivity. Long-period surface waves show negative γ _LP ≈ ?1.9 × 10^?5 s^?1, which could be caused by insufficient modeling accuracy at long periods. The above γ values also provide a simple explanation for the absorption band observed within the Earth. The band is interpreted as apparent and formed by levels of Q _e ≈ 1,100 within the crust decreasing to Q _e ≈ 120 within the uppermost mantle, with frequencies of its flanks corresponding to γ _LP and γ _SP. Therefore, the observed absorption band could be purely geometrical in nature, and relaxation or scattering models may not be necessary for explaining the observed apparent Q(f). Linearity of the attenuation coefficient suggests that at all periods, the attenuation of both Rayleigh and Love waves should be principally accumulated at the sub-crustal depths (~38–100 km).     

Results of Analysis of the Data of Microseismic Survey at Lanzarote Island,Canary, Spain

From the data of a microseismic survey of the Lanzarote Island territory (Canary Archipelago) we obtained a microseisms amplitude distribution in the frequency range 0.3–12.5 Hz. We found a distinguished anomaly such as an amplitude depression, whose size and magnitude depend on the frequency. After studying the statistical and polarization properties of microseism signals we proposed a model explaining this depression, based on the presence of a rigid intrusive body in the center of the island. Results of our survey coincided well with independent detailed gravity survey results whose interpretation also implies the presence of intrusion. We estimated shear-wave velocity for the rocks of intrusion and for surrounding rocks using microseismic data.     

The study of the radiation characteristics and propagation of seismic waves in the North Caucasus by modeling the accelerograms of the recorded earthquakes

For evaluating the parameters of the vibrations of the Earth’s surface in the case of strong earthquakes, which are possible in the future, the regular patterns of the emission and propagation of seismic waves in the North Caucasus regions are investigated. The regional parameters of emission and propagation of seismic waves are evaluated by solution of the inverse problems of stochastic modeling of the accelerograms of the earthquakes, recorded by the seismic station in Sochi. The horizontal components of the strongest earthquakes (M _w ～ 3.9?5.6), that occurred in 2002–2006 within a radius of ～300 km from the seismic station, with source depths up to 60 km are modeled. For calculations of accelerograms, estimates of the quality are used, obtained earlier for this region in the form: Q(f) ～ 80 ～ f ^0.9. The parameter settings are carried out, which determine the shapes of the source spectra, the amplification of the seismic waves in the Earth’s crust, the weakening of the waves at high frequencies (κ), the parameters that determine the shape and duration of accelerograms, etc. Sufficiently good agreement of the calculated and recorded accelerograms is obtained, the regional characteristics of emission and propagation of seismic waves, which can be used for prediction of the parameters of strong motions in the North Caucasus, are evaluated; however, in the future these characteristics should be studied in more detail.     

f max and fault zone property of Lushan earthquake of 20 April 2013, Sichuan,China

In this study, we determined f _max from near-field accelerograms of the Lushan earthquake of April 20, 2013 through spectra analysis. The result shows that the values of f _max derived from five different seismography stations are very close though these stations roughly span about 100 km along the strike. This implies that the cause of f _max is mainly the seismic source process rather than the site effect. Moreover, according to the source–cause model of Papageorgiou and Aki (Bull Seism Soc Am 73:693–722, 1983), we infer that the cohesive zone width of the rupture of the Lushan earthquake is about 204 with an uncertainty of 13 m. We also find that there is a significant bulge between 30 and 45 Hz in the amplitude spectra of accelerograms of stations 51YAL and 51QLY, and we confirm that it is due to seismic waves’ reverberation of the sedimentary soil layer beneath these stations.     

From 3-Hz P Waves to 0 S 2: No Evidence of A Slow Component to the Source of the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake

In the hours following the 2011 Honshu event, and as part of tsunami warning procedures at the Laboratoire de Géophysique in Papeete, Tahiti, the seismic source of the event was analyzed using a number of real-time procedures. The ultra-long period mantle magnitude algorithm suggests a static moment of 4.1 × 10²⁹ dyn cm, not significantly different from the National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC) value obtained by W-phase inversion. The slowness parameter, $\Uptheta = -5.65, $ is slightly deficient, but characteristic of other large subduction events such as Nias (2005) or Peru (2001); it remains significantly larger than for slow earthquakes such as Sumatra (2004) or Mentawai (2010). Similarly, the duration of high-frequency (2–4 Hz) P waves in relation to seismic moment or estimated energy, fails to document any slowness in the seismic source. These results were confirmed in the ensuing weeks by the analysis of the lowest-frequency spheroidal modes of the Earth. A dataset of 117 fits for eight modes (including the gravest one, ₀ S ₂, and the breathing mode, ₀ S ₀) yields a remarkably flat spectrum, with an average moment of 3.5 × 10²⁹ dyn cm (*/1.07). This behavior of the Tohoku earthquake explains the generally successful real-time modeling of its teleseismic tsunami, based on available seismic source scaling laws. On the other hand, it confirms the dichotomy, among mega-quakes (M ₀ > 10²⁹ dyn cm) between regular events (Nias, 2005; Chile, 2010; Sendai, 2011) and slow ones (Chile, 1960; Alaska, 1964; Sumatra, 2004; and probably Rat Island, 1965), whose origin remains unexplained.     

Features of Radiation and Propagation of Seismic Waves in the Northern Caucasus: Manifestations in Regional Coda

Based on the Anapa (ANN) seismic station records of ~40 earthquakes (M_W > 3.9) that occurred within ~300 km of the station since 2002 up to the present time, the source parameters and quality factor of the Earth’s crust (Q(f)) and upper mantle are estimated for the S-waves in the 1–8 Hz frequency band. The regional coda analysis techniques which allow separating the effects associated with seismic source (source effects) and with the propagation path of seismic waves (path effects) are employed. The Q-factor estimates are obtained in the form Q(f) = 90 × f 0.7 for the epicentral distances r < 120 km and in the form Q(f) = 90 × f1.0 for r > 120 km. The established Q(f) and source parameters are close to the estimates for Central Japan, which is probably due to the similar tectonic structure of the regions. The shapes of the source parameters are found to be independent of the magnitude of the earthquakes in the magnitude range 3.9–5.6; however, the radiation of the high-frequency components (f > 4–5 Hz) is enhanced with the depth of the source (down to h ~ 60 km). The estimates Q(f) of the quality factor determined from the records by the Sochi, Anapa, and Kislovodsk seismic stations allowed a more accurate determination of the seismic moments and magnitudes of the Caucasian earthquakes. The studies will be continued for obtaining the Q(f) estimates, geometrical spreading functions, and frequency-dependent amplification of seismic waves in the Earth’s crust in the other regions of the Northern Caucasus.     

山东长岛地区地震波非弹性衰减Q值、场地响应及震源参数研究

利用山东台网记录的长岛震群2017年2月14日—9月1日期间的波形与震相资料研究长岛地区非弹性衰减系数,得到该地区介质平均Q值与频率f的关系式为Q(f)=363.9f1.374 1。采用Moya等[1]提出的利用遗传算法联合反演得到长岛周边台站的场地响应,根据Brune模型震源参数计算公式求解长岛震群序列地震震源参数。结果显示,各个震源参数之间均存在一定的相关关系,地震矩随ML震级的增大而增加,地震矩与破裂半径R之间存在半对数关系,拐角频率fc随地震矩的增大而减少;长岛地震序列的应力降数值普遍偏小,最大不超过0.9MPa,这意味着长岛震源区整体构造应力较低,也可能指示长岛震群为低摩擦应力的断层作用;震源参数随时间的变化方面,整体而言,长岛震群地震应力降变化起伏很大,在M4.1地震发生前,拐角频率与应力降均发生快速下降后随即翻转上升的现象,证明在M4.1地震发生前震源区整体应力的挤压逐渐增强。     

Verifying the body tide at the Canary Islands using tidal gravimetry observations

Gravity tide records from El Hierro, Tenerife and Lanzarote Islands (Canarian Archipelago) have been analyzed and compared to the theoretical body tide model (DDW) of Dehant el al. (1999). The use of more stringent criterion of tidal analysis using VAV program allowed us to reduce the error bars by a factor of two of the gravimetric factors at Tenerife and Lanzarote compared with previous published values. Also, the calibration values have been revisited at those sites. Precise ocean tide loading (OTL) corrections based on up-to-date global ocean models and improved regional ocean model have been obtained for the main tidal harmonics O₁, K₁, M₂, S₂. We also point out the importance of using the most accurate coastline definition for OTL calculations in the Canaries. The remaining observational errors depend on the accuracy of the calibration of the gravimeters and/or on the length of the observed data series. Finally, the comparison of the tidal observations with the theoretical body tide models has been done with an accuracy level of 0.1% at El Hierro, 0.4% at Tenerife and 0.5% at Lanzarote.     

The design of visco‐acoustic weighted L1‐error frequency–space wavefield extrapolators

Seismic imaging is an important step for imaging the subsurface structures of the Earth. One of the attractive domains for seismic imaging is explicit frequency–space (f – x) prestack depth migration. So far, this domain focused on migrating seismic data in acoustic media, but very little work assumed visco‐acoustic media. In reality, seismic exploration data amplitudes suffer from attenuation. To tackle the problem of attenuation, new operators are required, which compensates for it. We propose the weighted L ₁ ‐error minimisation technique to design visco‐acoustic f – x wavefield extrapolators. The L ₁ ‐error wavenumber responses provide superior extrapolator designs as compared with the previously designed equiripple L ₄ ‐norm and L_∞‐norm extrapolation wavenumber responses. To verify the new compensating designs, prestack depth migration is performed on the challenging Marmousi model dataset. A reference migrated section is obtained using non‐compensating f – x extrapolators on an acoustic dataset. Then, both compensating and non‐compensating extrapolators are applied to a visco‐acoustic dataset, and both migrated sections are then compared. The final images show that the proposed weighted L ₁ ‐error method enhances the resolution and results in practically stable images.     

On the Limitation of the H/V Spectral Ratio Using Seismic Noise as an Exploration Tool: Application to the Grenoble Valley (France), a Small Apex Ratio Basin

The H/V spectral ratio method based on seismic noise (HVSRN) was used in the Grenoble Basin (France), an Alpine valley characterized by a small apex ratio. The resonance frequencies obtained in the experiments were compared to the thickness of the sediments deduced from a microgravimetric survey and to the 1-D theoretical assessment of site responses. Given the abundance of data on the sediments and depth of the basin, the values of the theoretical resonance frequency f_o can be determined quite accurately. However, it has been observed that the effects of basin geometry can disturb f_o measurements using the HVSR method, in particular for a case like the Grenoble Basin, which has a small apex ratio (w/H) and strong suspected 2-D and/or 3-D effects. Interpretation of f_o values in terms of bedrock depth gives rise to estimation errors of about 10% in certain cases, with the most significant errors (>50%) occurring on the edges of the basin, where subsurface layers are characterised by larger heterogeneities and where the basin topography is accentuated. This study suggests that great care must be taken when using the HVSRN method as an exploration tool, at least in valleys with a small apex ratio.     

Anomalous Diffuse CO2 Emissions at the Masaya Volcano (Nicaragua) Related to Seismic-Volcanic Unrest

Anomalous changes in the diffuse emission of carbon dioxide within the Masaya caldera have been observed before two seismic events that occurred at 10 and 30 km from the observation site. Their epicenters are located, respectively, south of Managua in Las Colinas (4.3 magnitude) and the Xiloa caldera (3.6 magnitude), in 2002 and 2003, recorded by the geochemical station located at El Comalito, Masaya volcano (Nicaragua). Anomalous increases were observed, which occurred around 50 and 8 days before the main seismic event that took place in Las Colinas, and 4 days before the seismic swarm at the Xiloa caldera, with a maximum CO₂ efflux of 9.3 and 10.7 kg m^?2 day^?1, respectively. The anomalous CO₂ efflux increases remained after filtering with multiple regression analysis was applied to the CO₂ efflux time series, which indicated that atmospheric variables, during the first 4 months, explained 23 % CO₂ variability, whereas, during the rest of the time series, CO₂ efflux values are poorly controlled with only 6 %. The observed anomalies of the diffuse CO₂ emission rate might be related to pressure changes within the volcanic–hydrothermal system and/or to geostructural changes in the crust due to stress/strain changes caused before and during the earthquakes’ formation, and seem not to be related to the activity of the main crater of Masaya volcano.     

Forecasting the duration of volcanic eruptions: an empirical probabilistic model

Various xenoliths have been found in lavas of the 1763 (“La Montagnola”), 2001, and 2002–03 eruptions at Mt. Etna whose petrographic evidence and mineral chemistry exclude a mantle origin and clearly point to a cognate nature. Consequently, cognate xenoliths might represent a proxy to infer the nature of the high-velocity body (HVB) imaged beneath the volcano by seismic tomography. Petrography allows us to group the cognate xenoliths as follows: i) gabbros with amphibole and amphibole-bearing mela-gabbros, ii) olivine-bearing leuco-gabbros, iii) leuco-gabbros with amphibole, and iv) Plg-rich leuco gabbros. Geobarometry estimates the crystallization pressure of the cognate xenoliths between 1.9 and 4.1 kbar. The bulk density of the cognate xenoliths varies from 2.6 to 3.0 g/cm³. P wave velocities (V _P ), calculated in relation to xenolith density, range from 4.9 to 6.1 km/s. The integration of mineralogical, compositional, geobarometric data, and density-dependent V _P with recent literature data on 3D V _P seismic tomography enabled us to formulate the first hypothesis about the nature of the HVB which, in the depth range of 3–13 km b.s.l., is likely made of intrusive gabbroic rocks. These are believed to have formed at the “solidification front”, a marginal zone that encompasses a deep region (>5 km b.s.l.) of Mt. Etna’s plumbing system, within which magma crystallization takes place. The intrusive rocks were afterwards fragmented and transported as cognate xenoliths by the volatile-rich and fast-ascending magmas of the 1763 “La Montagnola”, 2001 and 2002–03 eruptions.     

Explosive felsic volcanism on El Hierro (Canary Islands)

The Canary Islands consist of seven basaltic shield volcanoes whose submerged portion is much more voluminous than the subaerial part of each island. Like so many other volcanic oceanic islands, the indicative deposits of explosive felsic volcanism are not a common feature on the Canary archipelago. Hitherto, they have only been documented from the central islands of Gran Canaria and Tenerife, which are the largest volcanic complexes of the islands. On the other Canary Islands, the presence of felsic rocks is mostly restricted to intrusions and a few lava flows, generally within the succession in the oldest parts of individual islands. In this paper, we present a detailed stratigraphic, lithological and sedimentological study of a significant felsic pumice deposit on the island of El Hierro, referred here as the Malpaso Member, which represents the only explosive episode of felsic volcanism found on the Canary Islands (outside of Gran Canaria and Tenerife). The products of the eruption indicate a single eruptive event and cover an area of about 15 km². This work provides a detailed stratigraphic and chronological framework for El Hierro, and four subunits are identified within the member on the basis of lithological and granulometric characteristics. The results of this study demonstrate the importance of an explosive eruption in a setting where the activity is typified by effusive basaltic events. Given the style and the spatial distribution of the Malpaso eruption and its products, a future event with similar characteristics could have a serious impact on the population, infrastructure and economy of the island of El Hierro.     

Coda Q c Attenuation and Source Parameter Analysis in Friuli (NE Italy) and its Vicinity

—?The digital data acquired by 16 short-period seismic stations of the Friuli-Venezia-Giulia seismic network for 56 earthquakes of magnitude 2.3–4.7 which occurred in and near NE Italy have been used to estimate the coda attenuation Q _c and seismic source parameters. The entire area under study has been divided into five smaller regions, following a criterion of homogeneity in the geological characteristics and the constrains imposed by the distribution of available events. Standard IASPEI routines for coda Q _c determination have been used for the analysis of attenuation in the different regions showing a marked anomaly in the values measured across the NE border between Friuli and Austria for Q ₀ value. A large variation exists in the coda attenuation Q _c for different regions, indicating the presence of great heterogeneities in the crust and upper mantle of the region. The mean value of Q _c (f) increases from 154–203 at 1.5?Hz to 1947–2907 at 48?Hz frequency band with large standard deviation estimates.¶Using the same earthquake data, the seismic-moment, M ₀, source radius, r and stress-drop, Δσ for 54 earthquakes have been estimated from P- and S-wave spectra using the Brune's seismic source model. The earthquakes with higher stress-drop (greater than 1?Kbar) occur at depths ranging from 8 to 14?km.     

The 2014–2015 earthquake series in the northern Upper Rhine Graben,Central Europe

Since March 2014, an unusually large amount of earthquakes occur southeast of the city of Darmstadt in the northern Upper Rhine Graben. During the period, until April 2015, we have recorded 356 earthquakes with magnitudes ranging from M_L?=??0.6 to 4.2. We identified two source clusters separated laterally by about 5 km. The hypocentres within these clusters are aligned vertically extending over a depth range from 1 to 8 km with a lateral extent of about 1 to 2 km. Focal mechanisms show left-lateral strike-slip movements; b values are changing with time between b?=?0.6 and b?=?0.9. This is the first time in almost 150 years that such high earthquake rates have been observed in the region. Historical accounts dating back to the nineteenth century report of over 2000 felt earthquakes over a time span from 1869 to 1871. From these, maximum intensities of VII have been estimated. Other seismic activities in the region were reported in the 1970s. The observations of the 2014–2015 earthquake series do not completely match a typical main shock–aftershock sequence or a typical earthquake swarm. Especially the activity at the beginning of the earthquake series may be considered as a mixture of a main shock–aftershock sequence and a short-lasting swarm event. Whether or not the time gap between the current seismic activity, which actually takes place at the same locations as parts of the seismic swarm in 1869–1871, and the seismic activity in the nineteenth century or the seismic activity in the 1970s can be interpreted as a seismic cycle remains unclear.     

Shear wave velocity models retrieved using Rg wave dispersion data in shallow crust in some regions of southern Ontario, Canada

Many crucial tasks in seismology, such as locating seismic events and estimating focal mechanisms, need crustal velocity models. The velocity models of shallow structures are particularly important in the simulation of ground motions. In southern Ontario, Canada, many small shallow earthquakes occur, generating high-frequency Rayleigh (Rg) waves that are sensitive to shallow structures. In this research, the dispersion of Rg waves was used to obtain shear-wave velocities in the top few kilometers of the crust in the Georgian Bay, Sudbury, and Thunder Bay areas of southern Ontario. Several shallow velocity models were obtained based on the dispersion of recorded Rg waves. The Rg waves generated by an m _N 3.0 natural earthquake on the northern shore of Georgian Bay were used to obtain velocity models for the area of an earthquake swarm in 2007. The Rg waves generated by a mining induced event in the Sudbury area in 2005 were used to retrieve velocity models between Georgian Bay and the Ottawa River. The Rg waves generated by the largest event in a natural earthquake swarm near Thunder Bay in 2008 were used to obtain a velocity model in that swarm area. The basic feature of all the investigated models is that there is a top low-velocity layer with a thickness of about 0.5 km. The seismic velocities changed mainly within the top 2 km, where small earthquakes often occur.     

Seismic behavior and zoning of the sabkha soils in Jubail industrial city,Saudi Arabia

This study aimed at the micro-level seismic behavior and zoning of the saline sabkha strata in Jubail industrial area in Eastern Saudi Arabia. It encompasses the evaluation of the site-specific seismic response parameters and the liquefaction potential for various possible subsurface conditions under the probable seismic event(s). The approach to achieve the objectives of this study included the following: analysis of geologic, hydrologic, and geotechnical data of the area; performance of field and laboratory dynamic testing; and dynamic modeling and analysis of the subsurface profiles. The results of the simulation have been used to develop liquefaction potential maps and site-specific spectra of the study area, consisting of ten seismic zones under a range of probable peak horizontal ground acceleration (PHA). Results do not show significant probability of liquefaction of the loose soil layers in the study area at the maximum possible design PHA of 0.035 g; however, liquefaction is anticipated at higher PHA values. Site-specific spectral response resulted in values of S _s and S ₁ spectral accelerations to be different as compared to those suggested by local standards. The resulting seismic micro-zonation maps and the corresponding parameters are very useful for the stability analysis of the existing and planned structures in the Jubail area.