A direct method of calculating interval velocities and layer thicknesses from wide-angle seismic reflection times

Wide-angle reflections are now routinely recorded in high resolution explosion seismics to study the crustal structure. Use of Dix's hyperbolic approximation to the nonhyperbolic wide-angle reflection travel times causes major errors in the determination of interval velocities and layer thicknesses of a stack of horizontal velocity layers. Here we propose a layer stripping method to directly calculate the interval velocities and layer thicknesses in a vertically heterogeneous earth from the strong and reliable wide-angle reflected events. Synthetic reflection travel times, at wide-angle range, for a given velocity model, contaminated by some random errors, have been used to demonstrate the reliability of the algorithms to determine the interval velocities and thicknesses of various layers. The method has also been tested on two field examples along two deep seismic sounding (DSS) profiles with well identified wide-angle reflection travel times, which illustrates the practical feasibility of the proposed method.     

Interpretation of first arrival travel times in seismic refraction work

The necessary condition for the seismic refraction method to succeed is that the refracted first arrivals from each layer in a multilayered earth system should be detected on a seismogram as first arrivals, and this is possible only when velocities of all underlying layers are successively greater. The usual procedure to interpret the refraction travel times is to fit such a data set with several intersecting straight lines by employing a visual technique which may lead to errors of subjective judgment, as the velocity model depends on the selection of various line segments through the data. To remove the visual fit we propose here a layer stripping method based on minimum intercept time, apparent velocity, rms residual, and maximum data points by least-squares fitting to yield several intersecting straight lines. Once data are segmented out, the conventional equations can be used to determine the velocity structure.     

Constraining the anisotropy structure of the crust by joint inversion of seismic reflection travel times and wave polarizations

In the context of wide-angle seismic profiling, the determination of the physical properties of the Earth crust, such as the elastic layer depth and seismic velocity, is often performed by inversion of P- and/or S-phases propagation data supplying the geometry of the medium (reflector depths) or any other structural parameter (P- or S-wave velocity, density...). Moreover, the inversion for velocity structure and interfaces is commonly performed using only seismic reflection travel times and/or crustal phase amplitudes in isotropic media. But it is very important to utilize more available information to constrain the non-uniqueness of the solution. In this paper, we present a simultaneous inversion method of seismic reflection travel times and polarizations data of transient elastic waves in stratified media to reconstruct not only layer depth and vertical P-wave velocity but also the anisotropy feature of the crust based on the estimation of the Thomsen’s parameters. We carry out a checking with synthetic data, comparing the inversion results obtained by anisotropic travel-time inversion to the results derived by joint inversion of seismic reflection travel times and polarizations data. The comparison proves that the first procedure leads to biased anisotropic models, while the second one fits nearly the real model. This makes the joint inversion method feasible. Finally, we investigate the geometry, P-wave velocity structure and anisotropy of the crust beneath Southeastern China by applying the proposed inversion method to previously acquired wide-angle seismic data. In this case, the anisotropy signature provides clear evidence that the Jiangshan-Shaoxing fault is the natural boundary between the Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks.     

大同地震台远震波形走时残差的计算和应用

选取大同地震台记录的2010-2019年531个Ms≥5.0地震事件,根据发震区域的不同对其波形走时残差进行分析,得到不同发震区域地震波形的平均走时残差.结果 表明,日本、喜马拉雅地区地震波形的走时残差总体为负值,平均残差分别为-1.51 s、-0.70 s;斐济、中国台湾地区、南美洲西海岸地区大多为正值,平均残差为0...     

基于交叉梯度交替结构约束的二维地震走时与全通道直流电阻率联合反演

在利用不同的地球物理勘探方法对地下复杂介质成像时,因观测系统的非完备性及数据本身对某些岩石物性的不敏感性,单独成像的结果存在较大的不确定性和不一致性.对于地震体波走时成像与直流电阻率成像,均面临着成像阴影区问题.对于地震走时成像,地震射线对低速区域覆盖较差形成阴影区,造成低速区域分辨率降低.对于电阻率成像,电场线在高阻区域分布较少,造成高阻区域分辨率较低.为了提高地下介质成像的精度,Gallado和Meju（2003）提出了基于交叉梯度结构约束的联合地球物理成像方法.在要求不同的物性模型拟合各自对应的数据同时,模型之间的结构要求一致,即交叉梯度趋于零.为了更有效地实现基于交叉梯度的结构约束,我们提出了一种新的交替结构约束的联合反演流程,即交替反演不同的数据而且在反演一种数据时要求对应的模型与另一个模型结构一致.新的算法能够更容易地把单独的反演系统耦合在一起,而且也更容易建立结构约束和数据拟合之间的平衡.基于新的联合反演流程,我们测试了基于交叉梯度结构约束的二维跨孔地震走时和直流电阻率联合成像.合成数据测试表明,我们提出的交替结构约束流程能够很好地实现基于交叉梯度结构约束的联合成像.与单独成像结果相比,地震走时和全通道电阻率联合成像更可靠地确定了速度和电阻率异常.     

Watershed structural influences on the distributions of stream network water and solute travel times under baseflow conditions

Watershed structure influences the timing, magnitude, and spatial location of water and solute entry to stream networks. In turn, stream reach transport velocities and stream network geometry (travel distances) further influence the timing of export from watersheds. Here, we examine how watershed and stream network organization can affect travel times of water from delivery to the stream network to arrival at the watershed outlet. We analysed watershed structure and network geometry and quantified the relationship between stream discharge and solute velocity across six study watersheds (11.4 to 62.8 km²) located in the Sawtooth Mountains of central Idaho, USA. Based on these analyses, we developed stream network travel time functions for each watershed. We found that watershed structure, stream network geometry, and the variable magnitude of inputs across the network can have a pronounced affect on water travel distances and velocities within a stream network. Accordingly, a sample taken at the watershed outlet is composed of water and solutes sourced from across the watershed that experienced a range of travel times in the stream network. We suggest that understanding and quantifying stream network travel time distributions are valuable for deconvolving signals observed at watershed outlets into their spatial and temporal sources, and separating terrestrial and in‐channel hydrological, biogeochemical, and ecological influences on in‐stream observations. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Estimation of changes in water column velocities and thicknesses from time lapse seismic data

Sea‐bed diffractions are frequently observed for several of the fields in the Norwegian Sea and the Barents Sea. This is a challenge in time lapse seismic analysis, since diffracted multiples are difficult to remove by processing and therefore is a major source of poor time lapse data quality. In this work we test if the diffractions can be used for enhanced 4D interpretation. By analysing the time‐shift of the sea‐bed diffraction hyperbola between the base and monitor it is tested if changes in water velocity and tides can be estimated. Two models using time lapse diffraction analysis are tested: the first one simply adds time‐shifts for the two branches of the diffraction hyperbola and this average time‐shift is then used to estimate the water velocity change. The other method uses an inversion method based on the diffraction equation for a point diffractor to estimate the velocity change. In‐line common‐midpoint shifts are estimated by subtracting the time‐shifts of both hyperbola branches followed by direct inversion. The diffraction based time‐shifts are compared to time‐shifts estimated by standard cross‐correlation of the sea‐bed reflection. The averaging method gives slightly higher uncertainties, while the inversion using an exact traveltime equation gives similar uncertainties compared to the sea‐bed reflection method.     

Joint inversion of travel times and waveforms by means of annealing algorithms. Application to a seismic refraction experiment

An algorithm of annealing is applied to a joint inversion of travel times and waveforms belonging to a synthetically generated seismic refraction experiment. The medium (crust and upper mantle) is modelled by a set of plane stratified layers and a halfspace. The obtained structure (elastic parameters and depth of layers) shows that, in spite of contaminating seismic noise and poor knowledge of the seismic source, annealing methods are a good tool in these kinds of inversion problems. We think that many characteristics of the annealing process described here could be used with real data and more sophisticated media for the crust and upper mantle of the earth than the present example.     

Transmission and reflection of Rayleigh waves at a thin low velocity vertical layer: A laboratory and theoretical study

A three-dimensional ultrasonic modelling was used to study the Rayleigh waves reflected from a thin low velocity vertical layer and those transmitted through the same zone. The reflection and transmission coefficients of the Rayleigh waves have been calculated by an approximate method based on the Green function technique. Nonrigid contact boundary conditions were used for the low velocity layer modelling. A rather good correspondence between the theoretical and experimental absolute values of the reflection and the transmission coefficients was obtained. Some discrepancies between experimental and theoretical results, in particular with regard to phase shifts, may be explained by a certain inadequacy of the theoretical model to the low velocity layer investigated by the ultrasonic modelling.     

Analytical expression for fresnel volumes and interface fresnel zones of seismic body waves. Part 1: Direct and unconverted reflected waves

Summary Fresnel volumes, plane-sectional Fresnel zones and interface Fresnel zones of direct and unconverted reflected waves are studied. Exact analytical expressions for various parameters of Fresnel volumes and Fresnel zones are derived and discussed. Among others, these expressions are related to semi-axes of Fresnel zones, to overshooting and penetration distances, and to the off-ray shifts of Fresnel zones.     

南汀河西支断裂深浅构造特征——来自深地震反射剖面的证据

云南省西南部,发育一组由不同断裂组成的北东向断裂构造带,沿这些断裂数十年来相继发生过多次强震.本文以其中的南汀河西支断裂为研究对象,采用深地震反射剖面方法,获得了断裂及两侧地壳精细结构和构造图像.探测结果表明：研究区纵向上,分为上、下两层地壳结构,总厚度约为31.25~35.6 km;横向上,以南汀河西支断裂为界,两侧反射特征差异较大,分别以弧状或倾斜反射波组为主.测线经过地区,莫霍面反射特征较为清晰,为2~3个反射同相轴组成的反射条带.南汀河西支断裂为一个由5条分支断层组成的断裂带,呈花状结构,反映了一种走滑挤压的应力状态.断裂带下方,存在一条切穿下地壳及莫霍面并延伸至上地幔的深大断裂.这种深、浅断裂共存的构造格局是控制南汀河地区地震孕育和发生的重要因素之一.

     

The 26 December 2004 Sumatra Tsunami: Analysis of Tide Gauge Data from the World Ocean Part 1. Indian Ocean and South Africa

The M_w = 9.3 megathrust earthquake of December 26, 2004 off the northwest coast of Sumatra in the Indian Ocean generated a catastrophic tsunami that was recorded by a large number of tide gauges throughout the World Ocean. Part 1 of our study of this event examines tide gauge measurements from the Indian Ocean region, at sites located from a few hundred to several thousand kilometers from the source area. Statistical characteristics of the tsunami waves, including wave height, duration, and arrival time, are determined, along with spectral properties of the tsunami records.     

中国地壳、上地幔精细结构和大陆动力学研究的序幕——从1958年柴达木沉积盆地深部地震反射探测看半个世纪来该科学领域的发展导向和启迪

喜马拉雅山系的崛起、青藏高原的隆升以及与成山、成岩、成盆、成矿和成灾相关的深层过程是东亚乃至全球地球动力学研究中最为重要的科学事件.1958年始在柴达木盆地的地震反射探测与地壳、上地幔精细结构和大陆动力学研究开启了青藏高原地球内部研究的先河,半个世纪以来它影响并引导着我国这一科学领域的发展和前进.本文为纪念地壳与上地幔精细结构和大陆动力学在中国的诞生而作.柴达木盆地壳、幔精细结构地震反射探测结果表明:柴达木盆地的沉积层巨厚可达15~19 km,且存在着迴折波和不同类型与路径的多次波.地壳厚达50~52 km,且存在着高速梯度夹层和低速层.Moho界带为由高、低速相间的薄层束组构,且上地幔顶部纵波速度为8.1 km/s.从这一基点出发,对包括柴达木盆地在内的青藏高原地球深部与地球动力学研究中的几个科学问题进行了思考!为今后青藏高原地球物理深化研究的内涵和布局提出了初步的见解.     

Late Holocene slip rate and average recurrence interval of great earthquakes on the Shangzhi segment of the Yilan‐Yitong Fault Zone,northeastern China: Constraints from paleo‐earthquakes and historical written records

The Yilan‐Yitong Fault Zone (YYFZ) is considered to be the key branch of the Tancheng‐Lujiang Fault Zone (TLFZ) in northeastern China. Although the Mesozoic and early Cenozoic deformation of the YYFZ has been studied intensively over the past century, few estimates of slip rate and recurrence interval of large earthquakes in the late Quaternary, which are the two most important parameters for understanding the potential seismic hazard of this crucial structure, were obtained. Based on integrated interpretations of high resolution satellite images and detailed geologic and geomorphic mapping, linear landforms were identified, including fault scarps and troughs, along the Shangzhi segment of the YYFZ, which exceeds 25 km in length. Synthesized results of trench excavations and differential GPS measurements of terrace surfaces indicate that two events (E1, E2) occurred along the Shangzhi segment during the late Holocene, which resulted in 3.2 ±0.1 m of total vertical co‐seismic displacement with clear features of thrust motion. ¹⁴C dating of samples suggests that event E1 occurred between 440 ±30 years BP and 180 ±30 years BP and that event E2 occurred between 4 090 ±30 years BP and 3 880 ±30 years BP, which indicates that the minimum vertical slip rate of the Shangzhi segment of the YYFZ has been approximately 0.8 ±0.03 mm/year during the late Holocene. Constraints from paleo events and the slip rate suggest that the average recurrence interval of major earthquakes on the YYFZ is 3 800 ±200 years. Historical documents in Korea show that event E1 possibly corresponds to the earthquake that occurred in AD 1810 (the Qing Dynasty in Chinese history) in the Ningguta area, which had surface‐wave magnitude (Ms) of 6.8–7.5. Studies of kinematics show that the right‐lateral strike‐slip with a reverse component has been dominant along the YYFZ during the late Holocene.