Seismic anisotropy beneath Tibet: evidence for eastward extrusion of the Tibetan lithosphere?

Strong seismic anisotropy beneath Tibet has recently been reported from the study of SKS shear wave splitting. The fast split waves are generally polarized in an easterly direction, close to the present day direction of motion of the Tibetan crust relative to stable Eurasia, as deduced from Holocene slip rates on the major active faults in and around Tibet. This correlation may be taken to suggest that the whole Tibetan lithosphere is being extruded in front of indenting India and that the anisotropic layer is the deforming asthenosphere, that accommodates the motion of the Tibetan lithosphere relative to the fixed mantle at depth. Uncertainties about this motion are at present too large to bring unambiguous support to that view. Assuming that this view is correct however, a simple forward model is used to compute theoretical delay times as a function of the thickness of the anisotropic layer. The observed delay times would require a 50–100 km thick anisotropic layer beneath south-central Tibet and an over 200 km thick layer beneath north-central Tibet, where particularly hot asthenosphere has been inferred. This study suggests that the asthenospheric anisotropy due to present absolute block motion might be dominant under actively deforming continents.     

Seismic Anisotropy and Velocity Variations in the Mantle beneath the Saxothuringicum-Moldanubicum Contact in Central Europe

—We report on results of a passive seismic experiment undertaken to study the 3-D velocity structure and anisotropy of the upper mantle around the contact zone of the Saxothuringicum and Moldanubicum in the western margin of the Bohemian Massif in central Europe. Spatial variations of P-wave velocities and lateral variations of the particle motion of split shear waves over the region monitor changes of structure and anisotropy within the deep lithosphere and the asthenosphere. A joint interpretation of P-residual spheres and shear-wave splitting results in an anisotropic model of the lithosphere with high velocities plunging divergently from the contact of both tectonic units. Lateral variations of the mean residuals are related to a southward thickening of the lithosphere beneath the Moldanubicum.     

Age-dependent Large-scale Fabric of the Mantle Lithosphere as Derived from Surface-wave Velocity Anisotropy

—Systematic variations of the seismic radial anisotropy ξ to depths of 200–250 km in North America and Eurasia and their surroundings are related to the age of continental provinces, and typical depth dependences of ξ _R are determined. The relative radial anisotropy ξ _R in the mantle lithosphere of Phanerozoic orogenic belts is characterized by ν _SH > ν _SV , with its maximum depth of about 70 km, on the average, while beneath old shields and platforms, it exhibits a maximum deviation from ACY400 model (Montagner and Anderson, 1989) at depths of about 100 km with ν _SV ≥ν _SH signature. An interpretation of the observed seismic anisotropy by the preferred orientation of olivine crystals results in a model of the mantle lithosphere characterized by anisotropic structures plunging steeply beneath old shields and platforms, compared to less inclined anisotropies beneath Phanerozoic regions. This observation supports the idea derived from petrological and geochemical observations that a mode of continental lithosphere generation may have changed throughout earth's history.     

Anisotropic reverse-time migration for tilted TI media

Seismic anisotropy in dipping shales results in imaging and positioning problems for underlying structures. We develop an anisotropic reverse‐time depth migration approach for P‐wave and SV‐wave seismic data in transversely isotropic (TI) media with a tilted axis of symmetry normal to bedding. Based on an accurate phase velocity formula and dispersion relationships for weak anisotropy, we derive the wave equation for P‐wave and SV‐wave propagation in tilted transversely isotropic (TTI) media. The accuracy of the P‐wave equation and the SV‐wave equation is analyzed and compared with other acoustic wave equations for TTI media. Using this analysis and the pseudo‐spectral method, we apply reverse‐time migration to numerical and physical‐model data. According to the comparison between the isotropic and anisotropic migration results, the anisotropic reverse‐time depth migration offers significant improvements in positioning and reflector continuity over those obtained using isotropic algorithms.     

若尔盖与西秦岭地震反射岩石圈结构和盆山耦合

松潘地块北缘的若尔盖盆地与西秦岭造山带相接触,构成青藏高原东北缘典型的新生代盆山构造.其岩石圈结构与深部构造关系,记录了青藏高原东北缘板块碰撞的深部过程,同时又关联着若尔盖盆地油气远景的评价.2004年秋冬季,我们完成了第一条跨越若尔盖盆地和西秦岭造山带的深地震反射剖面.整个剖面全长254 km,分5段完成,其中第2段剖面（简称SP04_2）横过盆山结合部位.SP04_2剖面首次揭示若尔盖盆地－西秦岭造山带盆山结合部位的岩石圈结构,发现了若尔盖盆地和西秦岭造山带下地壳均以北倾为主的强反射特征,提供出若尔盖盆地下地壳整体向西秦岭造山带俯冲的地震学证据,揭示了若尔盖盆地和西秦岭造山带在挤压构造体系下形成的深部构造关系.而近于平的Moho反射特征又反映出两者在造山后期经历了强烈的伸展作用.     

Regional fabric of the deep lithosphere in central Europe from seismic anisotropy

Summary The large scale anisotropic structures with plunging symmetry axes in the subcrustal lithosphere of central Europe were derived from independent observations of teleseismic P-residual spheres and polarizations of the split SKS waves. The dipping structures are interpreted as remnants of palaeo-subduction systems which retain olivine orientations from ancient oceanic lithosphere. Values of k_P and k_S estimated from observed teleseismic P and SKS data are within the range of anisotropies found for the upper mantle rocks. The Variscides of central Europe may thus be characterized by two palaeo-subduction systems, with symmetry axes divergent relative to the suture between the Moldanubicum and Saxothuringicum.     

基于波场垂向和水平方向外推的高陡构造偏移

常规的单程波波动方程偏移成像方法对大角度的高陡构造偏移成像存在内在的限制.根据波动方程在各个空间方向的数学特性和高陡构造反射地震波的传播特征,通过把地震波分解为垂向的上下行波、水平方向的前后行波和左右行波,提出基于波场垂向外推和水平方向外推相结合的单程波波动方程高陡构造偏移成像方法,即用波场垂向外推的单程波波动方程偏移成像方法解决中低角度平缓构造的偏移成像,用波场水平方向外推的单程波波动方程偏移成像方法解决中高角度陡倾构造的偏移成像.这种基于波场垂向和水平方向外推相结合的高陡构造偏移成像方法是常规单程波波动方程叠前深度偏移成像方法的补充和改进,它相对基于全波方程的逆时偏移具有计算效率上的优势.     

利用弹性张量解析表达式识别任意空间取向TI介质

利用任意空间取向横向各向同性介质( ATI)的弹性张量解析表达式,分析ATI弹性常数之间的内在关系,得到一个判断ATI介质的必要条件.假若介质弹性矩阵满足这个ATI必要条件,可做ATI假设,确定可能的ATI对称轴空间取向.此时,如果通过坐标变换得到的是VTI弹性矩阵,就说明介质确实是ATI介质,这就完整地解决了从包含2...     

中国大陆及邻区上地幔P波各向异性结构

利用分布在中国大陆及邻近地区的213个地震台站记录到的远震P波走时数据和弱各向异性条件下P波速度扰动调和分析方法,研究了中国大陆上地幔P波各向异性结构.研究结果表明中国大陆西部上地幔变形主要受印度大陆俯冲的影响.印度大陆的P波快波方向总体为NNE方向,与绝对板块运动方向一致,这表明印度大陆上地幔流动方向与板块运动方向一致.青藏高原内部、东天山的P波快波方向与主压应力方向接近,而在青藏高原南缘、北缘及东北缘等块体边界地区P波快波方向与主压应力方向垂直.中国大陆东部上地幔变形主要受菲律宾板块和太平洋板块俯冲的影响.在扬子板块内部P波快波方向为SE方向,这与绝对板块的运动方向一致.华北地区的各向异性结构较为复杂,可能与华北克拉通裂解有关.中国大陆东北的东部平均方向为SE,而在兴安岭一侧为SSW方向,即平行于构造线方向.根据各向异性的倾角,中国大陆及邻区上地幔各向异性结构大体可分为三块:1)青藏新疆地区的各向异性倾角接近水平,推测该区形变力源主要为上地幔物质水平流动.2)南北带地区的各向异性倾角较大,特别是在青藏东缘地区的倾角约为40°,这可能是由于青藏向东挤出过程中受华南地块和鄂尔多斯地块的阻挡,在板块边界地区产生了垂直变形.3)中国东部地区各向异性结构较为复杂,在中国大陆东北部各向异性倾角接近水平,这可能是该区上地幔变形主要受太平洋板块俯冲的影响,而在太行山、大别-苏鲁地区各向异性倾角较大,这表明该区上地幔以垂直变形为主.     

中天山及邻区S波分裂研究及其动力学意义

本文利用天山及其邻区布设的37个宽频带地震台站记录到的远震波形数据,分别采用最小能量法和旋转相关法对SKS和SKKS波震相进行了偏振分析,计算出了台站下方介质的S波分裂参数：快波的偏振方向（φ）和慢波延迟时间（δt）.本文研究结果表明：中天山内部大多数台站的各向异性快波方向呈NEE-SWW向,与天山走向平行,慢波时间延迟为0.4～1.7 s,这是塔里木、哈萨克斯坦的南北双向俯冲及其导致的天山地区岩石圈地幔南北向缩短变形的直接反映.本文研究发现中天山北部部分台站下方地震各向异性快波方向与慢波延时随方位角呈现规律性的变化,可能暗示该区上地幔各向异性不能仅用单层水平各向异性这一简单模式来解释.75°E以西的天山地区台站下方S波快波方向和延时具有强烈的横向变化,可能与研究区下方存在的小规模对流有关.中天山不同地段地震台站下方各向异性明显不同,进一步证实了天山地区构造变形的复杂性.     

Intensity and direction of lattice-preferred orientation of olivine: are electrical and seismic anisotropies of the Australian mantle reconcilable?

It has been hypothesised that seismic and electrical anisotropy at the base of the lithosphere are caused by strain-induced lattice-preferred orientation (LPO) of olivine [100] axes parallel to present-day plate motion. This would imply that seismic and electrical anisotropy observations can provide geodynamicists with fundamental information for characterising mantle flow. The qualitative agreement between the fast direction of SV-waves and direction of maximum electrical conductance modelled deeper than 150 km below the North Central craton of Australia appear to support a common alignment mechanism, and the observed, anisotropic electrical conductances can be generated by hydrogen diffusivity in a water-poor (<1000 ppm H/Si) olivine mantle. A quantitative test is proposed for the hypothesis that electrical anisotropy is generated by anisotropic hydrogen diffusion rates (D) in olivine. Electrical anisotropy factors are computed using random resistor network models assuming that D[100]≈20×D[010]≈40×D[001]. Electrical and seismic anisotropies calculated from olivine LPO angular distribution functions modelled for a range of shear strains under a simple shear deformation demonstrate that the intensity of olivine [100] alignments (and associated shear strains) that would be required to explain the electrical anisotropy in the mantle below central Australia are significantly greater than predicted by Rayleigh wave anisotropies. The poor agreement between the observed electrical anisotropies and the electrical anisotropies that would be predicted from the Rayleigh wave anisotropies indicates that either (i) electrical anisotropy in the upper mantle below central Australia is not generated by hydrogen diffusivity alone or (ii) the seismic anisotropy is underestimated. The orientation of the olivine [100] axes maxima is inferred to be ∼30° rotated relative to the direction of present-day absolute plate motion (APM) that is determined relative to the hotspot reference frame (HS2-NUVEL1). Both the APM direction that is determined relative to a reference frame defined by requiring no-net rotation of the lithosphere (NNR-NUVEL1) and GPS-derived plate motion vectors fit the geophysical observations of upper mantle anisotropy better. This may support the contention that hotspots are not stationary relative to the deep mantle.     

任意空间取向TI介质中P波四次时差系数特征

同类反射波（非转换波）走时偏离双曲,称为非双曲或四次时差,在长排列各向异性地震资料处理中需要校正．本文基于我们导出的水平界面任意空间取向TI (ATI)介质中同类反射波四次时差系数(A₄)的精确解析解,数值计算研究P波四次时差系数特征．正演结果表明,ATI条件下A₄系数随CMP测线方位变化的特征不仅与TI介质的各向异性参数有关,而且与TI对称轴的空间取向密切相关; TI介质的各向异性参数和TI对称轴的倾角决定了A₄变化特征,而且TI对称轴的方位决定了A₄随测线方位变化的对称性．此研究结果将对各向异性解释及参数反演有参考意义．     

Earthquake location in transversely isotropic media with a tilted symmetry axis

The conventional intersection method for earthquake location in isotropic media is developed in the case of transversely isotropic media with a tilted symmetry axis (TTI media). The hypocenter is determined using its loci, which are calculated through a minimum travel time tree algorithm for ray tracing in TTI media. There are no restrictions on the structural complexity of the model or on the anisotropy strength of the medium. The location method is validated by its application to determine the hypocenter and origin time of an event in a complex TTI structure, in accordance with four hypotheses or study cases: (a) accurate model and arrival times, (b) perturbed model with randomly variable elastic parameter, (c) noisy arrival time data, and (d) incomplete set of observations from the seismic stations. Furthermore, several numerical tests demonstrate that the orientation of the symmetry axis has a significant effect on the hypocenter location when the seismic anisotropy is not very weak. Moreover, if the hypocentral determination is based on an isotropic reference model while the real medium is anisotropic, the resultant location errors can be considerable even though the anisotropy strength does not exceed 6.10%.     

大别—苏鲁及邻区上地幔的各向异性

大别—苏鲁是扬子与华北的碰撞造山带,对该地区上地幔各向异性的研究有助于了解该区的地幔动力学机制.本文选用了中国数字化地震台网和区域数字地震台网(山东、安徽、江苏、河南、湖北)三分量宽频带的远震地震波形数据,分别采用最小能量法和旋转相关法,对大别—苏鲁及邻区进行剪切波偏振分析,计算了研究区台站下方介质的各向异性分裂参数:快波偏振方向(Φ)和快慢波延迟时间(δt).本文研究结果发现,研究区内快、慢波延迟时间0.5~1.63 s,推测各向异性层深度为57.5~187.6 km,由软流圈和岩石圈地幔的各向异性共同作用引起.快波偏振方向在4个不同构造区表现出不同的特点:华北板块快波偏振方向为近E-W向,根据地质资料,我们分析认为华北板块的各向异性受地幔软流圈流动的影响明显;大别造山带各向异性平行于大别主构造,反映造山过程中岩石圈物质沿大别造山轴部NW-SE向迁移的特点; 在大别南侧和东侧的扬子板块快波偏振方向分别表现为近垂直于造山带走向和NEE-SWW,苏鲁造山带各向异性结果为NEE-SWW,与地表构造有一定的夹角,同时与板块运动方向相差较大,分析认为扬子板块和苏鲁造山带各向异性是由地幔软流圈流动和印支—燕山期构造运动残留在岩石圈地幔的"化石各向异性"共同作用的结果.     

利用接收函数计算地壳各向异性的可靠性分析及倾斜界面的影响*

使用接收函数研究壳幔速度间断面和速度结构已是常用的技术,但介质各向异性或倾斜的莫霍(Moho)界面,都会造成接收函数波形的复杂性。本文利用远震P波接收函数计算台站下方的地壳各向异性,通过信噪比测试和谐波分析两种方法来验证各向异性结果的可靠性。通过甘肃地震台网的两个台站记录,讨论各向异性和倾斜界面对接收函数的影响,结果显示,台站BYT(白银)下方具有各向异性,而台站WYT(渭源)下方由于可能存在倾斜界面,得到的各向异性结果则有待进一步分析。为了更好地认识倾斜界面对各向异性计算结果的影响,采用合成理论地震图,计算接收函数,然后利用合成接收函数进行各向异性分析。结果表明,计算得到的快波方向不会受到倾斜界面的影响,但是时间延迟会受到影响。     

青藏高原中部INDEPTH-Ⅲ剖面上地幔远震S波层析成像

印度板块向欧亚俯冲前缘位于班公—怒江缝合带附近,但是印度岩石圈地幔的俯冲形态和形变过程仍然缺乏共识,在不同地区使用不同方法获得的结果之间存在明显差异.本文使用青藏高原中部INDEPTH-Ⅲ剖面远震S波波形数据,提取走时信息,通过层析成像方法获得剖面下方S波速度扰动图像.结果显示:在班公—怒江缝合带下方100至300km深度范围内存在一个高角度(约65°)北倾的S波高速体,推测可能是回退的印度岩石圈板片或/和小规模对流引起的岩石圈拆沉后残留的印度大陆岩石圈板片.     

怀来、 延庆及其周边地区地壳 介质各向异性研究

提出了利用人工爆破P波走时反演地壳介质方位各向异性参数的方法. 在假定介质是弱各向异性介质的情况下, 使用扰动理论得到了线性化的反演公式, 其中待反演的弱各向异性参数是P波走时的线性函数. 如果在反演公式中参考走时取相同震中距接收点的P波平均走时, 那么所获得的弱各向异性参数与参考介质速度的选取无关. 反演得到的弱各向异性参数可以看作是不同震中距和不同深度范围内介质的等效弱各向异性参数. 等效弱各向异性参数在一定程度上反映了不同深度范围内水平方向相速度随方位的变化. 这种变化可能是不同时期构造应力作用的结果. 2007年中国地震局在首都圈怀来地区实施了一次大吨位人工爆破实验, 以爆破点为中心, 布设了高密度的地震观测台网和台阵. 台站相对于爆破点具有360°的全方位覆盖, 所得到的地震记录数据为研究怀来、 延庆地区地壳介质P波方位各向异性提供了必要条件. 我们通过走时反演获得了与水平方位相关的弱各向异性参数, 并对弱各向异性参数进行坐标变换, 得到了能够直观描述岩石弱各向异性的具有水平对称轴的横向各向同性介质, 给出了对应的3个独立弱各向异性参数及其对称轴方位, 讨论了介质各向异性与构造应力场的关系. 结果表明该地区地壳介质存在明显的方位各向异性, 其最大值约为4.6%.      

CRYSTALLOGRAPHIC PREFERRED ORIENTATION(CPO) OF ANISOTROPIC MINERALS IN THE LITHOSPHERE AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE TO THE STUDY OFLITHOSPHERE DYNAMICS

Seismic anisotropy has been widely used to constrain deformation and mantle flow within the upper mantle of the Earth's interior, and is mainly affected by crystallographic preferred orientation(CPO)of anisotropic mineral in lithosphere. Anisotropy of peridotites caused by deformation is the main source of seismic anisotropy in the upper mantle. Olivine is the most abundant and easily deformed mineral to form CPO in peridotite, thus the CPO of olivine controls seismic anisotropy in the upper mantle. Based on simple shear experiments and studies of natural peridotites deformation, several CPO types of olivine have been identified, including A, B, C, D, E and AG-type. Studies on the deformation of olivine have shown that the CPO of olivine is mainly related to stress, water content, temperature, pressure, partial melting and melt/fluid percolation. Most of the seismic anisotropy has been explained by the A-type olivine CPO in the upper mantle, which is commonly found in upper-mantle peridotites and produced by the simple shear in dry conditions. Previous studies showed that anisotropy was attributed to the CPO of mica and amphibole in the middle-lower crust. The comparison between mantle anisotropy calculated from mineral CPO and regional anisotropy deduced from geophysical methods is therefore particularly useful for interpreting the deformation mechanisms and geodynamic processes which affect the upper mantle in different tectonic units such as subduction system, continental rift and continental collision zone in the world. The paper summarizes the characteristics of CPO and anisotropy of major anisotropic minerals in the upper mantle. Taking the lithosphere mantle xenoliths in the southeastern Tibetan plateau as an example, we perform detailed studies on the microstructures and seismic anisotropy to better understand the deformation mechanisms and upper mantle anisotropy in this region. Results show that the CPO of olivine in peridotite xenoliths in southeastern Tibetan plateau are A-type and AG-type. The mechanisms proposed for the formation of AG-type are different from that for the A-type. Therefore, the occurrence of AG-type olivine CPO pattern suggests that this CPO may record a change in deformation mechanism and tectonic environment of the lithosphere in southeastern Tibetan plateau. Provided that the strong SKS(shear wave splitting)observed in southeastern Tibetan plateau results from lithosphere mantle, the lithosphere mantle in this region is expected to be at least 130km thick and characterized by vertical foliation. Considering that the thickness of lithosphere in southeastern Tibetan plateau is much less than 130km and the lithosphere mantle cannot explain the anisotropy measured by SKS, other anisotropy sources should be considered, such as anisotropy in the asthenosphere and the oriented melt pockets(MPO)in the upper mantle. Therefore, detailed study of CPO of anisotropic mineral is essential for constraining geophysical measurements and analyzing the dynamic process of the lithosphere reasonably.     

Depth constraints on azimuthal anisotropy in the Great Basin from Rayleigh-wave phase velocity maps

We present fundamental-mode Rayleigh-wave azimuthally anisotropic phase velocity maps obtained for the Great Basin region at periods between 16 s and 102 s. These maps offer the first depth constraints on the origin of the semi-circular shear-wave splitting pattern observed in central Nevada, around a weak azimuthal anisotropy zone. A variety of explanations have been proposed to explain this signal, including an upwelling, toroidal mantle flow around a slab, lithospheric drip, and a megadetachment, but no consensus has been reached. Our phase velocity study helps constrain the three-dimensional anisotropic structure of the upper mantle in this region and contributes to a better understanding of the deformation mechanisms taking place beneath the western United States. The dispersion measurements were made using data from the USArray Transportable Array. At periods of 16 s and 18 s, which mostly sample the crust, we find a region of low anisotropy in central Nevada coinciding with locally reduced phase velocities, and surrounded by a semi-circular pattern of fast seismic directions. Away from central Nevada the fast directions are ～ N–S in the eastern Great Basin, NW–SE in the Walker Lane region, and they transition from E–W to N–S in the northwestern Great Basin. Our short-period phase velocity maps, combined with recent crustal receiver function results, are consistent with the presence of a semi-circular anisotropy signal in the lithosphere in the vicinity of a locally thick crust. At longer periods (28–102 s), which sample the uppermost mantle, isotropic phase velocities are significantly reduced across the study region, and fast directions are more uniform with an ～ E–W fast axis. The transition in phase velocities and anisotropy can be attributed to the lithosphere–asthenosphere boundary at depths of ～ 60 km. We interpret the fast seismic directions observed at longer periods in terms of present-day asthenospheric flow-driven deformation, possibly related to a combination of Juan de Fuca slab rollback and eastward-driven mantle flow from the Pacific asthenosphere. Our results also provide context to regional SKS splitting observations. We find that our short-period phase velocity anisotropy can only explain ～ 30% of the SKS splitting times, despite similar patterns in fast directions. This implies that the origin of the regional shear-wave splitting signal is complex and must also have a significant sublithospheric component.     

中国大陆及邻区海域地壳上地幔各向异性研究

利用分别由Love波和Rayleigh波得到的S波速度结构的差值（VSH-VSV）对中国大陆及邻区海域（70°E～145°E，15°N～55°N）地壳上地幔中的偏振各向异性进行研究.初步研究结果表明，各向异性在空间分布上存在不均匀性：（1）在小于150 km的深度范围内，VSH>VSV的各向异性体占主导地位，反映出在地球的浅部岩石圈内的水平应力作用及软流圈顶部物质的水平向流动对各向异性的形成起主导作用.在大陆地区，各向异性的强度随深度有显著变化.上地壳和上地幔盖层中的各向异性普遍较弱，而在流变性较强的下地壳和软流圈存在较大范围的各向异性.这一现象说明下地壳在岩石圈变形中可能有解耦作用.（2）在大于200 km深度的软流圈下部主要表现为VSH<VSV的各向异性，说明地幔物质垂直运动相对占优势地位.（3）在中国大陆东部可以看出一个大致趋势：在构造比较稳定的地区，岩石圈中VSH>VSV的各向异性比较显著，而软流圈中VSH<VSV的各向异性较弱；在构造活动比较强烈的地区，软流圈中VSH<VSV的各向异性占主导地位.（4）印度板块低角度向青藏高原下俯冲影响了中国大陆西部地区各向异性的特征.印度板块向北运动水平挤压中国西部大陆，使得物质定向重结晶，从而在岩石圈下部产生显著的VSH>VSV各向异性.