Finite-frequency traveltime tomography of San Francisco Bay region crustal velocity structure

Seismic velocity structure of the San Francisco Bay region crust is derived using measurements of finite-frequency traveltimes. A total of 57 801 relative traveltimes are measured by cross-correlation over the frequency range 0.5–1.5 Hz. From these are derived 4862 'summary' traveltimes, which are used to derive 3-D P -wave velocity structure over a 341 × 140 km² area from the surface to 25 km depth. The seismic tomography is based on sensitivity kernels calculated on a spherically symmetric reference model. Robust elements of the derived P -wave velocity structure are: a pronounced velocity contrast across the San Andreas fault in the south Bay region (west side faster); a moderate velocity contrast across the Hayward fault (west side faster); moderately low velocity crust around the Quien Sabe volcanic field and the Sacramento River delta; very low velocity crust around Lake Berryessa. These features are generally explicable with surface rock types being extrapolated to depth ∼10 km in the upper crust. Generally high mid-lower crust velocity and high inferred Poisson's ratio suggest a mafic lower crust.     

The nature of deep crustal structures in the Mojave Desert, California

Summary. The character of multi-offset reflections from the deep crust in the Mojave Desert are examined to reveal the physical nature of the reflecting structures. We focus on distinguishing classical abrupt discontinuities, such as traditional models of the Conrad and Moho boundaries, from more unusual structures. Finite-difference modeling and simple interference relations show that pre-critical reflections exhibiting an increase in peak frequency with offset arise from thinly-layered horizontal structures, while reflections from step discontinuities show no change in frequency with offset. In the deep crust thin layers may result from sill intrusion or fault motion.
The sense of changes in Poisson's ratio and the relative strength of density changes determine whether reflection amplitudes will increase or decrease with offset. A simple linear regression on pre-critical reflection amplitudes against offset is adequate to separate reflections arising from increases in Poisson's ratio from those arising from decreases in Poisson's ratio and/or density changes. The latter condition may be the result of strong anisotropy or the presence of pore fluid. Comparisons of the properties of major deep reflectors across the Mojave Desert suggest that the effects of tectonic motion and fluid injection have penetrated all levels of the crust.     

Combined seismic reflection and refraction profiling in southwest Germany - detailed velocity mapping by the refraction survey

Summary. Within the framework of site survey studies of the Deep Drilling Program of the Fedral Republic of Germany (KTB), coincident deep-seismic reflection and refraction experiments in the Black Forest, southwest Germany, were carried out. The simultaneous interpretation of the reflection and the refraction data reveals in particular both a strong velocity reduction in the upper crust and a laterally varying laminated structure of the lower curst. Additional refraction lines result in a three-dimensional crustal model which shows two distinct crustal types of different seismic properties. These crustal types seem to correlate with the major geologic units of Southwest Germany. Variations of Poisson's ratio derived from clearly recorded shear wave data show a similar trend.     

The Hatton Bank continental margin—I. Shallow structure from two-ship expanding spread seismic profiles

Summary. The Hatton Bank passive continental margin exhibits thick seaward dipping reflector sequences which consist of basalts extruded during rifting between Greenland and Rockall Plateau. Multichannel seismic reflection profiling across the margin reveals three reflector wedges with a maximum thickness near 7 km, extending from beneath the upper continental slope to the deep ocean basin. We present results of the velocity structure within the dipping reflector sequences at eight locations across the margin, interpreted by synthetic seismogram modelling a set of multichannel expanding spread profiles parallel to the margin. At the top of some reflector sequences, we observe a series of 100 m thick high- and low-velocity zones, which are interpreted as basalt flows alternating with sediments or weathered and rubble layers. At the profile locations, the base of the dipping reflectors correlates with P -wave velocities near 6.5 km s⁻¹. However, elsewhere the reflectors appear to extend significantly deeper than the inferred 6.5 km s⁻¹ velocity contour, indicating that the velocity structure may not be controlled solely by lithological boundaries but also by metamorphic effects. Shear-waves were observed on two lines, permitting the calculation of Poisson's ratio. The decrease in Poisson's ratio from 0.28 to near 0.25 in the upper 5 km of crust may also indicate the effect of metamorphism on seismic properties, or alternatively may be explained by crack closure under load.     

Surface-wave propagation in a cracked poroelastic half-space lying under a uniform layer of fluid

The effect of cracks on the elastic properties of an isotropic elastic solid is studied when the cracks are saturated with a soft fluid. A polynomial equation in effective Poisson's ratio is obtained, whose coefficients are functions of Poisson's ratio of the uncracked solid, crack density and saturating fluid parameter. Elastic and dynamical constants used in Blot's theory of wave propagation in poroelastic solids are modified for the introduction of cracks. The effects of cracks on the velocities of three types of waves are observed numerically. The frequency equation is derived for the propagation of Rayleigh-type surface waves in a saturated poroelastic half-space lying under a uniform layer of liquid. Dispersion curves for a particular model of oceanic crust containing cracks are plotted. The effects of variations in crack density and saturation on the phase and group velocity are also analysed.     

SEDIMENTS FROM AROUND THE LOWER YOUNGER DRYAS BOUNDARY (SE ARIZONA,USA): IMPLICATIONS FROM LA‐ICP‐MS MULTI‐ELEMENT ANALYSIS

One of the prominent features in sediment sequences formed around the Allerød‐Younger Dryas transition (c. 12.9–12.8 ka bp ) in North America is a dark layer of organic‐rich material, i.e. the black mat. The black mat sequences in southeast Arizona contain a thin sandy basal layer corresponding to the lower Younger Dryas boundary. Trace element concentrations in the lower Younger Dryas boundary sediments, in the black mat, in the host sediments, and in charcoal from Western Europe and southeast Arizona were studied using LA‐ICP‐MS. The black mat samples and samples of the underlying host sediments display compositions similar to the average continental crust, while the sediments from the lower Younger Dryas boundary are enriched in rare earth elements, Ni, and Co whereas Ta, Nb, Zr, and Hf are depleted relative to the rare earth elements. Such a difference in compositions between the lower Younger Dryas boundary sediments and other sediments points to a short enigmatic event, which changed conditions of sedimentation just before the onset of the Younger Dryas cooling. The presence of products of biomass burning of still unknown origin is suggested on the basis of trace element features of sediments from the lower Younger Dryas boundary.     

Regional S-wave structure for southern California from the analysis of teleseismic Rayleigh waves

Summary. Teleseismic Rayleigh waves, M_S > 7.0, in the period range 14 to 28 s, are well recorded by the short-period Benioff array within southern California. Multiple arrivals that hinder the determination of local phase velocity curves are detected by narrow band-pass filtering. The records are then windowed on distinct, coherent peaks that move uniformly across the array. Four to seven stations are included in the determination of both the phase velocity across the array and the incidence azimuth. For earthquakes in the western Pacific, the derived incidence azimuths are systematically rotated counterclockwise by 2–16°. Most of this rotation results from refraction at the continental shelf. Phase velocity data for both the southern Mojave—central Transverse Ranges and the Peninsular Ranges are inverted to obtain regional 5-wave velocity models. The starting models are constructed from travel-time studies of local sources, both natural and artificial. Poisson's ratio as a function of depth is calculated for these two regions. The comparison of Poisson's ratio with laboratory ultrasonic studies requires a quartz-rich crust within the southern Mojave—central Transverse Ranges and a mafic crust within the Peninsular Ranges.     

Results of magnetotelluric and gravimetric measurements in western Nicaragua, Central America

Magnetotelluric and gravity data have been collected within a ca. 170 km long traverse running from the Pacific coast of Nicaragua in the west to the Nicaraguan Highland in the east. This part of Nicaragua is characterized by sedimentary rocks of the Pacific Coastal Plain, separated from the Tertiary volcanic rocks of the Highland by the NW-SE-trending Nicaraguan Depression. 2-D interpretation of the magnetotelluric (MT) data, collected at 13 stations, indicates four regions of high electrical conductivity in addition to the conductive coastal region. Two of these are associated with conducting sediments and pyroclastics in the upper part of the crust. Two other conductive structures have been defined at depth around 20 km and the one best defined is located below the depression. From the distribution of seismic events, volcanic activity in the depression and the similarity in geophysical characteristics with areas such as the Rio Grande Rift, this conductor is interpreted as a melt layer or a complex of magma chambers. Models of the upper lithosphere, constrained by the MT model, vertical electrical sounding (VES) data, seismic data and densities, have been tested using gravity data. A model that passes this test shows a gradual thickening of the crust eastwards from the Pacific coast. An anomaly centred over the depression is interpreted to have its origin in a thinning of the crust. In this model the melt layer is situated on top of the bulge of the lower lithosphere. A change in the composition of the crust, from the Pacific Coastal Plain to the Highland, is indicated from the change in character of the MT response and from the density distribution in the gravity model. This may support the hypothesis that the Pacific region is an accreted terrane. MT and gravity data indicate a depth to a resistive and high-density basement in the depression of ca. 2 km. On the basis of this, the vertical setting in the depression is estimated to be of the order of 2.5 km.     

艾比湖干涸湖底不同地表类型风蚀强度及粉尘输移通量的风洞试验研究

以新疆准格尔盆地西部艾比湖干涸湖底及相关邻近地区7种不同形态的原状土为研究对象,通过风洞模拟试验,揭示干涸湖底不同地表类型的风蚀强度和沙/盐尘低空输送通量。结果表明：粉状盐漠和含盐量较低的淤泥-粘土混合物临界启动风速最低,硬质盐壳的临界启动风速最大;大于16 m·s-1的大风是造成艾比湖干涸湖底风蚀的主要动力,7种地表类型中湖相沉积物、风积物、粉状盐漠的风蚀率最大,是风蚀尘暴的主要尘源;风蚀过程中颗粒的初始运动主要集中在0~10 cm高度范围内,以近地面跃移为主,风积物、湖相沉积物和粉状盐漠的输移通量最大。     

Heterogeneous structure around the Jemez volcanic field, New Mexico, USA, as inferred from the envelope inversion of active-experiment seismic data

We analyse active-experiment seismic data obtained by the 1993 Jemez Tomography Experiment (JTEX) programme to elucidate the heterogeneous structure of the Jemez volcanic field, which is located at the boundary between the Colorado Plateau and the Rio Grande Rift. Using a single isotropic scattering assumption, we first calculate the envelope Green's functions for the upper and lower crust and the uppermost mantle. By fitting the theoretical envelopes with the observed three-component data, we estimate depth-dependent features of the scattering coefficients around Valles Caldera. We estimate the ratios of scattering coefficients, rather than scattering coefficients themselves, because of the uncertainty of the seismic efficiency of the explosive sources and knowledge of absolute site-amplification factors. The strongest scattering coefficients are observed at a shallow depth beneath the Valles Caldera. This is considered to be related to the complex structure caused by two episodes of caldera formation and the ensuing resurgent uplift in the caldera, etc. The depth-dependent characters of the scattering coefficients for the Colorado Plateau and the Rio Grande Rift are similar to each other: a transparent upper crust and a heterogeneous lower crust (small and large scattering coefficients, respectively). However, the scattering coefficients beneath the Rio Grande Rift are several times larger than those beneath the Colorado Plateau. Depths of the lower crust and the Moho boundary beneath the Rio Grande Rift are shallower than those of the Colorado Plateau. From their geological settings and other geophysical results around the region, we infer that the larger scattering coefficients of the rift are associated with rift formation and volcanic activity, such as magma ascent from the upper mantle to the crust.     

Brine expulsion, fluid transport and metallization spanning 2.0 Gyr in basins of southern and central Africa

Mineral provinces in southern and central Africa are strongly controlled by major structural trends, the alignment of sedimentary basins and metamorphically induced thermal regimes deep in the crust. Ore deposits are preferentially located on cooler margins of orogenic belts and are ultimately end-products of fluid expulsion out of the deeper parts of orogenic axes. Metamorphic and structural vectors within orogenic belts adjacent to major cratons show a trend of high-grade thermal overprinting in the cores of axes and lower metamorphic regimes acting on the distal margins of orogens (e.g. foreland basins). This apparent pattern is considered to have importance in the expulsion of at least three generations of mineralizing fluids beginning with exhalative migration during diagenesis and culminating much later in thrust-controlled expulsion onto adjacent craton margins. Fluids within the hydrosphere that accumulate initially through topographic gradients in the sediments mixed with components of the mantle (CO₂). After storage within the crust, migration, enforced by metamorphic processes, transferred fluids out of, and away from, high thermal regimes in the axes of belts, leading to their present preservation around the margins of the major cratonic nuclei.     

库姆塔格沙漠地表物质组成、来源和风化过程(英文)

Kumtagh Desert is one of the eight biggest deserts in China, but poorly investigated before our interdisciplinary study because of the difficulty of access. In this paper, 33 representative surface sediment samples were collected from the Kumtagh Desert and analyzed in the laboratory to obtain heavy mineral components and geochemical element contents. Results show that various kinds of heavy minerals are present in these samples, with high levels of epidote and hornblende. Si and Al take up a large part of chemical composition. Compared with the average composition of geochemical elements of the upper continental crust (UCC), except Si and Ca, all elements are depleted to a certain degree; Fe, Mg, Ca, P, Ti and Mn have high correlation coefficients in their contents. The mineral and geochemical composition of the Kumtagh Desert sediments have a similarity with that of rocks of Altyn Tagh Mountains, and the surface sediments of the alluvial/diluvial fans around the Altyn Tagh Mountains and that of the Taklamakan Desert, indicating that one major source of the Kumtagh Desert sediments is located in the Altyn Tagh Mountains. Alluvial deposits and lake sediments in Aqik valley and lower reaches of Shule River are prone to be eroded and transported by the strong northeasterly wind into the Kumtagh Desert, forming another source of the desert deposits. An A-CN-K ternary diagram shows that a weak degree chemical weathering by the loss of Na and K occurred in these sediments, whereas A-CNK-FM ternary diagram suggests that Fe and Mg have undergone a significant chemical differentiation. Physical weathering processes cause easy erosion and enrichment in fine particles for mafic minerals, thus coarse desert sand particles can be relatively depleted in Fe and Mg. The mineral and geochemical composition of sediments in arid regions experiencing less chemical weathering are mostly affected by physical weathering.     

黄土高原土壤侵蚀规律研究工作回顾

1950年以来,黄土高原土壤侵蚀规律研究工作已建立了完整的分类系统,进行了侵蚀区划,查明了黄河泥沙及其中的粗泥沙来源。定量评价了各自然因子和人为因子与侵蚀量的关系。黄河自古多沙,而近期更加强烈。指出了过去研究工作中的主要问题。     

赣北黄茅潭湖泊沉积记录的240年以来古洪水事件

古洪水研究是近几十年来全球变化研究的一个热点,同时也是难点。本文利用赣北黄茅潭的湖泊沉积,建立了小冰期以来全球变暖背景下的区域洪水记录。采用²¹⁰Pb和¹³⁷Cs方法厘定了地层年代,基于粒度与元素地球化学指标的对比分析,揭示了器测记录(1950年)以来指标记录的特点与区域日降水超过50 mm天数的关系,认为黄茅潭HMT-01孔粒度(包括粗粉砂+砂/粘土比值、平均粒径)和Zr/Rb、Ti/Rb、Zr/Fe比值可作为洪水指标记录,共识别出1950-2010年期间记载的13次洪水事件中的11次。基于这些指标记录及指标特点,共识别1769-1950年间由历史文献记录的31次洪水事件中的23次,识别率达74.2%。研究表明：①湖泊沉积中Zr/Rb、Ti/Rb、Zr/Fe比值和粒度参数(平均粒径、粗粉砂+砂/粘土)作为洪水指标,对洪水事件沉积有较好的指示作用,且Zr/Rb比值对洪水事件的检出率较高;②黄茅潭流域洪水发生频率暖期高于冷期;③年代际尺度上,1820s-1840s,1860s-1870s为19世纪冷期黄茅潭洪水高频期,这两个阶段对应东亚夏季风偏强,长江中下游地区降雨较多;20世纪赣北黄茅潭洪水基本随1920s-1940s,1980s-1990s两个变暖阶段而高频出现,与长江中下游大洪水演变特点基本一致。研究结果为利用湖泊沉积记录反演过去的洪水变化,延长洪水序列、认识洪水规律提供了一定的科学依据。     

Crust and upper mantle structure of the central Iberian Meseta (Spain)

Summary. Quarry blasts recorded along three lines on the central Iberian Meseta are used in an attempt to interpret the crustal structure. The results of the interpretation of the data, together with published surface wave and earthquake data, suggest a layered structure of the crust having the following features: the basement, in some areas covered by up to 4 km of sediments, has a P -velocity of 6.1 km s⁻¹; a low-velocity layer, between 7 and 11 km depth, seems to exist on the basis of both P and S interpretation of seismic data; a thick middle crust of 12 km has a P -velocity of 6.4 km s⁻¹ and overlies a lower crust with a mean P -velocity of 6.9 km s⁻¹ and a possible slight negative gradient; the mean v _p/ v _s ratio for the crust is about 1.75; the Moho is reached at about 31 km depth and consists of a transition zone at least 1.5 km thick. The P -velocity of the upper mantle is close to 8.1 km s⁻¹ and the S -velocity about 4.5 km s⁻¹, which gives a v _p /v _s ratio of 1.8 for the uppermost mantle. A tentative petrological interpretation of the velocities and composition of the layers is given.     

Ivrea seismic array: a study of continental crust and upper mantle

A seismic-array study of the continental crust and upper mantle in the Ivrea-Yerbano and Strona-Ceneri zones (northwestern Italy) is presented. A short-period network is used to define crustal P - and S -wave velocity models from earthquakes. The analysis of the seismic-refraction profile LOND of the CROP-ECORS project provided independent information and control on the array-data interpretation.
Apparent-velocity measurements from both local and regional earthquakes, and time-term analysis are used to estimate the velocity in the lower crust and in the upper mantle. The geometry of the upper-lower crust and Moho boundaries is determined from the station delay times.
We have obtained a three-layer crustal seismic model. The P -wave velocity in the upper crust, lower crust and upper mantle is 6.1±0.2 km s⁻¹, 6.5±0.3 km s⁻¹ and 7.8±0.3 km s⁻¹ respectively. Pronounced low-velocity zones in the upper and lower crust are not observed. A clear change in the velocity structure between the upper and lower crust is documented, constraining the petrological interpretation of the Ivrea-type reflective lower continental crust derived from small-scale petrophysical data. Moreover, we found a V _P/ V _S ratio of 1.69±0.04 for the upper crust and 1.82±0.08 for the lower crust and upper mantle. This is consistent with the structural and petrophysical differences between a compositionally uniform and seismically transparent upper crust and a layered and reflective lower crust. The thickness of the lower crust ranges from about 8 km in front of the Ivrea body (ARVO, Arvonio station) in the northern part of the array to a maximum of about 15 km in the southern part of the array. The lower crust reaches a minimum depth of 5 km below the PROV (Provola) station.     

P-wave velocities in rocks at high pressure and temperature and the constitution of the central California crust

Summary. Velocities of compressional waves are determined for central California rocks at pressures up to 0.7 GPa (7 kb) and temperatures up to 450°C. These data are used to interpret the seismic velocity structure of the crust in the California Coast Ranges. The seismic data on both sides of the San Andreas fault are consistent with the following model; besides some patches of surface sediments the upper 10—15 km of the crust on the northeast side consists predominantly of sedimentary and metasedimentary rocks of the Franciscan assemblage; the lower crust, of a thickness of 15—20 km, may be composed of gabbroic or other mafic rocks. Across the fault on the south-west side, the entire crustal section is probably a granitic complex similar to that exposed on the surface. The proposed model is shown to be consistent with the observed gravity anomaly.     

Crustal structure and local seismicity in western Anatolia

Western Anatolia is one of the most seismically active continental regions in the world and much of it has been undergoing NS-directed extensional deformation since Early Miocene time. In a cooperative study, seismologists from Saint Louis University, USA and Dokuz Eylül University, Turkey, deployed five broad-band and 45 short-period seismic stations in western Anatolia between 2002 November and 2003 October. The present paper uses data collected by this network and the data from five permanent stations operated by the Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute to map the hypocentral distribution of local earthquakes and to determine crustal structure of western Anatolia. We obtained a 1-D P -wave crustal velocity model using a generalized scheme for simultaneously obtaining earthquake locations and a crustal velocity model. Our velocity model is characterized by crustal velocities that are significantly lower than average continental values. The low velocities may be associated with high crustal temperatures, a high degree of fracture, or the presence of fluids at high pore pressure in the crust. We located 725 local earthquakes and classified them in three categories. We found that the level of seismic activity in western Anatolia is higher than previously reported. Station delays resulting from the inversion process correlate with near-surface geology and the thickness of sediments throughout the region. The hypocentral distribution of the events indicates that peak seismicity for the region occurs at depths of about 10 km.     

Deep geoelectric structure over the Lower Brahmaputra valley and Shillong Plateau, NE India using magnetotellurics

Magnetotelluric studies over the Shillong plateau and lower Brahmaputra sediments have delineated the Dauki fault as a NE–SW striking thrust zone with a dip angle of about 30°, along which the low resistivity layer of Bengal sediments and the underlying oceanic crust subduct to the northwest. At present, about 50 km length of these sequences has subducted beneath the Shillong plateau and is traced up to depth of about 40 km. Another thrust zone, sub parallel to the Dauki thrust is observed in the lower Brahmaputra valley, corresponding to the Brahmaputra fault. This is interpreted to be an intracratonic thrust within the Indian plate. These results suggest that a large fraction of the seismicity over the Shillong plateau is associated with the NE–SW striking Dauki thrust, contrary to the earlier belief that this fault zone is relatively aseismic. The present studies also suggest that the Shillong plateau and the adjoining sedimentary layers act as a supracrustal block, not directly participating in the subduction process. However in response to the compressive tectonic forces generated by the Himalayan and Indo-Burman subduction processes the Shillong plateau, together with the Brahmaputra sediments overlying the Indian crust drift eastwards relative to the Bengal sediments along the surface expression of the Dauki fault leading to a dextral strike slip movement. We thus propose that the NE Indian crust responds to the compressive forces differently at different depths, governed by the rheological considerations. At deeper levels the crustal readjustments take place through the subduction along the Dauki and Brahmaputra thrusts where as, at the shallow levels the relative deformability of the supracrustal blocks have a strong influence on the tectonics, leading to the strike slip mechanism along the surface expression of the Dauki fault.