Theoretical amplitudes of body waves from a dislocation source in the Earth II. Core phases

Expressions are obtained for the ray-theoretical spectral amplitudes of body waves induced by a shear dislocation of arbitrary orientation and depth situated in a radially heterogeneous model of the earth. Account is taken of the azimuthal and colatitudinal radiation patterns of the source, the geometrical spreading, and the reflections and refractions at the free surface and at the mantle-core boundary.In this work spectral amplitudes are calculated for PKP, PKS, SKP and SKS. The results are presented in the form of tables for a source of strength U₀dS = 10¹⁵ cm³, where U₀ is the amount of the dislocation and dS is the fault area. Given the slip and dip angles of the source, the amplitudes of the four core phases can be obtained from these tables for all azimuths, for most of the epicentral distances at which a particular phase is observable, and for all the fourteen focal depths included in the Jeffreys-Bullen tables. It is found that the depth of the source has a strong effect on the amplitudes of the body-wave signals.     

The source of the great Assam earthquake — an interplate wedge motion

The source of the Assam earthquake of Aug. 15, 1950 is revealed from amplitude observations of surface and body waves at Pasadena, Tokyo and Bergen. Seiches' amplitudes in Norway, initial P motions throughout the world, aftershocks and landslides distribution, PP/P ratio at Tokyo, R/L ratio and directivity at Pasadena, are also used. The ensuing fault geometry and kinematics is consistent with the phenomenology of the event and the known geology of the source area. It is found that a progressive strike-slip rupture with velocity 3 km/sec took place on a fault of length 250 km and width 80 km striking 330–337° east of north and dipping 55–60° to ENE. The use of exact surface-wave theory and asymptotic body-wave theory which takes into account finiteness and absorption, rendered an average shear dislocation of 35 m. A three-dimensional theory for the excitation of seiches in lakes by the horizontal acceleration of surface waves was developed. It is confirmed that Love waves near Bergen generated seiches with peak amplitude up to 70 cm depending strongly on the width of the channel.It is believed that the earthquake was caused by a motion of the Asian plate relative to the eastern flank of the Indian plate where the NE Assam block is imparted a tendency of rotation with fracture lines being developed along its periphery.Comparison with other well-studied earthquakes shows that although the magnitude of the Assam event superseded that of all earthquakes since 1950, its potency U₀dS (700,000 m × km²) was inferior to that of Alaska 1964 (1,560,000 m × km²) and Chile 1960 (1,020,000 m × km²).     

Comparison of DC sensitivity patterns for anisotropic and isotropic media

Many rocks possess electrical properties with a clearly expressed anisotropy. The anisotropic character of the rocks is often overlooked in forming the Fréchet derivatives or sensitivity functions for parameter updating during the inversion of DC resistivity data. In this study we have compared the sensitivity patterns for an isotropic, homogeneous model with that for a transversely isotropic (i.e. anisotropic) model having a tilted axis of symmetry using a pole–pole array. The sensitivity functions are expressed in terms of the derivatives of the electric potential U with respect to the average conductivity σ_m (geometric mean of the longitudinal and transverse conductivities) and the coefficient of anisotropy λ. Results are plotted in both cross-section form and plan view for various dip and strike angles of the axis of symmetry. The derivative dU/dλ decreases more rapidly than the isotropic value dU/dσ, and shows pronounced asymmetry and weakening of magnitude with increasing dip of the plane of symmetry. The derivative dU/dσ_m also exhibits the asymmetric pattern (except for vertical and horizontal dip cases). The positive region between the electrodes only extends to a small depth compared to the isotropic derivative, even in the case of a vertical axis of symmetry (VTI medium). The ratio of this anisotropic derivative to the isotropic derivative, when plotted as a function of position and depth shows prominent differences in both the sign and the magnitude of the sensitivities, especially for steep dips and for strongly anisotropic rocks. The plot highlights the dangers of an isotropic assumption. Even for mildly anisotropic rocks (λ < 1.2) the possibility for error in interpretation is considerable. Combined borehole and surface measurements are needed to diagnose anisotropy. Further work is needed to design optimal electrode configurations in anisotropic situations.     

Normal Mode Energetics for Far-field Tsunamis Generated by Dislocations and Landslides

— We apply the normal mode representation of tsunami waves, as introduced by Ward (1980) to the systematic study of the excitation of far-field tsunamis by both dislocation sources (represented by double-couples of moment M ₀), and landslides (represented by single forces). Using asymptotic representations of the continuation of the tsunami eigenfunction into the solid Earth, we derive analytical expressions of the spectral amplitude generated by both systems. We show that the quadrupolar corrections defined by Dahlen (1993) in the case of landslides can result in an increase of 1 to 2 orders of magnitude of the effective force. Even so, the spectrum of tsunami waves generated by landslides is found to be offset significantly to relatively high frequencies (10 mHz), where dispersion becomes important and eventually diminishes time-domain amplitudes. We proceed to calculate the total energy delivered into the tsunami modes by integrating the energy of multiplets for an average source geometry. In the case of dislocation sources, and taking into account the corner frequency of the source, we reproduce the scaling with M ₀ ^4/3 which was derived from purely static arguments by Kajiura (1981). We compare the directivity patterns of far-field tsunami waves by dislocations and landslides, and conclude that the latter cannot give rise to pronounced lobes of directivity for physically acceptable values of the velocity of the slide. Directivity thus constitutes a robust discriminant of the nature of the source which, when applied to the 1946 Aleutian tsunami in the far-field, requires generation by a dislocative source.     

Theoretical and Observed Depth Correction for M s

—?Modal summation technique is used to generate 5000, three-component theoretical seismograms of Love and Rayleigh waves, assuming modified PREM (PREM-C) and AK135F global earth models. The focal depth h and the geometrical fault parameters are randomly chosen so as to uniformly cover possible source mechanisms and obtain uniform distribution of log h in the interval 1?h?h?M _s of the form:¶ΔM _s (h)=0 forh< 20km, ΔM _s (h)=0.314log(h)-0.409 for 20≠h< 60km, ΔM _s (h)=1.351log(h)-2.253 for 60≠h< 100km, ΔM _s (h)=0.400log(h)-0.350 for 100≠h< 600km .¶After applying the above correction, the relationship between the surface wave magnitude and the scalar seismic moment for the observational data set significantly improves, and becomes independent of the source depth. In relation to CTBT, no depth correction is needed for M _S when the m _b ???M _S discriminant is computed, because the proposed correction is zero for earthquakes with foci above 20?km.     

Temperature dependence of the elastic moduli of ringwoodite

The elastic moduli of polycrystalline ringwoodite, (Mg_0.91Fe_0.09)₂SiO₄, were measured up to 470 K by means of the resonant sphere technique. The adiabatic bulk (K_S) and shear (μ) moduli were found to be 185.1(2) and 118.22(6) GPa at room temperature, and the average slopes of dK_S/dT and dμ/dT in the temperature range of the study were determined to be −0.0193(9) and −0.0148(3) GPa/K, respectively. Using these results, we estimate seismic wave velocity jumps for a pure olivine mantle model at 520 km depth. We find that the jump for the S-wave velocity is about 1.5 times larger than that for the P-wave velocity at this depth. This suggests that velocity jumps at the 520 km discontinuity are easier to detect using S-waves than P-waves.     

Separation of Source, Propagation and Site Effects from S Waves¶of Local Earthquakes in Bursa Region, Northwestern Turkey

—?We have used micro-earthquake recordings (M= 1.8–4.1) of local events in the distance range of 5–60?km in order to quantify the attenuation and site effects in the vicinity of the Bursa city, Marmara region, Turkey. The data set consists of 120 three-component recorded accelograms from 69 earthquakes, recorded at six stations. Each station is deployed on different geologic units, such as massive limestone, slope deposit and Quaternary young sediments, in the framework of the Marmara Poly-Project.¶In this study a nonparametric inversion method was applied to acceleration records from the Bursa region to estimate source, site and path effects using a two-step inversion. At the first step, we determined attenuation functions by analyzing the distance dependence of the spectral amplitudes and retrieved values of Q _s (f) = 46.59f ^0.67. At the second step, the corrected S-waves spectral records for the attenuation function, including the geometrical spreading effect, were inverted to separate source and site response for 21 different frequencies selected between 0.5 and ～25?Hz. The near-surface attenuation, κ value, was also estimated by using the model proposed by Anderson and Hough (1984) at each site. We observed that κ₀ is smaller for stations located on rock site (I?dιr, SIGD, κ₀～0.004) compared to the one that is located on Neogene sediment (Çukurca, SCKR, κ₀～0.018).¶Site amplifications from inversion showed that the station located within the Bursa basin, Çukurca (SCKR), is the most important site with about 4.0 amplification value at 1.8?Hz. Demirta? (SDEM) amplifies the spectral amplitudes about 3.0 times at 2.0?Hz, SHMK about 3.5 times between 2.5 and 3.5?Hz and SHMT nearly reaching 3.5 times between 1.5 and 4.0?Hz. However, stations located on the Uluda? Mountain Massif (SKAY and SIGD), which correspond to a deep limestone geological unit, have the smallest amplification, that values between 0.6 and 1.4.     

Short-period PKP phases and the anelastic mechanism of the inner core

Short-period seismograms are synthesized for PKP phases in anelastic Earth models. The synthetics were constructed using a synthetic technique valid at grazing incidence, a source-time function appropriate for deep-focus earthquakes, and an instrument response for either a short-period WWSSN or SRO seismograph. The agreement between predicted and observed amplitudes and spectral ratios requires neither a low-Q_α zone at 0.2–2 Hz nor a low or negative P-velocity gradient at the bottom of the outer core. Thin low-Q_α zones beneath the inner core boundary fit spectral ratio data that sample the upper 200 km of the inner core but fail to fit data that sample the lower inner core. Only a model having Q_α^?1?[0.003, 0.004] at 0.2–2 Hz, nearly constant with depth in the inner core, satisfies all of the spectral ratio and amplitude data. The assumption of a bulk viscosity of 10-10³ Pa s for the liquid phase of a partially molten inner core combined with the observation of low shear attenuation in the inner core at frequencies less than 0.005 Hz limit the physical parameters associated with two possible attenuation mechanisms: (1) fluid flow and viscous relaxation due to ellipsoidally shaped inclusions of melt, and (2) the solid-liquid phase transformation induced by the stress change during the passage of a seismic wave. Both mechanisms require an order of 0.1% partial melt to reproduce the observed Q_α^?1. In the outer core, the time constant of the mechanism of phase transformation is predicted to be 10⁴–10⁶ s. Confirmation of small shear attenuation in the inner core in the frequency band of seismic body waves would favor the mechanism of phase transformation.     

Effects of site stiffness and source to receiver distance on surface wave tests׳ results

By using six 4.5 Hz geophones, surface wave tests were performed on four different sites by dropping freely a 65 kg mass from a height of 5 m. The receivers were kept far away from the source to eliminate the arrival of body waves. Three different sources to nearest receiver distances (S), namely, 46 m, 56 m and 66 m, were chosen. Dispersion curves were drawn for all the sites. The maximum wavelength (λ_max), the maximum depth (d_max) up to which exploration can be made and the frequency content of the signals depends on the site stiffness and the value of S. A stiffer site yields greater values of λ_max and d_max. For stiffer sites, an increase in S leads to an increase in λ_max. The predominant time durations of the signals increase from stiffer to softer sites. An inverse analysis was also performed based on the stiffness matrix approach in conjunction with the maximum vertical flexibility coefficient of ground surface to establish the governing mode of excitation. For the Site 2, the results from the surface wave tests were found to compare reasonably well with that determined on the basis of cross boreholes seismic tests.     

Investigations on cosmic-ray-produced nuclides in iron meteorites, 3. Exposure ages,meteoroid sizes and sample depths determined by mass spectrometric analyses of potassium and rare gases

Three physical quantities define the essentials of the cosmic ray exposure history of a sample of an iron meteorite: (1) the cosmic ray exposure age T, (2) the pre-atmospheric “size” S of the irradiated body, and (3) the location, i.e. the “depth” D, of the samples within the body. To establish these quantities for a given sample three independent quantities must be determined experimentally. In the present work T is ascertained by the ⁴¹K/⁴⁰K method and the ⁴He and ²¹Ne concentrations (C₄ and C₂₁) are measured by the isotope dilution method. Signer and Nier's evaluation of the rare gas distribution in the meteorite Grant and the measured exposure age for this meteorite provide the relationships allowing to ascertain for any meteorite the quantities S and D from the ²¹Ne production rate (P₂₁ = C₂₁/T) and the ⁴He/²¹Ne ratio.Earlier measurements have provided data on the isotopic composition of potassium in 74 different iron meteorites. New rare gas measurements are reported for some 40 samples. Results on the age, size and depth are obtained for almost 60 samples. These data suggest that Signer and Nier's model is well suited for describing not only the rare gas distribution in a single selected meteorite (Grant) but also the exposure histories of the great majority of all irons. For a few samples, however, secondary breakups of the meteoroid and a two- or multiple-stage irradiation must be invoked. Further measurements are proposed for testing and, possibly, refining the still somewhat uncertain relationships between the abundances of cosmogenic nuclides and the quantities T, S, and D in very large meteorites.Histograms are presented showing the age distributions for irons of different chemical groups and of different size ranges.The feasibility and the relative merits of other methods for the determination of T, S, and D are discussed.     

The Effects of Attenuation and Site on the Spectra of Microearthquakes in the Shillong Region of Northeast India

Microearthquake spectra from the Shillong region are analyzed to observe the effect of attenuation and site on these spectra. The spectral ratio method is utilized to estimate the Q values for both P- and S-waves in the subsurface layer, wherein the ratio of spectral amplitudes at lower and higher frequencies are taken into consideration for three stations at varying epicentral distances. Average estimates of Q _P and Q _S are 178 and 195. The ratio of Q _S to Q _P is estimated to be greater than 1 in major parts of the Shillong area, which can be related to the dry crust prevailing in the Shillong region. Typically, the variation in corner frequencies for these spectra is inferred to be characteristic of the site. Simultaneously, observations from spectral content of local earthquakes recorded at two different stations with respect to the reference site yield greater amplification of incoming seismic signals in the frequency range of 2–5 Hz, which is found to be well supported by the existing local lithology pertinent to that region.     

Source mechanism and source parameters of May 28, 1998 earthquake,Egypt

On May 28, 1998, a moderate size earthquake of mb 5.5 occurred offshore the northwestern part of Egypt (latitude 31.45°N and longitude 27.64°E). It was widely felt in the northern part of Egypt. Being the largest well-recorded event in the area for which seismic data from the global digital network are available, it provides an excellent opportunity to study the tectonic process and present day stress field occurring along the offshore Egyptian coast. The source parameters of this event are determined using three different techniques: modeling of surface wave spectral amplitudes, regional waveform inversion, and teleseismic body waveform inversion. The results show a high-angle reverse fault mechanism generally trending NNW–SSE. The P-axis trends ENE–WSW consistently with the prevailed compression stress along the southeastern Hellenic arc and southwestern part of the Cyprean arc. This unexpected mechanism is most probably related to a positive inversion of the NW trending offshore normal faults and confirms an extension of the back thrusting effects towards the African margin. The estimated focal depth ranges from 22 to 25 km, indicating a lower crustal origin earthquake owing to deep-seated tectonics. The source time function indicates a single source with rise time and total rupture duration of 2 and 5 s, respectively. The seismic moment (M _o) and the moment magnitude (M _w) determined by the three techniques are 1.03 × 10¹⁷ Nm, 5.28; 1.24 × 10¹⁷ Nm, 5.33; and 1.68 × 10¹⁷ Nm, 5.42; respectively. The calculated fault radius, stress drop, and the average dislocation assuming a circular fault model are 7.2 km, 0.63 Mpa, and 0.11 m, respectively.     

Influence of attenuation and site on microearthquakes’ spectra in Shillong region, of Northeast, India: A case study

We examine the influence of attenuation and site on the spectra of microearthquakes having origin within the Shillong region. The ratios of spectral amplitudes at lower and higher frequencies are measured for three different stations at varying epicentral distances to estimate Q value for both P- and S-wave in near and sub-surface layer. The average estimates of Q _P and Q _S are found to be 178 and 195. The ratio of Q _S to Q _P emerges to be greater than unity in major parts of the Shillong area, suggesting dominance of dry crust prevailing in Shillong region. The variation in corner frequencies for these spectra is inferred to be characteristics of the site. Besides, the disparity in spectral content with reference to hard rock site yields the inference that the incoming seismic signals get amplified considerably while traversing from southern part to northeastern part of Shillong, best outlined at 2 to 5 Hz, which is well corroborated by the existing lithology.     

Depositional processes and gas pore pressure in pyroclastic flows: an experimental perspective

The depositional processes and gas pore pressure in pyroclastic flows are investigated through scaled experiments on transient, initially fluidized granular flows. The flow structure consists of a sliding head whose basal velocity decreases backwards from the front velocity (U _f) until onset of deposition occurs, which marks transition to the flow body where the basal deposit grows continuously. The flows propagate in a fluid-inertial regime despite formation of the deposit. Their head generates underpressure proportional to U _f ² whereas their body generates overpressure whose values suggest that pore pressure diffuses during emplacement. Complementary experiments on defluidizing static columns prove that the concept of pore pressure diffusion is relevant for gas-particle mixtures and allow characterization of the diffusion timescale (t _d) as a function of the material properties. Initial material expansion increases the diffusion time compared with the nonexpanded state, suggesting that pore pressure is self-generated during compaction. Application to pyroclastic flows gives minimum diffusion timescales of seconds to tens of minutes, depending principally on the flow height and permeability. This study also helps to reconcile the concepts of en masse and progressive deposition of pyroclastic flow units or discrete pulses. Onset of deposition, whose causes deserve further investigation, is the most critical parameter for determining the structure of the deposits. Even if sedimentation is fundamentally continuous, it is proposed that late onset of deposition and rapid aggradation in relatively thin flows can generate deposits that are almost snapshots of the flow structure. In this context, deposition can be considered as occurring en masse, though not strictly instantaneously.     

Comparison of Sesimic Body Wave and Coda Wave Measures of Q

—Measurements of seismic attenuation (Q ^?1) can vary considerably when made from different parts of seismograms or using different techniques, particularly at high frequencies. These discrepancies may be methodological, or may reflect earth processes. To investigate this problem, we compare body wave with coda Q ^?1 results utilizing three common techniques i) parametric fit to spectral decay, ii) coda normalization of S waves, and iii) coda amplitude decay with lapse time. Q ^?1 is measured from both body and coda waves beneath two mountain ranges and one platform, from recordings made at seismic arrays in the Caucasus and Kopet Dagh over paths ≤ 4° long. If Q is assumed frequency independent, spectral decay fits show Q _s and Q _coda near 700–800 for both mountain paths and near 2100–2200 for platform paths. Similar values are determined with the coda normalization technique. However, frequency-dependent parameterizations fit the data significantly better, with Q _s ?(1 Hz) and Q _coda?(1 Hz) near 200–300 for mountain paths and near 500–600 for platform paths. Lapse decay measurements are close to the frequency-dependent values, showing that both spectral and lapse decay methods can give similar results when Q has comparable parameterizations. Above 6 Hz, coda measurements suggest some enrichment relative to body waves, perhaps due to scattering, but intrinsic absorption appears to dominate at lower frequencies. All approaches show sharp path differences between the Eurasian platform and adjacent mountains, and all are capable of resolving spatial variations in Q.     

Stress-strain state of the lithosphere in the southern Baikal region and northern Mongolia from data on seismic moments of earthquakes

Investigation and understanding of the present-day geodynamic situation are of key importance for the elucidation of the laws and evolution of the seismic process in a seismically active region. In this work, seismic moments of nearly 26000 earthquakes with K _p ≥ 7 (M _LH ≥ 2) that occurred in the southern Baikal region and northern Mongolia (SBNM) (48°–54°N, 96°–108°E) from 1968 through 1994 are determined from amplitudes and periods of maximum displacements in transverse body waves. The resulting set of seismic moments is used for spatial-temporal analysis of the stress-strain state of the SBNM lithosphere. The stress fields of the Baikal rift and the India-Asia collision zone are supposed to interact in the region studied. Since the seismic moment of a tectonic earthquake depends on the type of motion in the source, seismic moments and focal mechanisms of earthquakes belonging to four long-term aftershock and swarm clusters of shocks in the Baikal region were used to “calibrate” average seismic moments in accordance with the source faulting type. The study showed that the stress-strain state of the SBNM lithosphere is spatially inhomogeneous and nonstationary. A space-time discrepancy is observed in the formation of faulting types in sources of weak (K _p = 7 and 8) and stronger (K _p ≥ 9) earthquakes. This discrepancy is interpreted in terms of rock fracture at various hierarchical levels of ruptures on differently oriented general, regional, and local faults. A gradual increase and an abrupt, nearly pulsed, decrease in the vertical component of the stress field S _v is a characteristic feature of time variations. The zones where the stress S _v prevails are localized at “singular points” of the lithosphere. Shocks of various energy classes in these zones are dominated by the normal-fault slip mechanism. For earthquakes with K _p = 9, the source faulting changes with depth from the strike-slip type to the normal-strike-slip and normal types, suggesting an increase in S _v . On the whole, the results of this study are well consistent with the synergism of open unstable dissipative systems and are usable for interpreting the main observable variations in the stress-strain state of the lithosphere in terms of spatiotemporal variations in the vertical component of the stress field S _v . This suggests the influence of rifting on the present-day geodynamic processes in the SBNM lithosphere.     

Study of dislocation model and evolution characteristics of vertical deformation field of gongheM S=6.9 earthquake

The preliminary research results of vertical deformation dislocation model of GongheM _S =6.9 earthquake show that, the causative structure is a hidden fault with strike N60°W, dipping S47°W, which lies near the current subsidence center of Gonghe basin. The rupture length and width are 30km and 14km, the upper and lower bound depth of the fault in width direction are 3km and 17km respectively. The maximum coseismic and preseismic vertical deformation of GongheM _S =6.9 earthquake are 247mm and about 100mm. The reasons why there existed rapid postseismic uplift are also given a tentative discussion.     

Q P andQ S in Beijing and Jianchuan,Yunnan areas

Events from the December 1982 Huairou County, Beijing, and the July 1982 Jianchuan, Yunnan earthquake series were recorded at one station in Beijing City and at four stations in Eryuan area, Yunnan, respectively. Dividing the spectra (for P and S waves) from the smaller events in the series by spectra (for corresponding P and S waves) from the larger events in cach region, we have determined the high frequency source spectral decay rate to be ω^?1in both cases. Through trial and error method, we are able to determine the appropriate constantQ _P andQ _S that corrects the individual spectra to the proper high frequency decay rate. It is found that aQ _P of 800 and aQ _S of 550 can adequately compensate for the attenuation of the waves in Beijing area. For Jianchuan, Yunnan area the corresponding values are 900 and 400.     

Geomagnetically Induced Currents and Space Weather: Pi3 Pulsations and Extreme Values of Time Derivatives of the Geomagnetic Field’s Horizontal Components

The problem of estimating the time derivatives of the horizontal components of the geomagnetic field and forecasting the probability of the occurrence of perturbations that exceed a given threshold level (the over-threshold perturbations) arises in the applications concerned with the geomagnetically induced currents (GICs). In this work, we consider the temporal and spatial structure of the Pi3 pulsations with quasi-periods of 10² to 10³ s during which the auroral and subauroral stations of the IMAGE network record over-threshold values in the derivatives of the meridional (along the longitudinal circle) B_X component and latitudinal (along the latitudinal circle) B_Y component. The extreme |dB_X/dt| values mainly develop against the background of the Pi3 pulsations with a complex frequency content, whereas the extreme |dB_Y/dt| values appear when the buildup (decay) phases of the bay-like disturbance associated with the evolution of a substorm coincide with the respective phases of the field of pulsations. The conditions under which the derivatives |dB_X/dt| and |dB_Y/dt| reach their over-threshold values are studied for subauroral latitudes by the technique of superposed epoch analysis. The extreme values of the derivatives most frequently occur during the main phase of moderate magnetic storms or beyond the storm—during high substorm activity under the conditions of a negative vertical component of the interplanetary magnetic field. The probability of the occurrence of over-threshold values increases at high amplitudes of the Pi3 pulsations and depends on their spectral content. The problem of analyzing and forecasting the over-threshold |dB_Y/dt| perturbations is complicated by the fact that the scale of the perturbations is small along the lines of latitude and large along the meridians. This can result in GIC excitation in the North–South oriented electric power lines by the geomagnetic perturbations localized within a narrow band in longitude which can be missed during the measurements.