Joint inversion of high-frequency surface waves with fundamental and higher modes

Joint inversion of multimode surface waves for estimating the shear (S)-wave velocity has received much attention in recent years. In this paper, we first analyze sensitivity of phase velocities of multimodes of surface waves for a six-layer earth model, and then we invert surface-wave dispersion curves of the theoretical model and a real-world example. Sensitivity analysis shows that fundamental mode data are more sensitive to the S-wave velocities of shallow layers and are concentrated on a very narrow frequency band, while higher mode data are more sensitive to the parameters of relatively deeper layers and are distributed over a wider frequency band. These properties provide a foundation of using a multimode joint inversion to define S-wave velocities. Inversion results of both synthetic data and a real-world example demonstrate that joint inversion with the damped least-square method and the singular-value decomposition technique to invert high-frequency surface waves with fundamental and higher mode data simultaneously can effectively reduce the ambiguity and improve the accuracy of S-wave velocities.     

Addressing non-uniqueness in linearized multichannel surface wave inversion

The multichannel analysis of the surface waves method is based on the inversion of observed Rayleigh-wave phase-velocity dispersion curves to estimate the shear-wave velocity profile of the site under investigation. This inverse problem is nonlinear and it is often solved using 'local' or linearized inversion strategies. Among linearized inversion algorithms, least-squares methods are widely used in research and prevailing in commercial software; the main drawback of this class of methods is their limited capability to explore the model parameter space. The possibility for the estimated solution to be trapped in local minima of the objective function strongly depends on the degree of nonuniqueness of the problem, which can be reduced by an adequate model parameterization and/or imposing constraints on the solution.
In this article, a linearized algorithm based on inequality constraints is introduced for the inversion of observed dispersion curves; this provides a flexible way to insert a priori information as well as physical constraints into the inversion process. As linearized inversion methods are strongly dependent on the choice of the initial model and on the accuracy of partial derivative calculations, these factors are carefully reviewed. Attention is also focused on the appraisal of the inverted solution, using resolution analysis and uncertainty estimation together with a posteriori effective-velocity modelling. Efficiency and stability of the proposed approach are demonstrated using both synthetic and real data; in the latter case, cross-hole S-wave velocity measurements are blind-compared with the results of the inversion process.     

基于面波频散的三维横波速度方位各向异性层析成像方法

地震各向异性是反映地球内部介质特性的重要指针之一。常用的横波分裂法和二维面波方位各向异性层析成像方法很难准确反映各向异性随深度的变化。将与周期相关的区域化面波方位各向异性转换成与深度相关的一维横波速度方位各向异性可以弥补深度信息不足的缺陷。现有三维横波速度各向异性研究多是通过两步方法来实现的,即逐个周期二维面波方位各向异性层析成像以及逐个格点一维横波速度方位各向异性反演。这种分步反演的方式既不利于三维先验约束的引入,也不利于利用原始观测拟合误差对三维模型进行直接评估。因此本文开发了基于面波频散曲线的三维横波速度方位各向异性层析成像方法,并编制了相关正演和反演程序。为了检测方法和程序的有效性,我们对规律分布的三维检测板模型进行了模拟测试。测试结果显示:该方法可以很好地恢复各向同性波速异常、各向异性相对强度和快波方向等三维结构信息;而且反演模型相对于参考模型明显改善了对观测数据的拟合,降低了对观测数据的均方根误差。但对各向同性理论模型进行各向异性反演时,在波速均匀区可产生小于0.5%的假各向异性幅值,在波速非均匀区该假的各向异性幅值会更大,浅部可达3.5%。因此在实际应用中需要谨慎解释（浅部）非均匀区的各向异性结果。      

A hybrid inversion method of damped least squares with simulated annealing used for Rayleigh wave dispersion curve inversion

Surface wave methods are becoming increasingly popular in many geotechnical applications and in earthquake seismology due to their noninvasive characteristics.Inverse surface wave dispersion curves are a crucial step in most surface wave methods.Many inversion methods have been applied to surface wave dispersion curve inversion,including linearized inversion and nonlinearized inversion methods.In this study,a hybrid inversion method of Damped Least Squares(DLS) with Very Fast Simulated Annealing(VFSA) is developed for multi-mode Rayleigh wave dispersion curve inversion.Both synthetic and in situ fi eld data were used to verify the validity of the proposed method.The results show that the proposed method is superior to the conventional VFSA method in aiming at global minimum,especially when parameter searching space is adjacent to real values of the parameters.The advantage of the new method is that it retains both the merits of VFSA for global search and DLS for local search.At high temperatures,the global search dominates the runs,while at a low temperatures,the local search dominates the runs.Thus,at low temperatures,the proposed method can almost directly approach the actual model.     

一种基于层析成像技术提高浅地表面波勘探水平分辨率的方法

在高频面波方法中,水平分辨率是指水平方向上分辨异常体的能力.异常体在水平方向上的长度可用水平方向上横波速度的异常尺度来确定.面波多道分析（MASW）方法被广泛应用于浅地表横波速度结构的探测,然而该方法确定的横波速度是整个检波器排列的平均计算结果,因此水平分辨率较差.另外,采用共中心点（CMP）多次覆盖的方式采集数据亦增加了野外的工作量.我们在MASW方法的基础上,应用面波层析成像方法,提出一套提高面波勘探水平分辨率的完整方法的技术流程.首先,利用波场分离技术获得准确的基阶或高阶模式面波,采用相位扫描的互相关方法测量多道面波记录中任意两道之间的面波走时;然后根据面波层析成像方法,获得高分辨率的各目标网格内的纯路径相速度频散曲线;最后反演所有目标网格内的纯路径相速度频散曲线,得到研究区域的拟二维横波速度结构.这套方法具有一定的抗噪能力,理论上它可以准确地提取相邻两道之间面波的相速度频散曲线;同时由于该方法最少只需要1个排列就可以获得拟二维横波速度结构,因此它显著减小了野外工作量.理论模型和实际资料都证实了这套方法可有效提高面波勘探的水平分辨率.     

Application of passive source surface-wave method in site engineering seismic survey

Site engineering seismic survey provides basic data for seismic effect analysis. As an important parameter of soil, shear-wave velocity is usually obtained through wave velocity testing in borehole. In this paper, the passive source surface-wave method is introduced into the site engineering seismic survey and practically applied in an engineering site of Shijingshan District. By recording the ubiquitous weak vibration on the earth surface, extract the dispersion curve from the surface-wave components using the SPAC method and obtain the shear-wave velocity structure from inversion. Over the depth of 42 m underground, it totally consists of five layers with interface depth of 3.31, 4.50, 7.23, 17.41, and 42.00 m; and shear-wave velocity of 144.0, 198.3, 339.4, 744.2, and 903.7 m/s, respectively. The inversion result is used to evaluate site classification, determine the maximum shear modulus of soil, provide basis for further seismic hazard analysis and site assessment or site zoning, etc. The result shows that the passive source surface-wave method is feasible in the site engineering seismic survey and can replace boreholes, shorten survey period, and reduce engineering cost to some extent.     

S-wave Velocity Profiles for Earthquake Engineering Purposes for the Cologne Area (Germany)

Local S-wave velocity-depth profiles are a key factor in seismic hazard assessment, as they allow the amplification potential of the sedimentary cover to be evaluated. Ambient seismic noise is mainly composed of surface waves, and therefore contains vital information about the S-wave velocity structure, allowing polarization or dispersion curves to be obtained from single station or array noise recordings. At two sites in the area of Cologne, Germany, the extended spatial correlation method was applied to such recordings and apparent phase velocity curves in the frequency range of interest for earthquake engineering were obtained. Using this data, a linearized inversion, the simplex downhill method, and a genetic algorithm yielded similar S-wave profiles. However, the latter method is recommended since it is less dependent upon a good starting model. Importantly, the presence of low-velocity layers in the Cologne area made it necessary to consider in the frequency range of interest higher modes in the inversion procedures. Finally, independent information on the total thickness of the sedimentary cover permitted the estimation of a 2D S-wave velocity profile crossing the Cologne area. Here, the H/V ratio inversion using 20 single-station noise recordings was used, with the results in good agreement with a geological profile.     

Technique for Combining Surface Wave Tomography with Receiver Function Results for Studying Upper Mantle Velocity Structure

Izvestiya, Physics of the Solid Earth - Abstract—A technique is proposed for joint inversion of the surface-wave velocity dispersion data from long travelpaths and the results of the receiver...     

Advantages of Using Multichannel Analysis of Love Waves (MALW) to Estimate Near-Surface Shear-Wave Velocity

As theory dictates, for a series of horizontal layers, a pure, plane, horizontally polarized shear (SH) wave refracts and reflects only SH waves and does not undergo wave-type conversion as do incident P or Sv waves. This is one reason the shallow SH-wave refraction method is popular. SH-wave refraction method usually works well defining near-surface shear-wave velocities. Only first arrival information is used in the SH-wave refraction method. Most SH-wave data contain a strong component of Love-wave energy. Love waves are surface waves that are formed from the constructive interference of multiple reflections of SH waves in the shallow subsurface. Unlike Rayleigh waves, the dispersive nature of Love waves is independent of P-wave velocity. Love-wave phase velocities of a layered earth model are a function of frequency and three groups of earth properties: SH-wave velocity, density, and thickness of layers. In theory, a fewer parameters make the inversion of Love waves more stable and reduce the degree of nonuniqueness. Approximating SH-wave velocity using Love-wave inversion for near-surface applications may become more appealing than Rayleigh-wave inversion because it possesses the following three advantages. (1) Numerical modeling results suggest the independence of P-wave velocity makes Love-wave dispersion curves simpler than Rayleigh waves. A complication of “Mode kissing” is an undesired and frequently occurring phenomenon in Rayleigh-wave analysis that causes mode misidentification. This phenomenon is less common in dispersion images of Love-wave energy. (2) Real-world examples demonstrated that dispersion images of Love-wave energy have a higher signal-to-noise ratio and more focus than those generated from Rayleigh waves. This advantage is related to the long geophone spreads commonly used for SH-wave refraction surveys, images of Love-wave energy from longer offsets are much cleaner and sharper than for closer offsets, which makes picking phase velocities of Love waves easier and more accurate. (3) Real-world examples demonstrated that inversion of Love-wave dispersion curves is less dependent on initial models and more stable than Rayleigh waves. This is due to Love-wave’s independence of P-wave velocity, which results in fewer unknowns in the MALW method compared to inversion methods of Rayleigh waves. This characteristic not only makes Love-wave dispersion curves simpler but also reduces the degree of nonuniqueness leading to more stable inversion of Love-wave dispersion curves.     

Joint inversion of Rayleigh‐wave dispersion data and vertical electric sounding data: synthetic tests on characteristic sub‐surface models

In the traditional inversion of the Rayleigh dispersion curve, layer thickness, which is the second most sensitive parameter of modelling the Rayleigh dispersion curve, is usually assumed as correct and is used as fixed a priori information. Because the knowledge of the layer thickness is typically not precise, the use of such a priori information may result in the traditional Rayleigh dispersion curve inversions getting trapped in some local minima and may show results that are far from the real solution. In this study, we try to avoid this issue by using a joint inversion of the Rayleigh dispersion curve data with vertical electric sounding data, where we use the common‐layer thickness to couple the two methods. The key idea of the proposed joint inversion scheme is to combine methods in one joint Jacobian matrix and to invert for layer S‐wave velocity, resistivity, and layer thickness as an additional parameter, in contrast with a traditional Rayleigh dispersion curve inversion. The proposed joint inversion approach is tested with noise‐free and Gaussian noise data on six characteristic, synthetic sub‐surface models: a model with a typical dispersion; a low‐velocity, half‐space model; a model with particularly stiff and soft layers, respectively; and a model reproduced from the stiff and soft layers for different layer‐resistivity propagation. In the joint inversion process, the non‐linear damped least squares method is used together with the singular value decomposition approach to find a proper damping value for each iteration. The proposed joint inversion scheme tests many damping values, and it chooses the one that best approximates the observed data in the current iteration. The quality of the joint inversion is checked with the relative distance measure. In addition, a sensitivity analysis is performed for the typical dispersive sub‐surface model to illustrate the benefits of the proposed joint scheme. The results of synthetic models revealed that the combination of the Rayleigh dispersion curve and vertical electric sounding methods in a joint scheme allows to provide reliable sub‐surface models even in complex and challenging situations and without using any a priori information.     

利用多种地震数据联合反演剪切波速度结构的可靠性检测

本文模拟使用青藏高原东南缘区域台网及国家台网的170个宽频台站基于背景噪声、天然地震面波、P波接收函数反演时的实际数据,对青藏高原东南缘假定的初始模型进行恢复,通过计算初始模型台站下方纯路径频散、提取各台站对间的瑞雷波频散曲线、计算理论接收函数以及反演剪切波速度结构来测试使用不同单项数据与联合使用多种数据反演对初始模型的恢复程度。结果表明,同时使用接收函数、基于噪声经验格林函数的群速度、相速度频散以及基于天然地震面波的相速度频散联合反演的剪切波速度结构,充分利用了几种数据的分辨率优势,清晰地分辨出中下地壳及上地幔顶部的低速层。此外,本文也分析了实际数据处理中出现的计算误差、随机噪声干扰对计算结果稳定性的影响。结果显示:对于面波频散,加入1%的误差后,联合反演的结果仍可很好地反映低速层的形态,但是当误差提升至5%后,对最终结果则产生了一定程度的影响;而在接收函数中加入4%的随机噪声时,虽然地幔低速层的上界面和下界面会略微受到随机噪声的影响,但是低速层的深度范围和速度值均得到了较好的恢复。     

地震波形多尺度反演的一点讨论

基于在反演过程中对初始模型依赖性强、易陷入局部极值等问题,本文引入小波分析,提出多尺度地震波形反演方法,从而将参数反演问题转化到小波域中重要系数优化问题。利用多尺度之间的内在联系及小波域中重要系数的稀疏性,有将改进了局部极值、计算量等问题。并对几种多尺度反演策略进行了比较讨论。基于波动方程正演及褶积模型的两种反演方法的数值实便结果显示了本方法良好的效果。     

Depth and morphology of reflectors from the non-linear inversion of arrival-time and waveform semblance data. Part I: method and applications to synthetic data

We propose a two-dimensional, non-linear method for the inversion of reflected/converted traveltimes and waveform semblance designed to obtain the location and morphology of seismic reflectors in a lateral heterogeneous medium and in any source-to-receiver acquisition lay-out. This method uses a scheme of non-linear optimization for the determination of the interface parameters where the calculation of the traveltimes is carried out using a finite-difference solver of the Eikonal equation, assuming an a priori known background velocity model. For the search for the optimal interface model, we used a multiscale approach and the genetic algorithm global optimization technique. During the initial stages of inversion, we used the arrival times of the reflection phase to retrieve the interface model that is defined by a small number of parameters. In the successive steps, the inversion is based on the optimization of the semblance value determined along the calculated traveltime curves. Errors in the final model parameters and the criteria for the choice of the best-fit model are also estimated from the shape of the semblance function in the model parameter space. The method is tested and validated on a synthetic dataset that simulates the acquisition of reflection data in a complex volcanic structure. This study shows that the proposed inversion approach is a valid tool for geophysical investigations in complex geological environments, in order to obtain the morphology and positions of embedded discontinuities.     

Sparse Bayesian linearized amplitude-versus-angle inversion

The technique of seismic amplitude-versus-angle inversion has been widely used to estimate lithology and fluid properties in seismic exploration. The amplitude-versus-angle inversion problem is intrinsically ill-posed and generally stabilized by the use of L2-norm regularization methods but with drawback of smoothing important boundaries between adjacent layers. In this study, we propose a sparse Bayesian linearized solution for amplitude-versus-angle inversion problem to preserve the sharp geological interfaces. In this regard, a priori constraint term with two regularization functions is presented: the sparse constraint regularization and the low-frequency model information. In addition, to obtain high-resolution reflectivity estimation, the model parameters decorrelation technique combined with dipole decomposition method is employed. We validate the applicability of the presented method by both synthetic and real seismic data from the Gulf of Mexico. The accuracy improvement of the presented method is also confirmed by comparing the results with the commonly used Bayesian linearized amplitude-versus-angle inversion.     

瑞雷波多阶模式频散曲线稀疏正则化反演方法研究

目前瑞雷波多阶模式频散曲线反演中仅考虑数据的拟合,缺乏对模型的约束,不能很好地刻画地层间断面的问题,针对此问题,研究了瑞雷波多阶模式频散曲线稀疏正则化反演方法.正演模拟基于广义反射-透射系数法,数值计算上采用一种快速求根方法,与二等分方法相比,能够在很短的时间内达到最优的收敛效果;反演建模时采用L1范数正则化方法对模型...     

Non-uniqueness in surface-wave inversion and consequences on seismic site response analyses

Surface-wave tests are based on the solution of an inverse problem for shear-wave velocity profile identification from the experimentally measured dispersion curve. The main criticisms for these testing methodologies are related to the inverse problem solution and arise from the possible equivalence of different shear-wave velocity profiles. In this paper, some implications of solution non-uniqueness for seismic response studies are investigated using both numerical simulations and experimental data. A Monte Carlo approach for the inversion problem has been used to obtain a set of equivalent shear-wave velocity models. This selection is based on a statistical test which takes into account both data uncertainty and model parameterization. This set of solutions (i.e., soil profiles) is then used to evaluate the seismic response with a conventional one-dimensional analysis. It is shown that equivalent profiles with respect to surface-wave testing are equivalent also with respect to site amplification, thus countering the criticism related to inversion uncertainty for the engineering use of surface-wave tests.     

Stepwise joint inversion of surface wave dispersion,Rayleigh wave ZH ratio,and receiver function data for 1D crustal shear wave velocity structure

Accurate determination of seismic velocity of the crust is important for understanding regional tectonics and crustal evolution of the Earth. We propose a stepwise joint linearized inversion method using surface wave dispersion, Rayleigh wave ZH ratio (i.e., ellipticity), and receiver function data to better resolve 1D crustal shear wave velocity (v _S) structure. Surface wave dispersion and Rayleigh wave ZH ratio data are more sensitive to absolute variations of shear wave speed at depths, but their sensitivity kernels to shear wave speeds are different and complimentary. However, receiver function data are more sensitive to sharp velocity contrast (e.g., due to the existence of crustal interfaces) and v _P/v _S ratios. The stepwise inversion method takes advantages of the complementary sensitivities of each dataset to better constrain the v _S model in the crust. We firstly invert surface wave dispersion and ZH ratio data to obtain a 1D smooth absolute v _S model and then incorporate receiver function data in the joint inversion to obtain a finer v _S model with better constraints on interface structures. Through synthetic tests, Monte Carlo error analyses, and application to real data, we demonstrate that the proposed joint inversion method can resolve robust crustal v _S structures and with little initial model dependency.     

横向非均匀介质多道瑞雷波频散曲线正演

作为近地表横波速度结构成像的主要手段之一,面波多道分析法的正问题研究对现场观测系统设计及后续反演计算具有重要意义.目前面波频散曲线的正演主要分为两类:一是对水平层状介质中面波的本征值问题进行求解,该类方法计算效率高但较难考虑地下介质在横向上的不均匀性;二是基于波动方程的全波场模拟,该类方法在理论上可考虑任意复杂的地质模型但计算成本相对较高.本文基于振幅归一化加权的聚束分析,提出了一种适用于横向非均匀介质模型的多道瑞雷波频散曲线正演方法.首先,基于聚束分析的计算公式推导得到了经振幅归一化加权后输出功率谱中相速度与局部相速度之间的关系,然后通过黄金分割极值搜索算法计算得到了多道瑞雷波数据的理论频散曲线.数值分析结果表明,该算法能够快速地实现横向非均匀介质中多道瑞雷波频散曲线的正演计算,所求取的频散曲线与采用二维弹性波时间域有限差分模拟分析得到的结果误差较小,这在一定程度上说明了该计算方法的可靠性,从而可为面波多道分析法中的观测系统快速优化设计以及横向非均匀介质中频散曲线的反演解释提供理论支撑.     

Multiscale phase inversion for 3D ocean-bottom cable data

We invert three-dimensional seismic data by a multiscale phase inversion scheme, a modified version of full waveform inversion, which applies higher order integrations to the input signal to produce low-boost signals. These low-boost signals are used as the input data for the early iterations, and lower order integrations are computed at the later iterations. The advantages of multiscale phase inversion are that it (1) is less dependent on the initial model compared to full waveform inversion, (2) is less sensitive to incorrectly modelled magnitudes and (3) employs a simple and natural frequency shaping filtering. For a layered model with a three-dimensional velocity anomaly, results with synthetic data show that multiscale phase inversion can sometimes provide a noticeably more accurate velocity profile than full waveform inversion. Results with the Society of Exploration Geophysicists/European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers overthrust model shows that multiscale phase inversion more clearly resolves meandering channels in the depth slices. However, the data and model misfit functions achieve about the same values after 50 iterations. The results with three-dimensional ocean-bottom cable data show that, compared to the full waveform inversion tomogram, the three-dimensional multiscale phase inversion tomogram provides a better match to the well log, and better flattens angle-domain common image gathers. The problem is that the tomograms at the well log provide an incomplete low-wavenumber estimate of the log's velocity profile. Therefore, a good low-wavenumber estimate of the velocity model is still needed for an accurate multiscale phase inversion tomogram.     

基于广义模式识别面波基模式频散曲线反演研究

面波多道分析方法(MASW)是获取垂向剪切波速度剖面的一种有效方法。频散曲线反演是MASW中关键的一步。由于瑞雷波频散曲线反演具有非线性、多参数和多极值的特征,这对于常规的局部线性化反演方法是极大的挑战。为此,本文采取确定性的全局优化算法,广义模式识别算法(GPS)对瑞雷波频散曲线进行反演。其原理可以简述为:算法首先通过模式以确定性的方式对目标函数进行采样来搜索一个点序列;然后使序列中每一个点到下一个点的目标函数值逐渐减少,从而使点序列逐渐逼近全局最优解,最后的解便为待求的最优模型参数。为验证GPS的有效性,首先利用设计的3种典型的6层地质模型通过快速矢量传递算法正演模拟产生基模式频散曲线(频率范围为5~101Hz,频率间隔为2Hz,频点数为49),并对理论频散曲线进行反演。反演结果表明,模型的真实值已经被高度精确地重建。说明GPS可以用于实际勘探中的基模式频散曲线反演。为进一步验证GPS的有效性,在吉林大学校园采集瑞雷波实测数据,并提取基模式频散曲线,应用GPS进行反演。反演重建的横波速度剖面与先验的地质信息吻合得很好。理论模型和真实数据的反演结果表明,GPS可以应用在瑞雷波频散曲线非线性反演中。