地球内核顶部300 km速度和衰减各向异性的区域变化

衰减结构是地球内核的重要性质,它可以与地球内核的速度结构结合,对内核的形成和演化机制提供更全面的信息.本文系统收集了1991年到2014年全球、区域和临时地震台网的PKPDF和PKPBC数据,研究了澳大利亚、非洲和太平洋中部下方内核顶部300 km的速度和衰减各向异性结构.速度结果表明,澳大利亚下方内核的速度没有明显的各向异性,但是非洲和太平洋中部下方的内核具有明显的各向异性,且非洲的速度各向异性强于太平洋中部.同时,相对于AK135模型,澳大利亚的平均速度快0.5%,而非洲和太平洋中部的平均速度与参考模型没有明显差异.对于内核的衰减结构,我们得到以下结果：1）在东西方向,内核顶部200 km左右的区域,澳大利亚的衰减最强（Q值在400左右）,非洲和太平洋中部的Q值分别在600和500左右.2）澳大利亚下方的内核衰减没有明显的各向异性,非洲和太平洋中部下方的内核衰减存在明显的各向异性.此外,内核在非洲地区的衰减各向异性强于太平洋中部的各向异性.3）最后,内核中三个区域的速度和衰减具有良好的相关性,即高/低速对应于高/低衰减.考虑到以上结果以及三个区域的位置,我们认为内核顶部的速度和衰减结构都存在区域变化,而不是简单的半球变化.这种区域变化很可能是由于核幔边界热结构的不均一性和内核耦合,使得内核顶部的不同区域在形成过程中受不同的变形影响,从而形成铁晶体不同的生长和排列,引发了不同的各向异性特征.

     

地球内核的地震学研究进展

介绍和讨论了用地震学观测资料和方法研究内核所取得的各种不同的最新结果.内核差异旋转的研究结果争论很大,Souriau和宋晓东给出的差异转速值分别为(0±0.2)°/a和(0.15-1.1)°/a.内核上部数百公里厚度的层区内,西半球比东半球各向异性强,即存在明显的半球尺度上的差异.资料和研究表明,在内核浅部似乎是各向同性的,而其余部分是各向异性的,由此需要提出一个过渡带模型来解释内核各向异性的径向和横向变化.通过大量资料分析还发现,在半径约300km的中心区域,其各向异性比浅部更强.这成为"最内核"存在的证据,并从而展示了一个全新的内核结构:上内核、过渡带、下内核、最内核.介质品质因子的研究指出内核高波速区却是波动能量高衰减区,与在地幔中两者的相关规律性很不相同.内核的横波研究虽然更为困难,但也有少数学者做了努力.     

苏门达腊大地震激发的地球自由振荡及其谱线分裂的检测与讨论

2004年12月26日的苏门达腊大地震不仅产生了印度洋大海啸, 还激发了地球自由振荡. 武汉台C0-32超导重力仪记录到这次大地震激发的地球自由振荡信号. 通过对C0-32超导重力仪观测资料的预处理和谱分析, 不仅检测到42个基频振型和2个径向振型, 还较系统地检测到49个谐频振型和12个振型的谱峰分裂. 通过对检测到的谐频振型及异常谱峰分裂现象的讨论, 发现内核顶部的刚度是低于目前地球模型的理论估值, 但内核顶部压缩波速的各向异性却是高于目前学者的估测值. 这表明地球内核的各向异性远比目前所认识的复杂, 可能在地球内核的形成及演化过程中还存在新的地球物理现象.     

由地震简正模式观测得到的内核各向异性区域变化

地球的固体内核被对流的液体外核包围,由此创建了驱动地球磁场的地核发电机。用压缩体波研究地震显示出内核各向异性结构的半球性变化,但由于受地震和接收器分布状况所限,这一结论还不够充分。本文中,利用大地震的简正模式分裂函数测定结果,并基于扩展交叉耦合理论,我们观测到了区域变化和内核中东、西两半球的各向异性。这一模式与地球磁场的相似性说明在固化或组构演变过程中由Maxwell应力引起的晶体排列的凝入是产生各向异性的根源。这些观测结果限制了内核超速旋转的总量,但与振荡相符。     

利用前临界PcP-PKiKP约束ICB＂马赛克＂结构

地球内核缓慢结晶于高度均匀的液态外核,长期被视为简单的均质铁镍合金球体。然而,近年的地震观测揭示了内核各尺度不均匀结构的存在。其中大到（约1000km）全球尺度的准东西半球分划,     

内核超速旋转及其对重力场的影响

本文研究由内核超速旋转引起的地球重力场的变化.论述了内核具有三个主要特征：椭球形状,各向异性对称轴与内核自转轴重合,内核自转轴与地球自转轴之间存在夹角并绕地球自转轴进动.内核超速旋转引起地球体系物质的重新分布,导致重力场变化.通过研究内核超速旋转的运动规律,建立了内核超速旋转导致重力场变化的模型,给出了由于内核超速旋转而引起的整个地球表面的重力变化,其中,在假定了内核超速旋转速率为1°/a的前提下,历经一年的最大重力变化量级约为0.37 μGal.     

地核内部的近赤道面各向异性

地球固态内核有很强的地震波各向异性(Moreli et al,1986;Woodhouse et al,1986;Creager,1992;Tromp,1993;Song,1997),这通常认为是由于铁晶体的优势定向排列造成的(Brown and Mcqueen,1986)。而各向异性结构在横向和深度方向上的变化(Shearer,1994;Song and Helmberger,1995;Tanaka and Hamaguchi,1997;Niu and Wen,2001;Sun and Song,2008)为研究内核的超速旋转提供了依据(Song and Richards,1996),并为研究内核的形成和动力过程(Deguen and Cardin,2009;Alboussiere et al,2010)提供了重要的线索和约束。过去的所有研究均认为内核的各向异性可以近似为轴对称模型,而其快轴方向平行于地球自转轴。现已有人认为地球内核最中心部分的各向异性可能有显著不同(Ishii and Dziewonski,2002),但是目前对其特征甚至是存在性的认识仍然有很大的不确定性(Beghein and Trampert,2003;Cormier and Stroujkova,2005;Sun and Song,2008;Lythgeo et al,2014)。本文通过分析1992年到2012年全球宽频带地震台阵的大地震尾波自相关,发现两个穿过内核的震相在低纬度台阵的相对走时有非常大的差异,甚至可以达到10秒。进一步,我们发现地核内部的各向异性快轴是两端分别穿过西半球的中美洲与东半球的东南亚的靠近赤道面方向的一条轴线,这与外内核南北向的快轴方向显著不同。这种各向异性的方向和形态的显著差异可能意味着固态内核在形成和演化过程中发生过重大变化。     

Lg波Q值随震源深度的变化作为地壳本征衰减深度的判据

Lg波的Q_Lg值是描述区域地壳结构及介质衰减特性的重要参数之一,Q_Lg层析成像被广泛应用于地壳衰减结构横向不均匀性的研究中.但是,对Q_Lg在垂直方向上的不均匀性的研究较少.当发现一个地区发生Q_Lg值低时,我们希望进一步了解这种介质衰减深度.本文通过数值模拟合成地震图的方法,通过分析不同震源深度和介质模型计算Q_Lg,判断Lg波发生主要衰减的深度.研究结果显示：（1）当震源深度浅时,上地壳介质衰减对于Lg波Q值的影响明显比下地壳的影响更大.而震源深度深时,两者贡献基本相当;（2）如果上地壳介质衰减强,则随着震源深度的增加,η值逐渐减小;如果下地壳介质衰减强,η值先增大后减小;但如果下地壳存在低速层,则η值持续增大;（3）如果上地壳介质衰减强,则随着震源深度的增加,Q₀逐渐增大;反之如果下地壳介质衰减强,则Q₀逐渐减小.因此,我们可以通过调查某一区域不同深度地震的Lg波衰减规律,来判断这一地区的地壳介质衰减情况.

     

各向异性衰减薄层地震响应特征研究

薄储层的叠前地震响应特征研究,特别是针对具有速度各向异性的含流体薄层,对储层描述具有十分重要的意义.文中基于波动方程数值模拟方法,正演得到各向同性弹性、各向同性衰减、速度各向异性、各向异性衰减模型的地震波场,并对比分析了四种模型的纵波（PP）和转换横波（PS）地震反射特征.研究结果表明：在衰减介质背景下,引入各向异性,PP和PS波的反射波振幅较弹性介质均减弱,且衰减因素对薄层振幅的影响强于各向异性.同时,VTI各向异性衰减在单频PS振幅曲线上表现出强差异性,而HTI各向异性衰减则会影响PP和PS波单频振幅曲线的极值点幅值和位置,通过分析单频振幅曲线的极值点振幅和极值点位置对各向异性衰减薄层预测有指导作用,尤其对平时较难分辨的VTI各向异性衰减薄层,单频分析方法的优势更明显.

     

利用前临界PcP-PKiKP资料研究中国东部内核边界性质

前临界内核边界反射震相PKiKP与核幔边界反射震相PcP构成组合,能有效压制浅部结构及震源因素的干扰,提供了对内核边界精细结构的直接约束. 本研究从华北克拉通西北部密集流动地震台阵一年观测资料中筛选出8个地震事件,得到共计 73对PcP-PKiKP组合,覆盖了从朝鲜半岛到我国东北及华中地区下方的内核边界. 本文系统分析了走时残差和振幅比数据,结果显示:(1)密集台阵资料有助于前临界PKiKP震相拾取,而浅源地震亦可提供高质量的PcP-PKiKP观测资料.(2)走时残差呈现了自西北向东南从正常到负异常的迅速变化(沿内核边界70 km范围内>0.5 s), 限制了研究区域内核界面不超过3 km的起伏. (3)相对振幅比变化表明了研究区内核边界密度差北西—南东向的系统增加, 揭示了内核结晶环境的小尺度扰动.     

Tomographic inversion for three-dimensional anisotropy of Earth’s inner core

Seismological studies generally suggest that the Earth’s inner core is anisotropic and the anisotropic structure changes significantly both laterally and with depth. Previous body-wave studies of the inner core have relied on ray tracing or waveform modeling using one-dimensional (1D) models. Here we present non-linear tomographic inversions of the inner core anisotropy using three-dimensional (3D) ray tracing, spline parameterization, and a large collection of PKP differential travel times. We adapt a pseudo-bending ray tracing (PBR) method in spherical coordinates for seismic rays that traverse the inner core (PKP(DF) phase). The method iteratively perturbs each discontinuity point and continuous segment of the ray through 3D earth structure so that its travel time is minimum. The 3D anisotropic structure of the inner core is approximated to the first order as 3D heterogeneous (but isotropic) structure for a given ray. The data are corrected using a scaled mantle tomographic model. The inner core anisotropy model obtained has the following major features. (1) The model has strong hemispherical and depth variation. The isotropic velocity in the topmost inner core is greater in quasi-eastern hemisphere (QEH) (40–160°E) than in quasi-western hemisphere (QWH) (other longitudes). The anisotropy is weak in QEH to the depth of 600–700 km below the inner core boundary (ICB), while in QWH, the anisotropy increases at much shallower depth (about 100–200 km below the ICB) to about 3–4%, then remains at about 2–4% throughout the rest of the inner core. (2) The anisotropy form changes abruptly (over a depth range of about 150 km) at the radius of about 600 km, slightly less than half of the inner core radius, forming a distinct inner inner core (IIC). The velocity in the IIC has maximums at equatorial and polar directions and minimum at an angle of about 40° from the equatorial plane. The velocity in the outer inner core (OIC), however, changes little for ray directions 0–40° from the equatorial plane. (3) Despite large variation of the anisotropy, the isotropic velocity (Voigt average) throughout the inner core is nearly uniform. The results suggest that the OIC is likely composed of the same type of iron crystals with uniform chemistry, but the IIC may be composed of a different type of crystal alignment, a different iron phase, or a different chemical composition. Our tests on model parameterization, mantle correction, and linear and non-linear inversion suggest the main features of our model are very robust. However, fine scale structures are likely to differ, particularly in the major transition zones, e.g., in the topmost QWH (isotropy to anisotropy), between OIC and IIC (change in the form of anisotropy), and between QEH and QWH in OIC (difference in anisotropy strength). Searches for possible waveform complications from these boundaries need to be aware of the directional dependence and geographical variation to be successful.     

黄海及其邻近地区的Pn波速度与各向异性

利用中国东部地震台网和ISC 报告1980~2004年的地震走时数据,反演了黄海及其邻近地区的Pn波速度和各向异性,根据岩石层地幔的横向非均匀性分析了区域地质构造的深部特点.Pn波速度的变化与区域地质构造有一定的对应关系,黄海地区上地幔顶部的P波平均速度较高,没有发现明显的低速异常,表明上地幔顶部不存在大范围的地幔扰动.速度异常的分布表明,南黄海东部和西部有可能分属于不同的构造块体,其间的分界大致对应于南北走向的黄海东部断裂带,具有相对较低的Pn波速度.边界东、西两侧的Pn波各向异性存在明显的差异：南黄海西部Pn波的快波方向以北东—北北东方向为主,反映了海区内部扬子块体向北运动产生的构造变形;南黄海东部Pn波的快波方向为南北方向,与黄海东部断裂带的走向基本一致,说明黄海东部和西部之间存在一个深达岩石层地幔的南北向转换边界.结合相关资料估计黄海东部断裂带在中生代时期发生了右旋走滑运动,以响应中国东部郯庐断裂带的大规模左旋剪切以及南黄海扬子块体的向北嵌入.     

Inner-core conductivity in numerical dynamo simulations

Speculation about its possible super-rotation has drawn the attention of many geophysical researchers to the Earth’s inner core. An issue of special interest for geodynamo modelling is the influence of the inner-core conductivity. It has been suggested that the finite magnetic diffusivity of the inner core prevents more frequent reversals of the Earth’s magnetic field. We explore the possible influence of the inner-core conductivity by comparing convection-driven 3D dynamo simulations with insulating or conducting inner cores (CIC) at various parameters. The influence on the field structure in the outer core is only marginal. The time behaviour of dipole-dominated non-reversing dynamos is also little affected. Concerning reversing dynamos, the inner-core conductivity reduces the number of short dipole-polarity intervals with a typical length of a few thousand years. Reversals are always correlated with low dipole strength and these short intervals are found in periods where the dipole moment stays low. Polarity intervals longer than about 10,000 years, where the dipole moment has time recover in strength, are equally likely in insulating and CIC models. Since these latter intervals are of more geophysical relevance, we conclude that the influence of the inner-core conductivity on Earth-like reversal sequences is insignificant for the dynamo model employed here.     

内核地震波速各向异性的成因

地球内核是轴对称各向异性的,其对称轴与地球的极轴之间有１１°左右的夹角,本 文根据地球内核相对于外部地球有差异转动这一观测结果,利用晶体生长理论,对内核地震波 速度各向异性的成因进行了探讨．当从熔融状态结晶时,晶体的生长速度与晶体和熔融态之 间相对运动的线速度成正比涸此当固态内核在液态外核中生长时,沿赤道方向的生长速度比 两极方向快．在万有引力场的作用下内核始终保持近似球形,生长速度较快的赤道附近的物 质会向两极区域流动,形成轴对称的流变场。这一轴对称的流变场伴随着轴对称的应力场,使 得构成地球内核的ｈｃｐ型铁晶体的ｃ轴沿着内核自转轴的方向排列,导致观测到的地球内核地 震波速度各向异性。作为推论,内核相对于外部地球可能同时存在着进动和章动。     

Anelastic structure of the upper mantle beneath the northern Philippine Sea

We investigated the upper mantle anelastic structure beneath the northern Philippine Sea region, including the Izu-Bonin subduction zone and the Shikoku Basin. We used regional waveform data from 69 events in the Pacific and the Philippine Sea slabs, recorded on F-net and J-array network broadband stations in western Japan. Using the S–P phase pair method, we obtained differential attenuation factors, δt^*, which represent the relative whole path Q. We conducted a tomographic inversion using 978 δt^* values to invert for a fine-scale (50–100 km) three-dimensional anelastic structure.

The results shows two high-Q regions (Q_P>1000) which are consistent with the locations of the Pacific and the Philippine Sea slabs. Also there is a low-Q (Q_P110) area extending to the deeper parts (350–400 km) of the model just beneath the old spreading center and the Kinan Seamount Chain in the Shikoku Basin. A small depth dependence of the laterally averaged Q_P was found, with values of 266 (0–250 km), 301 (250–400 km), and 413 (400–500 km).     

Research on the scatter features of the PKiKP/PcP amplitude ratio and the inner core boundary density contrasts beneath Northeast Asia

Quantifying the density contrasts of the Earth's inner core boundary(ICB) is crucial to understand core-mantle coupling and the generation of the geodynamo. The PKiKP/PcP amplitude ratio is commonly used to obtain the density contrast at the ICB, but its applications are limited by scattered observed data. In this study, we selected the PKiKP and PcP phases reflected at the same region of inner-core and core-mantle boundaries beneath Northeast Asia from different earthquakes for the first time, and the observations suggested that the PKiKP/PcP amplitude ratio is widely scattered. We also compared the PKiKP and PcP amplitudes, which demonstrated that the scatter cannot be attributed only to ICB anomalies but might also arise from raypath differences and heterogeneities throughout the crust and mantle. By fitting the observed PKiKP/PcP amplitude ratio, we obtained a density contrast of approximately 0.65 g cm~(-3) and a compressional velocity contrast of approximately 0.87 km s~(-1) at the ICB beneath Northeast Asia. The larger contrast values indicate the possible occurrence of local crystallization occurring at the inner core surface.     

Global P-wave tomography: On the effect of various mantle and core phases

In this work, many global tomographic inversions and resolution tests are carried out to investigate the influence of various mantle and core phase data from the International Seismological Center (ISC) data set on the determination of 3D velocity structure of the Earth's interior. Our results show that, when only the direct P data are used, the resolution is good for most of the mantle except for the oceanic regions down to about 1000 km depth and for most of the D″ layer, and PP rays can provide a better constraint on the structure down to the middle mantle, in particular for the upper mantle under the oceans. PcP can enhance the ray sampling of the middle and lower mantle around the Pacific rim and Europe, while Pdiff can help improve the spatial resolution in the lowermost mantle. The outer core phases (PKP, PKiKP and PKKP) can improve the resolution in the lowermost mantle of the southern hemisphere and under oceanic regions. When finer blocks or grid nodes are adopted to determine a high-resolution model, pP data are very useful for improving the upper mantle structure. The resulting model inferred from all phases not only displays the general features contained in the previous global tomographic models, but also reveals some new features. For example, the image of the Hawaiian mantle plume is improved notably over the previous studies. It is imaged as a continuous low velocity anomaly beneath the Hawaiian hotspot from the core-mantle boundary (CMB) to the surface, implying that the Hawaiian mantle plume indeed originates from the CMB. Low-velocity anomalies along some mid-oceanic ridges extend down to about 600 km depth. Our results suggested that later seismic phases are of great importance in better understanding the structure and dynamics of the Earth's interior.     

地球外核的电荷密度

为计算地球磁极处的磁感应强度,建立地球的磁场是由带电的地球外核的旋转产生的模型.先根据毕奥-萨伐尔定律计算球形模型绕自转轴旋转时在自转轴直径上产生的磁感应强度;再利用已知的地球外核的内外半径及地球半径和磁极处的磁感应强度值,计算出地球外核的电荷体密度及面密度.结果表明:若外核的电荷呈均匀的体密度分布,则其电荷体密度为3.5507 C/m³;若外核的电荷均匀分布在外核的外表面,则其面密度为2.4581×10⁶ C/m².通过地球表面的磁感应强度信息利用物理规律和地球物理数据推测地球内部难以直接进行探测的相关信息,具有实际意义.根据地震学方法对地球外核厚度、转向等变化的最新研究数据按该文模型可推测地球磁场强度、极性等的变化.而地球磁场的变化对地球上的人类生活颇有影响.     

Attenuation in the uppermost inner core from PKP recordings at African seismological stations

The attenuation factor Q_P at the top of the inner core is evaluated by using the amplitude spectral ratio of PKPdf and PKPbc phases observed at African stations (BGCA mostly), from strong deep earthquakes in the Pacific Ocean area. The maximum depth of penetration of the PKPdf phase into the inner core (IC) is roughly 377 km, and the sampled region of IC is centered beneath the Southern Indian Ocean. The derived mean value of Q_P is 249 ± 31 (95% confidence level) in the frequency range 0.2–2 Hz, where no frequency dependence of attenuation has been reliably observed. By using Student’s t-test, we show that the value is statistically significantly different (with a probability greater than 95%) from other mean values of Q derived by using the same method, for both the western (180 °W to 40 °E) and eastern (40 °E to 180 °E) hemispheres of the IC. The decrease of Q with the radius of the turning point (denoted by r^TP), according to Q_P = 840 − 0.62 r^TP, has a moderate statistical support (the R-squared value is 38%). A slightly increase of Q as a function of the angle of the PKPdf path within the inner core with respect to the Earth’s spin axis is observed, in agreement with various investigations performed in the time domain. However, the value of the anisotropy, if any, is suggested to be around 3%.