Structural analysis of the gravity field over the American-Antarctic Ridge

This paper discusses the structure of the American-Antarctic Ridge based on analysis of the gravity field. Analysis of the gravity field in different reductions and its transforms allowed the revelation of zonal, regional, and local specific features in the field’s structure and their correlation with contemporary notions on the tectonic zoning of the American-Antarctic Ridge and adjacent regions. The lineament structures of the field allowed locating the areas of spreading zones and principal transform and fracture zones. Comparison between the location of these structural features and the interpretation results of shipboard magnetic measurements confirmed the reliability of the received data. Results of the performed investigations presented in the form of structural schemes are a basis for constructing a model of the tectonosphere under the American-Antarctic Ridge.     

The information content of gravity and magnetic data for a survey of the structure and evolution of the tectonosphere of the South Atlantic region

The evolution of the American-Antarctic spreading system is a part of the common evolution of the South Atlantic. Structural analysis that was performed by the authors across the South Atlantic region shows that not only valuable information about the tectonosphere structure but useful complementary information can be obtained on its basis. This information improves the reliability of the interpretation of the physical, tectonic, and geological processes that are taking place within the evolution of the tectonic provinces and regions according to the reconstruction model. The results of the structural analysis, together with reconstructions of the South Atlantic, allowed us to connect them with the evolution of the region and define the place of the American-Antarctic ridge spreading system in the evolution of the South Atlantic Ocean, as well as its interaction with adjacent tectonic structures.     

A 3D-density simulation of the structure of the tectonosphere in the SW Indian Ocean

The method and results of 3D simulation of the structure of the tectonosphere in the SW Indian Ocean based on gravity field data are presented. The study included the formation of 3D-density models for several areas covering large tectonic structures in the SW Indian Ocean. The formation of 3D-density models of the structure of the tectonosphere was based on the results of structural analysis, which had been performed earlier for the gravity and anomalous magnetic fields, and 2D-density simulation along profiles crossing large structures in the study region. As a result of the 3D simulation, maps of the Moho discontinuity and maps of the density distribution in the oceanic crust were built for the largest structures of the region.     

Spreading of a NAPL lens in a double-porosity medium

Spreading of a non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) denser than water (DNAPL) lens (mound) in the unsaturated zone of double-porosity aquifer above an impervious plane boundary is investigated. The double-porosity aquifer is conceptualized as a fracture network surrounding pervious blocks. Vertical gravity equilibrium is assumed to prevail in each one of the two media, fractures and blocks. Through vertical integration, two coupled partial differential equations for the DNAPL content in each medium are obtained. The mass exchange rate between high- and low-permeability media is considered as a function of NAPL content. The dominant effect is gravity, whereas capillary forces are negligible. Analytical solutions for one-dimensional and axisymmetric problems of mound spreading are obtained.     

起伏地表下的复杂三维地质模型建立与重力异常计算

由于地质体和矿体的形态非常复杂，使用长方体网格离散建立正演模型时可能和真实情况有很大差别，因此计算结果可靠性差。本文提出一种基于约束Delaunay网格剖分的方法对地质体进行离散并进行重力建模，在模型边界等复杂区域使用网格自适应加密技术，将三维地质体离散为有限个四面体；并详细推导出针对四面体网格的重力正演公式，实现了基于约束Delaunay网格剖分技术的三维重力数值模拟；最后，针对一个合成数据模型，将计算解与解析解对比。结果表明，细化网格的模拟结果比粗糙网格更好，满足数值模拟的精度要求。将该方法应用到金川矿区实际地质体建模中，根据局部需要，建立各处网格密度不均匀的三维模型，并计算该模型的地表重力场，而后对比模拟数据与实测数据，结果表明Delaunay网格建模方法具有很强的适用性，能够模拟复杂的地质体重力异常。     

Processing and interpretation of the gravity field of the East African Rift: implication for crustal extension

Compilation of new and existing gravity data were undertaken to assess the nature of the crust beneath the East African Rift System. Using 3D gravity modeling code crustal model of gravity profiles across two sectors of the rift were computed. The results are discussed in light of the structure of the rift system.The results of the 3D modeling of gravity profiles across the two rift zones revealed northward thinning of the crust. The maximum crustal attenuation occurs beneath the Afar depression, indicating the Afar rift undergoes an intense fragmentation of the crust resulting from faulting and magmatic activity. However, our computed crustal thickness below the Afar depression falls within an upper bound compared to elsewhere below tectonically active rift zones. This can be explained in terms of crustal accretion resulting from an impact of the Afar mantle plume since 30 Ma ago.The residual gravity obtained using high-cut filtering techniques reveals significant density contrast between the northern and southern sectors of the rift. The northern part of the rift is characterized by regular patterns of positive gravity anomalies, which can be interpreted in terms of a zone of crustal thinning through which relatively dense materials have intruded the overlying crust. In contrast, south of the Main Ethiopian Rift, the anomalies are characterized by random patterns and low amplitudes. The along-rift-axis variation in gravity anomalies implies that the style of crustal deformation changed progressively, beginning with regionally distributed crustal deformation, such as the one we observe within the more juvenile and wider southern segment of the rift, to localized deformation within the active and narrow rift zones of the northern sector of the Ethiopian Rift. We suggest that the key parameters controlling along-rift-axis variation in gravity anomalies are the rate of crustal extension, faulting and magmatic activities.     

Crustal density structure in the Spanish Central System derived from gravity data analysis (Central Spain)

Shallow and deep sources generate a gravity low in the central Iberian Peninsula. Long-wavelength shallow sources are two continental sedimentary basins, the Duero and the Tajo Basins, separated by a narrow mountainous chain called the Spanish Central System. To investigate the crustal density structure, a multitaper spectral analysis of gravity data was applied. To minimise biases due to misleading shallow and deep anomaly sources of similar wavelength, first an estimation of gravity anomaly due to Cenozoic sedimentary infill was made. Power spectral analysis indicates two crustal discontinuities at mean depths of 31.1 ± 3.6 and 11.6 ± 0.2 km, respectively. Comparisons with seismic data reveal that the shallow density discontinuity is related to the upper crust lower limit and the deeper source corresponds to the Moho discontinuity. A 3D-depth model for the Moho was obtained by inverse modelling of regional gravity anomalies in the Fourier domain. The Moho depth varies between a mean depth of 31 km and 34 km. Maximum depth is located in a NW–SE trough. Gravity modelling points to lateral density variations in the upper crust. The Central System structure is described as a crustal block uplifted by NE–SW reverse faults. The formation of the system involves displacement along an intracrustal detachment in the middle crust. This detachment would split into several high-angle reverse faults verging both NW and SE. The direction of transport is northwards, the detachment probably being rooted at the Moho.     

Improving resolution of gravity data with wavelet analysis and spectral method

Gravity data are the results of gravity force field interaction from all the underground sources. The objects of detection are always submerged in the background field, and thus one of the crucial problems for gravity data interpretation is how to improve the resolution of observed information. The wavelet transform operator has recently been introduced into the domain fields both as a filter and as a powerful source analysis tool. This paper studied the effects of improving resolution of gravity data with wavelet analysis and spectral method, and revealed the geometric characteristics of density heterogeneities described by simple shaped sources. First, the basic theory of the multiscale wavelet analysis and its lifting scheme and spectral method were introduced. With the experimental study on forward simulation of anomalies given by the superposition of six objects and measured data in Songliao plain, Northeast China, the shape, size and depth of the buried objects were estimated in the study. Also, the results were compared with those obtained by conventional techniques, which demonstrated that this method greatly improves the resolution of gravity anomalies. Translated from Progress in Geophysics, 2007, 22(1): 112–120 [译自: 地球物理学进展]     

碾压混凝土重力坝全程综合仿真分析与安全评估

运用有限元方法对光照碾压混凝土重力坝进行施工期温度、渗流、应力应变的综合仿真分析,得出了温度场、渗流场及应力场的分布规律,在此基础上评价整个坝体与坝基系统稳定性的安全度,为坝体与坝基系统的温控、渗控和安全性评价提供参考依据。同时对光照碾压混凝土重力坝进行了不考虑温度、徐变、浇筑过程和蓄水过程的应力-应变和安全度计算,并对两种计算的结果进行了比较,结果表明：对碾压混凝土重力坝而言两者的位移相差最大,达70 mm;应力差别其次,达1.5 MPa;而整体稳定超载安全系数则没有本质区别。由于变形、应力和稳定安全系数在碾压混凝土重力坝设计中都是重要指标,所以综合仿真分析具有意义。     

Multibeam bathymetry and sidescan imaging of the Rivera Transform–Moctezuma Spreading Segment junction, northern East Pacific Rise: New constraints on Rivera–Pacific relative plate motion

To better understand the recent motion of the Pacific plate relative to the Rivera plate and to better define the limitations of the existing Rivera–Pacific plate motion models for accurately predicting this motion, total-field magnetic data, multibeam bathymetric data and sidescan sonar images were collected during the BART and FAMEX campaigns of the N/O L'Atalante conducted in April and May 2002 in the area surrounding the Moctezuma Spreading Segment of the East Pacific Rise, located offshore of Manzanillo, Mexico, at 106°16′W, between 17.8°N and 18.5°N. Among the main results are: (1) the principle transform displacement zone of the Rivera Transform is narrow and well defined east of 107o15′W and these azimuths should be used preferentially when deriving new plate motion models, and (2) spreading rates along the Moctezuma Spreading Segment should not be used in plate motion studies as either seafloor spreading has been accommodated at more than one location since the initiation of seafloor spreading in the area of the Moctezuma Spreading Segment, or this spreading center is not a Rivera–Pacific plate boundary as has been previously assumed. Comparison of observed transform azimuths with those predicted by the best-fit poles of six previous models of Rivera–Pacific relative motion indicate that, in the study area, a significant systematic bias is present in the predictions of Rivera–Pacific motion. Although the exact source of this bias remains unclear, this bias indicates the need to derive a new Rivera–Pacific relative plate motion model.     

郯庐断裂带南段的重磁场特征及其地质意义

由于断裂两侧的磁性、密度的纵横向差异在重力、磁力异常上有所表现,因此所获得的重力、磁力数据为深入研究关键的地质课题提供了科学基础,如郯庐断裂带的基底性质、断裂形成特征和岩浆岩分布。利用最新的高精度航空重力和磁力数据以及地面重力数据,绘制了郯庐断裂带地区的1∶50 000重力和磁力异常图,并结合区域地质数据分析了重力和磁力异常特征。分析结果认为:存在连体的郯庐—大别古老构造带,郯庐断裂带南段是元古宙和燕山中期岩浆活动的复合反映带;郯庐断裂带为中元古—新元古代时期南华北陆块与下扬子陆块的界限;磁力、重力异常图对比说明,合肥盆地范围由老到新向东扩展。     

Gravity field recovery from airborne gradiometer data using collaction and taking into account correlated errors

Least squares collocation is a very comprehensive method for gravity field modelling, since it may use known noise characteristics of the data. In many earlier applications the errors affecting the data were considered uncorrelated, mainly due to the difficulty in estimating the systematic character of such kind of errors. In this study, error covariance functions of airborne gravity gradiometer data are estimated by comparing model covariance functions with empirical covariance functions of the gravity gradiometer data. The model covariance functions were estimated from accurate surface gravity data and continuated upward to the height of the airborne measurements using the covariance propagation law. The estimated error covariance functions were modeled as finite ones and used as an additional information for the prediction of gravity anomalies from gravity gradiometer data. The assessment of the prediction results was made by comparing the gravity values predicted from the airborne gradient data and showed up to 25% improvement compared to not using correlated errors.     

曲波变换在位场信号提取中的应用研究

为了重磁数据中有效信号的分离与提取,本文研究了最近十几年发展起来的一种方法:曲波变换方法(Cur-velet transform method).从曲波变换的基本原理入手,通过重力位场理论模型数据分析了曲波变换的多尺度分解重构能力,并且利用加噪理论模型数据分析了曲波变换的阈值去噪能力,此外,还使用曲波变换对南岭东部地区...     

龙门山均衡重力异常及其对青藏高原东缘山脉地壳隆升的约束

青藏高原东缘处于不均衡状态，自西而东可分为青藏高原弱负均衡重力异常区、龙门山正均衡重力异常区和四川盆地负均衡重力异常区，表明该区的不均衡状态并未导致Airy均衡运动的产生，即龙门山没有均衡下降，而处于不断的隆升状态，显示该地区反均衡运动的构造抬升是导致龙门山隆升的主因。本次采用似三度体重力异常计算方法对该区的正均衡重力异常进行模拟和反演，研究了大尺度地貌分异与均衡重力异常分区之间的相互关系，结果表明，龙门山的下地壳顶面抬升了11．2～12．6km，造成了龙门山的正均衡异常，揭示了构造抬升和剥蚀作用在相似的时间尺度上和空间尺度上控制着龙门山地貌的形成，龙门山的表面隆升是构造隆升和剥蚀作用相叠加的产物。     

Detecting rift basins in the Evans Ice Stream region of West Antarctica using airborne gravity data

A total of 11,500 line km of aerogravity data have been used to construct an free-air gravity anomaly map for the Antarctic region that may contain the microplate boundary between the Haag Nunataks block and southern Antarctic Peninsula. Along-line free-air gravity anomaly data resolved wavelengths of 9 km or greater with better than 5 mGal accuracy. Coincident radio echo soundings provided data to construct a digital terrain model. The gravity effect of the terrain was calculated by Gauss–Legendre quadrature (GLQ) and spectrally correlated with the free-air gravity data. Terrain-correlated free-air anomalies related to possible isostatic imbalances of the crust were separated from terrain-decorrelated anomalies that may reflect intra-crustal density contrasts. Subtracting terrain-correlated free-air anomalies from the gravity effects of the terrain yielded compensated terrain gravity effects (CTGE) that were used to model the Moho by inversion. The results indicate moderate but significant crustal thinning below the Evans Ice Stream that is consistent with an extensional origin for the deep, wide, steep-sided trough that contains the ice stream as well as the continued elevation of the footwall flank of the basin. Changes along the axis of the rift, both in the gravity anomaly field and the distribution of Moho topography, can be explained by processes associated with continental lithospheric extension. Subsequently, many of the features produced by extension have been modified by glacial erosion and the sub-ice topography and gravity data reflect this.     

基于正演模拟的火山岩重磁响应特征研究:以川西地区二叠系为例

近期的川西地区深层火山岩勘探成果表明该地区二叠系火山岩具有巨大勘探潜力,但目前以地震为主的勘探手段在精细刻画火山岩分布范围等方面尚存在困难,本研究尝试通过重磁方法为火山岩勘探提供更多有利证据。利用川西地区最新的重磁资料,结合现有地质认识分析川西地区重磁物性特征;根据不同模型的重磁正演模拟结果,总结川西地区深层火山岩重磁响应特征。通过实测重磁资料处理,分析研究区断裂分布特征和高磁异常分布规律。研究表明:(1)正演结果显示磁力异常对火山岩的反应敏感,重力异常对断裂构造反应明显,但对火山岩无明显反应;(2)磁力异常对火山岩的刻画能力较为突出,能够识别出厚度大于45 m的火山岩,但对于火山岩埋深、岩性变化的识别存在困难;(3)通过研究区重力异常解译出的断裂构造与研究区已知断裂构造吻合度较高,同时利用磁力异常刻画的火山岩分布情况与现有认识也具有可比性。重磁勘探在四川盆地火山岩勘探中具有重要作用,重力勘探可探明控制火山岩分布的深大断裂的发育情况,磁力勘探能够识别出火山岩平面分布特征,快速圈定有利靶区,进而为火山岩勘探提供有力的重磁依据。     

Detection of major geological structures in the Eastern offshore of India using Geosat altimeter data

Satellite altimetry can be used to infer subsurface geological structures analogous to gravity anomaly maps generated through ship-borne survey. The Eastern offshore was taken up for analysis using Geosat Exact Repeat Mission (ERM) altimeter data. A methodology is developed to use altimeter data as an aid to offshore hydrocarbon exploration. Processing of altimeter data involves corrections for various atmospheric and oceanographic effects, stacking and averaging of repeat passes, cross-over correction, removal of deeper earth and bathymetric effects, spectral analysis and conversion into free-air gravity anomaly. The final processed results were derived for Eastern offshore in the form of prospecting geoid and gravity anomaly maps and their spectral components. The highs and lows observed in those maps were derived in terms of a number of prominent megastructures e.g., gravity linears, 85°E and 90°E ridges, the Andaman trench complex etc. Satellite-derived gravity profiles along 12°N latitude match well with the existing structures.     

MATLAB programs for the synthetic models

The separation of residual gravity anomaly from regional gravity has considerably been studied for many years in gravity explorations. In addition, it is considered as a critical step in gravity data inversion. Some techniques have been developed for regional–residual anomaly separation both in space and frequency domains. One of these techniques for computing the regional anomaly is nonlinear filtering. In this paper, some techniques such as low-pass filtering, Butterworth, upward continuation, and nonlinear filtering are used to on synthetic gravity data in present of random noise and noise free for the purpose of residual–regional anomaly separation. The obtained results of techniques are compared with each other. The results have shown that separation methods are so efficient where synthetic models are located in shallow depth. Moreover, it is found that in comparison with other separation techniques, nonlinear filtering is more efficient in residual–regional anomaly separation and upward continuation technique is more efficient than Butterworth filter and low-pass filter. In addition, all of the obtained results have shown that Butterworth and low-pass filters are the same.     

航空重力弱信号提取的卡尔曼滤波方法研究

航空重力测量以飞机为载体对重力场数据进行采集.由于气流、飞行状态及机体自身振动等因素的影响,航空重力测量原始数据含有大量的噪声,信噪比高达上万级分之一,因此从原始测量数据中获取弱小重力信号成为航空重力测量系统发展的一个技术难题.本文针对航空重力测量系统将通用卡尔曼滤波公式进行了适应性调整,建立了航空重力异常的数学模型,...     

Groundwater flow model of the Pipiripau watershed, Federal District of Brazil

In order to understand the groundwater dynamics and to improve the management of water resources in the Federal District of Brazil, this research proposes a 3D groundwater flow model to represent the groundwater level and flow system. The selected test site was the Pipiripau catchment. The development of the model was based on available geological, hydrogeological, geomorphological, climatological and pedological data. Geological and hydrogeological data were used to generate the 3D groundwater flow model. The 3D mesh elements of the domain were generated through the Groundwater Modeling System software, based on the logs of the well materials. The numerical simulation of the finite element method was implemented in the framework of the scientific software OpenGeoSys. With the 3D mesh-appropriated boundary conditions, annual average infiltration data and hydrogeological parameters were incorporated. Afterwards, the steady-state model was calibrated by the PEST software using available data of the water level from wells. The results showed the distribution of the steady-state hydraulic heads in the model domain, where the highest values occurred in the east and west recharge areas and the lowest values were found in the southwest of the basin. The results of this study can be a used as initial condition for the transient groundwater flow simulation and to provide a scientific basis for water resource management.