Perspectives of Cross-Correlation in Seismic Monitoring at the International Data Centre

We demonstrate that several techniques based on waveform cross-correlation are able to significantly reduce the detection threshold of seismic sources worldwide and to improve the reliability of arrivals by a more accurate estimation of their defining parameters. A master event and the events it can find using waveform cross-correlation at array stations of the International Monitoring System (IMS) have to be close. For the purposes of the International Data Centre (IDC), one can use the spatial closeness of the master and slave events in order to construct a new automatic processing pipeline: all qualified arrivals detected using cross-correlation are associated with events matching the current IDC event definition criteria (EDC) in a local association procedure. Considering the repeating character of global seismicity, more than 90 % of events in the reviewed event bulletin (REB) can be built in this automatic processing. Due to the reduced detection threshold, waveform cross-correlation may increase the number of valid REB events by a factor of 1.5–2.0. Therefore, the new pipeline may produce a more comprehensive bulletin than the current pipeline—the goal of seismic monitoring. The analysts’ experience with the cross correlation event list (XSEL) shows that the workload of interactive processing might be reduced by a factor of two or even more. Since cross-correlation produces a comprehensive list of detections for a given master event, no additional arrivals from primary stations are expected to be associated with the XSEL events. The number of false alarms, relative to the number of events rejected from the standard event list 3 (SEL3) in the current interactive processing—can also be reduced by the use of several powerful filters. The principal filter is the difference between the arrival times of the master and newly built events at three or more primary stations, which should lie in a narrow range of a few seconds. In this study, one event at a distance of about 2,000 km from the main shock was formed by three stations, with the stations and both events on the same great circle. Such spurious events are rejected by checking consistency between detections at stations at different back azimuths from the source region. Two additional effective pre-filters are f–k analysis and F _prob based on correlation traces instead of original waveforms. Overall, waveform cross-correlation is able to improve the REB completeness, to reduce the workload related to IDC interactive analysis, and to provide a precise tool for quality check for both arrivals and events. Some major improvements in automatic and interactive processing achieved by cross-correlation are illustrated using an aftershock sequence from a large continental earthquake. Exploring this sequence, we describe schematically the next steps for the development of a processing pipeline parallel to the existing IDC one in order to improve the quality of the REB together with the reduction of the magnitude threshold.     

Towards global seismic monitoring of underground nuclear explosions using waveform cross correlation. Part I: Grand master events

We propose to use waveform cross correlation techniques for seismic monitoring of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) by proving the ability to build the Global Grid (GG) of master events using high-quality waveform templates at stations of the International Monitoring System. In seismically active regions, the choice of the highest quality and most representative signals from earthquakes as templates for master events is straightforward and one can reduce the current amplitude detection threshold at the International Data Centre (IDC) by a factor of 2 to 3. This gain practically doubles the number of built events, and thus, is crucial for seismic monitoring under the CTBT. However, the coverage by real masters is confined to areas with natural seismicity. Here, we investigate the possibility to populate the GG with real and synthetic master events as a two part study. In Part I, we estimate the effectiveness of cross correlation based on a regular grid filled with grand-master events with replicated high-quality waveform templates.In Part II, we develop and estimate efficiency of synthetic waveform templates for aseismic zones. Both approaches are quantitatively tested using the aftershock sequence of the April 11, 2012 Sumatera earthquake. The cross correlation bulletin previously built using sixteen real master events is a natural benchmark to evaluate the performance of the replicated masters and synthetic waveforms. In Part I, we prove that the replicated grand masters demonstrate the performance at the level of real masters. The Primary IMS Seismic Network includes many array stations, which provide a higher resolution monitoring based on cross correlation.     

Geochemistry of Diagenesis of Organogenic Sediments: An Example of Small Lakes in Southern West Siberia and Western Baikal Area

Organogenic sediments (sapropels) in lakes are characterized by a reduced type of diagenesis, during which organic compounds are decomposed, the chemical composition of the pore waters is modified, and authigenic minerals (first of all, pyrite) are formed. Pyrolysis data indicate that organic matter undergoes radical transformatons already in the uppermost sapropel layers, and the composition of this organic matter is principally different from the composition of the organic matter of the its producers. The sapropels contain kerogen, whose macromolecular structure starts to develop during the very early stages of diagenesis, in the horizon of unconsolidated sediment (0–5 cm). The main role in the diagenetic transformations of organic matter in sediments is played by various physiological groups of microorganisms, first of all, heterotrophic, which amonifying, and sulfate-reducing bacteria. SO₄^2? and Fe²⁺ concentrations in the pore waters of the sediments are determined to decrease (because of bacterial sulfate reduction), while concentrations of reduced Fe and S species (pyrite) in the solid phase of the sediment, conversely, increase. Comparative analysis shows that, unlike sapropels in lakes in the Baikal area, sapropels in southern West Siberia are affected by more active sulfate reduction, which can depend on both the composition of the organic matter and the SO₄^2? concentration in the pore waters.     

Interblock zones of the northwestern Baikal rift: results of geological and geophysical studies along the Bayandai Village–Cape Krestovskii profile

The structure of the Earth’s crust at the junction of the Siberian craton and Sayan–Baikal Fold Belt was studied along the Bayandai Village–Cape Krestovskii profile (85 km long) by a set of geological and geophysical methods: structural survey, interpretation of long-distance photographs, emanation survey, electrical prospecting with self-potential (SP) and direct-current (DC) resistivity profiling, magnetotelluric sounding, magnetic survey, and hydrogeochemical sampling of water objects. Interpretation of the data refined the main features of the tectonic structure of western Cisbaikalia and revealed the disruption pattern and hierarchic zone–block structure of the Earth’s crust. The Obruchev fault system (≈50 km wide), which is the northwestern shoulder of the Baikal Rift, is the main interblock zone of the studied region. It consists of the Morskoi, Primorskii, and Prikhrebtovyi interblock zones, traced from depths of tens of kilometers and widening near the surface owing to superior structures. The studies gave an insight into the regularities in the occurrence of interblock zones and the criteria for their identification in different geologic-geophysical fields. An efficient complex of methods for mapping the Earth’s crust zone–block structure is proposed.