COMPUTER MODELING OF VERTICAL SEISMIC PROFILING*

There are numerous modeling techniques commonly employed for the computer simulation of seismic wave propagation. The capabilities of these techniques vary according to the theoretical foundations and subsequent approximations upon which the algorithms are based. This paper constitutes a comparative review of seven modeling methods: geometric ray theory, asymptotic ray theory, generalized ray theory, Kirchhoff wave theory, Fourier synthesis, finite differences, and finite elements. These methods can be categorized as ray or wave, acoustic or elastic, and can be contrasted according to their relative abilities to simulate such behavior as wave interference effects, diffractions, and mode conversions. As is implied by their names, geometric ray theory and asymptotic ray theory are both ray methods. The other five methods provide wave theory simulations. Geometric ray theory and Kirchhoff wave theory are normally implemented in acoustic form, while the other methods are readily adapted for computing elastic theory solutions. Generalized ray theory and Fourier synthesis are more limited in the complexity of geological model they can accommodate than are the other techniques. The methods which typically demand the greatest computer resources are the finite-difference and the finite-element techniques. All methods can incorporate at least some multiple events. Diffractions, however, are only inherent in the solutions computed by Kirchhoff wave theory, finite differences and finite elements. Attenuation is readily incorporated in both the Fourier synthesis and the finite-element methods. As an example of the application of seismic modeling, a geological model representative of a typical petroleum exploration target is used to compare vertical seismic profiles calculated by different modeling methods.     

THE EFFECT OF A SUPERPARAMAGNETIC LAYER ON THE TRANSIENT ELECTROMAGNETIC RESPONSE OF A GROUND*

A thin superparamagnetic layer on the earth's surface greatly affects the transient electromagnetic response of a conducting ground. The effect of the layer is most evident for singleloop transient electromagnetic data where transient voltages decay as 1/t. Even when a separate transmitter and receiver are used, the effect of the superparamagnetic layer is still pronounced. In this case the effect of the 1/t term in the equation is much less. More dominant now is a 1/t² term. The effect of the superparamagnetism can readily be seen in the analytical expressions for the apparent resistivities. If the presence of the superparamagnetic layer is not recognized, then the apparent resistivities decrease with time rather than approach the true value of the host rock.     

On love wave dispersion in a homogeneous layer lying over a laterally heterogeneous half-space

A method is proposed for the determination of the dispersion equation of Love waves propagating in a homogeneous layer lying over a laterally inhomogeneous half-space. The proposed method can be made to work only when the lateral inhomogeneities in the lower half-space are finite in nature so that their Fourier transforms are available. As an illustration the dispersion equation of Love waves is obtained for one of such media in which the shear-wave velocity and the rigidity in the lower half-space either increases or decreases along the direction of propagation of waves according as the parameter of heterogeneity is positive or negative.     

Spatial and seasonal distribution of bacterial physiological groups in two reservoirs with different trophic levels

The spatial and seasonal distribution of the viable heterotrophic population and three heterotrophic physiological groups, i.e. ammonifyers, nitrate reducers and sulphate reducers, were studied in two reservoirs in the province of Vizcaya (Spain). Using indicative parameters, both reservoirs were classified as warm monomictics, one hypereutrophic and the other mesotrophic. A direct relation between the size of the bacterial populations and the trophic levels of the reservoirs was observed. Likewise, the distributions of the bacterial populations in the water column are basically different. In the hypereutrophic lake there is a direct relationship between the bacterial distribution and the physical-chemical environment of the reservoir that cannot be observed in the mesotrophic lake.     

Impact of user parameters in inversion velocity analysis

Migration velocity analysis is a method devoted to the evaluation of both reflectivity and background velocity models, associated with the high and low wavenumber components of the model, respectively. Inversion velocity analysis is one of its improved versions, leading to more stable background velocity updates. Still, the impact of the user parameters should be understood for an optimal update of the background velocity. We show that a sign reversal of the background velocity gradient could occur when the selected surface offset range or the space lag range is too small. We derive the theoretical limits and check their consistency through simulations in a simple model with a single interface. These guidelines determine the necessary ranges of surface offsets and space lags for a proper update of the background velocity model. We discuss their applicability on the Marmousi model. Artefacts in the retrieved background velocity model are observed when the guidelines are not satisfied.     

Easy method of interpreting dyke anomalies

Summary An entirely new procedure is proposed in this paper for interpreting anomalies of dykes. This reduces the ambiguity in magnetic interpretation. Measurements of the first vertical derivative simplifies the problem of interpretation and also supplies additional information concerning the parameters of a dyke. The first vertical derivative profile cuts the distance axis at two points whose separation is related to the depth and direction of magnetisation of a dyke.     

Terrestrial heat and volcanism

Summary Although active volcanic territories are not characterised by extreme high heat flow, yet terrestrial heat is one of the main, if not hte first cause of volcanic activities. About 94 per cent of the known active volcanoes are in connection with orogenic zones including ocean ridges, which mean that processes responsible for the evolution of the continents cause the overwhelming majority of volcanism.There stages of the evolution of the continental crust can be distinguished: 1.) Growth of the continental cores by differentiation, 2.) Existence of peripheral growing zones around the first core, 3.) Intergrowth of the existing continents.Volcanism, as well as seismicity are manifestations of the evolution of the crust which is caused by the development of heat sources in the mantle. The heat partly melt the upper mantle and induce slow plastic flow in connection of differentiation. The space, left empty by continental uplift is filled by the slow plastic inflow of mantle from the ocean. This slow redistribution of mantle and curstal rocks disturbs the stress field, the rocks fail along the strained zones and zones of fractures appear sometimes with volcanic activity.     

Crystallization history of Kilauea Iki lava lake as seen in drill core recovered in 1967–1979

Kilauea Iki lava lake formed during the 1959 summit eruption, one of the most picritic eruptions of Kilauea Volcano in the twentieth century. Since 1959 the 110 to 122 m thick lake has cooled slowly, developing steadily thickening upper and lower crusts, with a lens of more molten lava in between. Recent coring dates, with maximum depths reached in the center of the lake, are: 1967 (26.5 m). 1975 (44.2 m), 1976 (46.0 m) and 1979 (52.7 m). These depths define the base of the upper crust at the time of drilling. The bulk of the core consists of a gray, olivine-phyric basalt matrix, which locally contains coarser-grained diabasic segregation veins. The most important megascopic variation in the matrix rock is its variation in olivine content. The upper 15 m of crust is very olivine-rich. Abundance and average size of olivine decrease irregularly downward to 23 m; between 23 and 40 m the rock contains 5–10% of small olivine phenocrysts. Below 40 m. olivine content and average grainsize rise sharply. Olivine contents remain high (20–45%, by volume) throughout the lower crust, except for a narrow (< 6 m) olivine depleted zone near the basalt contact. Petrographically the olivine phenocrysts in Kilauea Iki can be divided into two types. Type 1 phenocrysts are large (1–12 mm long), with irregular blocky outlines, and often contain kink bands. Type 2 crystals are relatively small (0.5–2 mm in length), euhedral and undeformed. The variations in olivine content of the matrix rock are almost entirely variations in the amount of type 1 olivines. Sharp mineral layering of any sort is rare in Kilauea Iki. However, the depth range 41–52 m is marked by the frequent occurrence of steeply dipping (70°–90°) bands or bodies of slightly vuggy olivine-rich rock locally capped with a small cupola of segregation-vein material. In thin section there is clear evidence for relative movement of melt and crystals within these structures. The segregation veins occur only in the upper crust. The most widely distributed (occurring from 4.5–59.4 m) are thin veins (most < 5 cm thick), which cut the core at moderate angles and appear to have been derived from the immediately adjacent wall-rock by filter pressing. There is also a series of thicker (0.1–1.5 m) segregation veins, which recur every 2–3 m, between 20 and 52 m. These have subhorizontal contacts and appear, from similarities in thickness and spacing, to correlate between drill holes as much as 100 m apart. These large veins are not derived from the adjacent wallrock: their mechanism of formation is still problematical. The total thickness of segregation veins in Kilauea Iki is 3–6 m in the central part of the lake, corresponding to 6–11% of the upper crust. Whole-rock compositions for Kilauea Iki fall into two groups: the matrix rock ranges from 20-7.5% MgO, while the segregation veins all contain between 6.0 and 4.5% MgO. There are no whole-rock compositions of intermediate MgO content. Samples from < 12 m show eruption-controlled chemistry. Below that depth, matrix rock compositions have higher Al₂O₃, TiO₂ and alkalies, and lower CaO and FeO, at a given MgO content than do the eruption pumices. The probable causes of this are assimilation of low-melting components from foundered crust, plus removal of olivine, plus removal of minor augite, for rocks with MgO contents of < 8.0%. Given the observed rate of growth of the upper crust, one can infer that significant removal of the type 1 olivine phenocrysts from the upper part of the lake began in 1963 and ceased sometime prior to 1972. The process. probably gravitative settling, appears to have been inhibited earlier by gas streaming from the lower part of the lens of melt. The olivine cumulate zone, which extends into the upper crust, contains relatively few (25–40%) olivine crystals, few of which actually touch each other. The diffuseness of the cumulate zone raises the possibility that the crystals were coated with a relatively visous boundary layer of melt which moved with them. Calculations of the Stokes’ law settling rates of the largest olivine crystals found at the base of the crust in 1975–76 suggest that the «melt» had a viscosity of > 10⁶ poises, and probably had the properties of a Bingham body, rather than a Newtonian fluid, by that date, which was several years after olivine removal ceased.     

USEFULNESS OF WELL REGISTRATION DATA

Abstract. This investigation was to determine whether data on irrigation-well registration forms as reported by well drillers can be used in hydrologic studies. Transmissivity maps were prepared for Hamilton County, Nebraska using only specific capacity values computed from yield and drawdown data, as reported on irrigation well-registration forms. On one map each control point was the mean of the transmissivity values calculated for all wells in a section. On a second map each control point was the mean of the means for four contiguous sections sharing a common corner. The second map was similar to that of a previously prepared map based on control point values computed from specific capacities of selected wells, test hole logs, and geologic interpretations. These results suggest that reported registration data for a given area have a normal population distribution. In situations where individual data are unverified the data base can be treated as samples of a population where the mean of the means of several samples for adjacent areas is representative of actual field conditions.