Shear wave splitting and polarization anomaly with deep seismic sounding data

In this paper we study the S wave basement velocity structure and S wave splitting and polarization anomalies using the three component records of deep seismic sounding in the Three Groges Dam area, and further discuss the methods to study the anisotropy of crustal medium, the direction of regional tectonic stress field, and the physical indicator of potential earthquake sources using shear wave splitting and polarization anomalies. It has been demonstrated by analyzing the DSS data in the Three Gorges Dam area that S wave splitting and polarization anomalies are reliable means for studying seismic anisotropy of crustal medium and the direction of regional tectonic stress field. At the same time, it has been shown that DSS data are very useful for widening S wave observing window and distinguishing anomalous body, because DSS data have the advantage that the source position is known prior and S wave ray path can be traced exactly. The Chinese version of this paper appeared in the Chinese edition ofActa Seismologica Sinica,15, 1–3, 1993.