On the interference between closely-spacedP arrivals recorded at seismic arrays

The arrival at the Yellowknife Array (YKA) of closely-spaced P-waves having slightly different values ofdT/d, azimuth, and amplitude has been simulated using synthetic 1 Hz wavelets. Adaptive-processing determinations of apparent slowness and azimuth show a remarkable pattern of fluctuations with time for varying separations of the interfering pulses. In the critical separation range 0.30 to 0.55 s, these fluctuations greatly exceed the differences in arrival vectors of the primary wavelets themselves. Observation of characteristic interference patterns on real array seismograms might permit the identification of triplications associated with radial velocity anomalies in the lower mantle. Processed YKA seismograms for three events at distances close to 90° are presented, which, despite apparently simple P onsets illustrate the pattern of drift indT/d expected for such a triplication.Contribution from the Earth Physics Branch No. 648.