scholarly journals On the relationship between azimuthal anisotropy from shear wave splitting and surface wave tomography

2012 ◽  
Vol 117 (B1) ◽  
pp. n/a-n/a ◽  
Author(s):  
T. W. Becker ◽  
S. Lebedev ◽  
M. D. Long
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam Robinson ◽  
Gaye Bayracki ◽  
Calum MacDonald ◽  
Ben Callow ◽  
Giuseppe Provenzano ◽  
...  

<p>Scanner pockmark, located in the Witch Ground Graben region of the North Sea, is a ~900 m by 450 m, ~22 m-deep elliptical seafloor depression at which vigorous and persistent methane venting is observed. Previous studies here have indicated the presence of chimney structures which extend to depths of several hundred meters, and which may represent the pathways along which upwards fluid migration occurs. A proposed geometry for the crack networks associated with such chimney structures comprises a background pattern outside the chimney with unconnected vertical fractures preferentially aligned with the regional stress field, and a more connected, possibly concentric fracture system within the chimney. The measurement of seismic anisotropy using shear-wave splitting (SWS) allows the presence, orientation and density of subsurface fracture networks to be determined. If the proposed model for the fracture structure of a chimney feature is correct, we would expect, therefore, to be able to observe variations in the anisotropy measured inside and outside of the chimney.</p><p>Here we test this hypothesis, using observations of SWS recorded on ocean bottom seismographs (OBS), with the arrivals generated using two different air gun seismic sources with a frequency range of ~10-200 Hz. We apply a layer-stripping approach based on observations of SWS events and shallow subsurface structures mapped using additional geophysical data to progressively determine and correct for the orientations of anisotropy for individual layers. The resulting patterns are then interpreted in the context of the chimney structure as mapped using other geophysical data. By comparing observations both at the Scanner pockmark and at a nearby reference site, we aim to further contribute to the understanding of the structures and their role in governing fluid migration. Our interpretation will additionally be informed by combining the field observations with analogue laboratory measurements and new and existing rock physics models.</p><p>This work has received funding from the NERC (CHIMNEY; NE/N016130/1) and EU Horizon 2020 programme (STEMM-CCS; No.654462).</p>


2013 ◽  
Vol 592 ◽  
pp. 94-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-Lien Yeh ◽  
Honn Kao ◽  
Strong Wen ◽  
Wen-Yen Chang ◽  
Chau-Huei Chen

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilaria Barone ◽  
Emanuel Kästle ◽  
Claudio Strobbia ◽  
Giorgio Cassiani

<p>Surface Wave Tomography (SWT) is a well-established technique in global seismology: signals from strong earthquakes or seismic ambient noise are used to retrieve 3D shear-wave velocity models, both at regional and global scale. This study aims at applying the same methodology to controlled source data, with specific focus on 3D acquisition geometries for seismic exploration. For a specific frequency, travel times between all source-receiver couples are derived from phase differences. However, higher modes and heterogeneous spatial sampling make phase extraction challenging. The processing workflow includes different steps as (1) filtering in f-k domain to isolate the fundamental mode from higher order modes, (2) phase unwrapping in two spatial dimensions, (3) zero-offset phase estimation and (4) travel times computation. Surface wave tomography is then applied to retrieve a 2D phase velocity map. This procedure is repeated for different frequencies. Finally, individual dispersion curves obtained by the superposition of phase velocity maps at different frequencies are depth inverted to retrieve a 3D shear wave velocity model.</p>


Geophysics ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 61 (6) ◽  
pp. 1871-1882 ◽  
Author(s):  
James B. Harris

Determining the extent and location of surface/near‐surface structural deformation in the New Madrid seismic zone (NMSZ) is very important for evaluating earthquake hazards. A shallow shear‐wave splitting experiment, located near the crest of the Lake County uplift (LCU) in the central NMSZ, shows the presence of near‐surface azimuthal anisotropy believed to be associated with neotectonic deformation. A shallow four‐component data set, recorded using a hammer and mass source, displayed abundant shallow reflection energy on records made with orthogonal source‐receiver orientations, an indicator of shear‐wave splitting. Following rotation of the data matrix by 40°, the [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] sections (principal components of the data matrix) were aligned with the natural coordinate system at orientations of N35°W and N55°E, respectively. A dynamic mis‐tie of 8 ms at a two‐way traveltime of 375 ms produced an average azimuthal anisotropy of ≈2% between the target reflector (top of Quaternary gravel at a depth of 35 m) and the surface. Based on the shear‐wave polarization data, two explanations for the azimuthal anisotropy in the study area are (1) fractures/cracks aligned in response to near‐surface tensional stress produced by uplift of the LCU, and (2) faults/fractures oriented parallel to the Kentucky Bend scarp, a recently identified surface deformation feature believed to be associated with contemporary seismicity in the central NMSZ. In addition to increased seismic resolution by the use of shear‐wave methods in unconsolidated, water‐saturated sediments, measurement of near‐surface directional polarizations, produced by shear‐wave splitting, may provide valuable information for identifying neotectonic deformation and evaluating associated earthquake hazards.


2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 1105-1114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Awad A. Lemnifi ◽  
Kelly H. Liu ◽  
Stephen S. Gao ◽  
Cory A. Reed ◽  
Ahmed A. Elsheikh ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 221 (3) ◽  
pp. 2075-2090 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Asplet ◽  
James Wookey ◽  
Michael Kendall

SUMMARY Observations of seismic anisotropy in the lowermost mantle—D″—are abundant. As seismic anisotropy is known to develop as a response to plastic flow in the mantle, constraining lowermost mantle anisotropy allows us to better understand mantle dynamics. Measuring shear-wave splitting in body wave phases which traverse the lowermost mantle is a powerful tool to constrain this anisotropy. Isolating a signal from lowermost mantle anisotropy requires the use of multiple shear-wave phases, such as SKS and SKKS. These phases can also be used to constrain azimuthal anisotropy in D″: the ray paths of SKS and SKKS are nearly coincident in the upper mantle but diverge significantly at the core–mantle boundary. Any significant discrepancy in the shear-wave splitting measured for each phase can be ascribed to anisotropy in D″. We search for statistically significant discrepancies in shear-wave splitting measured for a data set of 420 SKS–SKKS event–station pairs that sample D″ beneath the Eastern Pacific. To ensure robust results, we develop a new multiparameter approach which combines a measure derived from the eigenvalue minimization approach for measuring shear-wave splitting with an existing splitting intensity method. This combined approach allows for easier automation of discrepant shear-wave splitting analysis. Using this approach we identify 30 SKS–SKKS event–station pairs as discrepant. These predominantly sit along a backazimuth range of 260°–290°. From our results we interpret a region of azimuthal anisotropy in D″ beneath the Eastern Pacific, characterized by null SKS splitting, and mean delay time of $1.15 \, \mathrm{ s}$ in SKKS. These measurements corroborate and expand upon previous observations made using SKS–SKKS and S–ScS phases in this region. Our preferred explanation for this anisotropy is the lattice-preferred orientation of post-perovskite. A plausible mechanism for the deformation causing this anisotropy is the impingement of subducted material from the Farallon slab at the core–mantle boundary.


Geophysics ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 73 (5) ◽  
pp. A39-A43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrey Bakulin ◽  
Albena Mateeva

Measuring shear-wave splitting from vertical seismic profiling (VSP) data can benefit fracture and stress characterization as well as seismic processing and interpretation. The classic approach to measuring azimuthal anisotropy at depth involves layer stripping. Its inherent weakness is the need to measure and undo overburden effects before arriving at an anisotropy estimate at depth. That task is challenging when the overburden is complex and varies quickly with depth. Moreover, VSP receivers are rarely present all the way from the surface to the target. That necessitates the use of simplistic assumptions about the uninstrumented part of the overburden that limit the quality of the result. We propose a new technique for measuring shear-wave splitting at depth that does not require any knowledge of the overburden. It is based on a multicomponent version of the virtual source method in which each two-component (2-C) VSP receiver is turned into a 2-C shear source and recorded at deeper geophones. The resulting virtual data set is affected only by the properties of the medium between the receivers. A simple Alford rotation transforms the data set into fast and slow shear virtual check shots from which shear-wave splitting can be measured easily and accurately under arbitrarily complex overburden.


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