Small-Scale Volcanic Structures of the Aeolian Volcanic Arc Revealed by Seismic Attenuation

We present the first two-dimensional (2-D) spatial distribution of seismic scattering and intrinsic attenuation beneath the Aeolian Islands arc. The Aeolian Islands archipelago represents one of the best examples of a small dimension volcanic island arc characterised by the alternation of different structural domains. Using the seismic wave diffusion model as the basis for the analysis, and using data from an active seismic experiment (TOMO-ETNA), we analysed more than 76,700 seismic paths marked by epicentre-seismic station pairs. Based on frequencies of 4–24 Hz, we identified high regional attenuation, comparable with other volcanic areas of the world. We used two different seismogram lengths, reflecting two different sampling depths, which allowed us to observe two different attenuative behaviours. As in most volcanic regions, scattering attenuation predominates over intrinsic attenuation, but some characteristics are area-specific. Volcanic structures present the highest contribution to scattering, especially in the low frequency range. This behaviour is interpreted to reflect the small size of the islands and the potentially relatively small size of individual magmatic feeding systems. In addition, strong scattering observed in one zone is associated with the northernmost part of the so-called Aeolian-Tindari-Letojanni fault system. In contrast, away from the volcanic islands, intrinsic attenuation dominates over scattering attenuation. We interpret this shift in attenuative behaviour as reflecting the large volume of sedimentary material deposited on the seabed. Owing to their poorly consolidated nature, sediments facilitate intrinsic attenuation via energy dissipation, but in general present high structural homogeneity that is reflected by low levels of scattering. Our results show that this region is not underlain by a large volcanic structural complex such as that beneath nearby Mt. Etna volcano. Instead, we observe dimensionally smaller and isolated subsurface volcanic structures. The identification of such features facilitates improved geological interpretation; we can now separate consolidated marine structures from independent subsurface volcanic elements. The results of this study provide a model for new research in similar regions around the world.

Characterizing Seismic Scattering in 3D Heterogeneous Earth by a Single Parameter

ABSTRACT We derive a theoretical parameter for three seismic scattering regimes where seismic wavelengths are either much shorter, similar, or much longer than the correlation length of small-scale Earth heterogeneities. We focus our analysis on the power spectral density (PSD) of the von Karman autocorrelation function (ACF), used to characterize the spatial heterogeneity of small-scale variations of elastic rock parameters that cause elastic seismic-wave scattering. Our analysis is based on the assumption that the PSD of the medium heterogeneities at the corresponding wavenumber is related to the wavefield scattering. Our theoretical findings are verified by numerical simulations. The seismic scattering effects in our simulations are assessed by examining attenuation of peak ground acceleration. We discover (1) that seismic scattering is proportional to the standard deviation of velocity variations in all three regimes, (2) that scattering is inversely proportional to the correlation length for the regime where seismic wavelengths are shorter than correlation length, but directly proportional to the correlation length in the other two regimes, and (3) that scattering effects are weak due to heterogeneities characterized by a gentle decay of the von Karman ACF for regimes where seismic wavelengths are similar or much longer than the correlation length.

On the Green's function emergence from interferometry of seismic wave fields generated in high-melt glaciers: implications for passive imaging and monitoring

Ambient noise seismology has revolutionized seismic characterization of the Earth's crust from local to global scales. The estimate of Green's function (GF) between two receivers, representing the impulse response of elastic media, can be reconstructed via cross-correlation of the ambient noise seismograms. A homogenized wave field illuminating the propagation medium in all directions is a prerequisite for obtaining an accurate GF. For seismic data recorded on glaciers, this condition imposes strong limitations on GF convergence because of minimal seismic scattering in homogeneous ice and limitations in network coverage. We address this difficulty by investigating three patterns of seismic wave fields: a favorable distribution of icequakes and noise sources recorded on a dense array of 98 sensors on Glacier d'Argentière (France), a dominant noise source constituted by a moulin within a smaller seismic array on the Greenland Ice Sheet, and crevasse-generated scattering at Gornergletscher (Switzerland). In Glacier d'Argentière, surface melt routing through englacial channels produces turbulent water flow, creating sustained ambient seismic sources and thus favorable conditions for GF estimates. Analysis of the cross-correlation functions reveals non-equally distributed noise sources outside and within the recording network. The dense sampling of sensors allows for spatial averaging and accurate GF estimates when stacked on lines of receivers. The averaged GFs contain high-frequency (>30 Hz) direct and refracted P waves in addition to the fundamental mode of dispersive Rayleigh waves above 1 Hz. From seismic velocity measurements, we invert bed properties and depth profiles and map seismic anisotropy, which is likely introduced by crevassing. In Greenland, we employ an advanced preprocessing scheme which includes match-field processing and eigenspectral equalization of the cross spectra to remove the moulin source signature and reduce the effect of inhomogeneous wave fields on the GFs. At Gornergletscher, cross-correlations of icequake coda waves show evidence for homogenized incident directions of the scattered wave field. Optimization of coda correlation windows via a Bayesian inversion based on the GF cross coherency and symmetry further promotes the GF estimate convergence. This study presents new processing schemes on suitable array geometries for passive seismic imaging and monitoring of glaciers and ice sheets.

Imaging active magmatic systems at Oldoinyo Lengai volcano (Tanzania) via earthquake distribution and seismic scattering and absorption mapping

<p>Oldoinyo Lengai volcano, located in the Natron Basin (Tanzania), is the only active natrocarbonatite volcano world-wide. As such, it presents an important endmember magmatic system, which occurs in a young rift segment (~3 Ma) of the East African Rift System. At this volcano, effusive episodes of long-duration are interrupted by short-duration explosive eruptions. At the end of February 2019, we installed a dense seismic network and four infrasound stations as part of the SEISVOL - Seismic and Infrasound Networks to Study the Volcano Oldoinyo Lengai - project. The seismic network spans an area of 30 x 30 km and encompasses Oldoinyo Lengai volcano, the extinct 1 Ma-old Gelai shield volcano, the active Naibor Soito monogenetic cone field and surrounding fault population. Here, we present temporal earthquake distributions combined with 2D absorption and scattering imaging.</p><p>On average, we report up to 34 earthquakes per day within and in the vicinity of our network. Given the dense station spacing, we are able to lower the detection threshold to -1.0 M<sub>L</sub> with a M<sub>C</sub> of -0.3. During the first months of data acquisition, the seismicity is clustered in distinct areas as background seismicity and in intermittent seismic swarms:</p><ol><li>Most of the events are located beneath the eastern and southern flank of Gelai shield volcano. These events are shallow and close to the dike intrusion that preceded the last explosive eruption of Oldoinyo Lengai in 2007-2008.</li> <li>In April 2019, a seismic swarm of ~262 earthquakes in three days forms a pipe-like structure beneath the north western flank of Gelai.</li> <li>Deeper events cluster beneath the monogenetic cone field located just NE of Oldoinyo Lengai. A distinct gap in seismicity can be traced down to 10 km depth between the monogenetic cone field and Gelai volcano.</li> <li>While there seems to be little seismicity directly beneath Oldoinyo Lengai in the upper 5 km of the crust, we observe a number of different, recurring seismic and infrasound signals at the crater, which are indicative of magmatic activity.</li> </ol><p>To image the magmatic plumbing system, we map scattering and absorption of the seismic dataset using the MuRAT (Multi-Resolution Attenuation Tomography) code. Our preliminary results show two well-resolved high-absorption and high-scattering anomalies below Oldoinyo Lengai and the Gelai intrusion in 2007 at all frequencies. With decreasing frequency (increasing depth) the anomalies converge, suggesting a link of the plumbing systems at depth.</p>

Characterizing seismic scattering in 3D heterogeneous Earth by a single parameter

<p>We analyze the power spectral density (PSD) of von Karman autocorrelation function (ACF) to derive a theoretical parameter which characterizes the scattering of seismic wavefield due to random heterogeneities in 3D Earth structure. We then verify our analytical findings by performing ground-motion simulations. We characterize scattering using root-mean-square (RMS) fluctuations of normalized seismic wave speed, which represents wavefield scattering due to random heterogeneities in 3D Earth under the diffraction condition. The isotropic von Karman ACF is parameterized by correlation length a, standard deviation σ, and Hurst exponent H. To compute the RMS value, we simplify the von Karman PSD for three regimes: k·a ≫ 1 (λ ≪ a), k·a ≈ 1 (λ ≈ a) and k·a ≪ 1 (λ ≫ a), where λ is wavelength and k wavenumber of the seismic waves. The analysis of the RMS values reveals that 1) scattering is proportional to the standard deviation σ of small-scale velocity variations in all three regimes, 2) scattering is inversely proportional to the correlation length in the k·a ≫ 1 regime, but directly proportional to the correlation length in the other two regimes, 3) a small Hurst exponent H for the k·a ≫ 1 regime leads to scattering controlled solely by the standard deviation of small-scale velocity variations (for the other two regimes, it leads to weaker scattering). The seismic scattering effectively vanishes for H approaching zero. Our theoretical findings are purely physics based and are furthermore verified by 3D high resolution numerical simulations. Hence, we developed solid physics-based understanding of 3D seismic scattering due to random heterogeneities in the Earth which will be helpful for future modeling studies.</p>

Seismic scattering and absorption of oceanic lithospheric S waves in the Eastern North Atlantic

<p>Seismic scattering and absorption parameters provide valuable information about the propagation of seismic waves within the lithosphere. For the analysis of the seismic scattering and absorption parameters in the oceanic lithosphere of the Eastern North Atlantic, we use a seismological array which was installed in 5000 m water depth about 100 km North of the Gloria fault, defining the plate boundary between the Eurasian and African plate at this location. During our seismological experiment, more than 350 local and regional earthquakes were identified within 10 month for epicentral distances up to 900 km. The acquired regional earthquake recordings show up to 30 Hz P and S wave arrivals with long codas lasting tens to hundreds of seconds. Modelling results suggest that these long codas originate from scattering in the oceanic lithosphere. The waves travel with upper mantle apparent velocities and are therefore referred to as oceanic Pn (Po) and Sn (So) waves. We use direct So waves and their coda of pre-selected earthquakes to estimate frequency-dependent seismic scattering and intrinsic attenuation parameters. The results for the analysed events show that intrinsic attenuation is stronger than scattering attenuation and the estimated transport mean free path lengths between 30-800 km indicate that the So wave coda is weakly influenced by the oceanic crust. Furthermore, the calculated parameters show higher attenuation for western to northern event azimuths than for eastern to southern ones which might be related to differences in lithospheric ages for example of the Eurasian and African plates, or the influence of the Gloria fault itself.</p>

Frequency-dependent AVO analysis using the scattering response of a layered reservoir

Sensitivity of reservoir properties to broadband seismic amplitudes can be weak, which makes interpretation ambiguous. Examples of challenging interpretation scenarios include distinguishing blocky reservoirs from fining sequences, low gas saturation from high gas saturation, and variable reservoir quality. Some of these rock and fluid changes might indicate stronger sensitivity to amplitudes over narrow frequency bands, which is a characteristic of frequency-dependent amplitude variation with offset (FAVO). We have developed a FAVO model for reservoir characterization, following a seismic scattering phenomenon through a set of isotropic elastic layers. The frequency dependency in our model comes from the time delays due to wave propagation within layers. The FAVO modeled response is a complex-valued amplitude varying with angle and frequency, and it is a function of the seismic velocities and thicknesses of individual layers, along with the conventional AVO response at all interfaces. Our FAVO seismic analysis consists of two main steps: (1) forward modeling using well logs to understand rock and fluid sensitivity to amplitudes to identify tuning frequencies with maximum amplitude excursions and (2) seismic analysis at tuning frequencies. With well-log models, we observed that the frequency-dependent tuning response is primarily dependent on the lithology stacking pattern of a reservoir; in the cases studied, the fluid and reservoir quality have secondary effects on the frequency dependence of the amplitudes. We evaluate synthetic models and field data from the Columbus Basin, Trinidad, to illustrate our frequency-dependent seismic analysis methods. For one of the sandstone reservoirs, a frequency-dependent attribute indicates better spatial resolution of the anomaly than a conventional amplitude extraction. FAVO attributes are complementary to conventional AVO attributes.