Seismic anisotropy beneath the Chinese mainland

We investigated the upper mantle anisotropy beneath China by applying teleseismic shear wave splitting measurements at 119 seismic stations from CDSN and GSN//RIS networks in China. The splitting observations are characterized by apparent diversity of anisotropy pattern in adjacent tectonic domains, including the Tianshan orogenic belt, Tibetan plateau, the Yangtze craton, the North China craton and northeastern region. In western China （Tianshan orogenic belt and Tibetan plateau）, fast polarization directions of split SKS waves coincide strikingly well with the dominating trend of deformational crustal features and delay times range from 0.5 s to 1.6 s. While in eastern China, seismic anisotropy deduced from shear wave splitting reveals a homogeneous NW-SE trending structure, almost perpendicular to the strike of large-scale surface structures. The observed delay times of 1.5 s to more than 2 s favor consistent mantle flow over large mantle thicknesses Based upon the straightforward relationships between seismic anisotropy and the development of lattice preferred orientation of mineral in upper mantle rocks, we interpret the splitting results in terms of tectonic fabric within the upper mantle. Since the lithosphere is less than 100 km thick beneath eastern China and the observed fast directions are subparallel to the trend of the absolute plate motion （APM） of Eurasian plate, we propose that the asthenosphere may mainly contribute to the anisotropic effects beneath eastern China. However, the upper mantle anisotropy beneath western China may have developed more recently in the subcrustal lithosphere because of rather small delay times and thick lithosphere. We also use the opportunity of the dense geodetic measurements available in China to discuss the coupling between the crust and mantle. In the Eura- sia-fixed reference frame, GPS and shear wave splitting both depict a similar trend beneath eastern China, suggesting a lithospheric block ＂escaping＂ toward the east that could orient olivine [001 ] axis in the upper mantle. There is a strong cou- pling between the crust and the mantle in eastern China. A different behavior is observed in western China. The GPS vectors trend NS-NE in Tibet and NW in Tianshan, close to the regional compression direction, whereas the fast directions trend EW in Tibet and NE in Tianshan, suggesting a tectonic regime close to a mode of axial shortening, generating the development of EW-trending foliation in Tibet and NE-trending foliation in Tianshan at depth. The crust and mantle deform independently in western China.

Seismic anisotropy of the crust in Yunnan,China:Polarizations of fast shear-waves

Using seismic data recorded by Yunnan Telemetry Seismic Network from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2003, the dominant polarization directions of fast shear-waves are obtained at 10 digital seismic stations by SAM technique, a systematic analysis method on shear-wave splitting, in this study. The results show that dominant directions of polarizations of fast shear-waves at most stations are mainly at nearly N-S or NNW direction in Yunnan. The dominant polarization directions of fast shear-waves at stations located on the active faults are consistent with the strike of active faults, directions of regional principal compressive strains measured from GPS data, and basically consistent with regional principal compressive stress. Only a few of stations.show complicated polarization pattern of fast shear-waves, or are not consistent with the strike of active faults and the directions of principal GPS compressive strains, which are always located at junction of several faults. The result reflects complicated fault distribution and stress field. The dominant polarization direction of fast shear-wave indicates the direction of the in-situ maximum principal compressive stress is controlled by multiple tectonic aspects such as the regional stress field and faults.

Reservoir stress path and induced seismic anisotropy： results from linking coupled fluid-flow/geomechanical simulation with seismic modelling

We present a workflow linking coupled fluid-flow and geomechanical simulation with seismic modelling to predict seismic anisotropy induced by non-hydrostatic stress changes. We generate seismic models from coupled simulations to examine the relationship between reservoir geometry, stress path and seismic anisotropy. The results indicate that geometry influences the evolution of stress,which leads to stress-induced seismic anisotropy. Although stress anisotropy is high for the small reservoir, the effect of stress arching and the ability of the side-burden to support the excess load limit the overall change in effective stress and hence seismic anisotropy. For the extensive reservoir, stress anisotropy and induced seismic anisotropy are high. The extensive and elongate reservoirs experience significant compaction, where the inefficiency of the developed stress arching in the side-burden cannot support the excess load.The elongate reservoir displays significant stress asymmetry,with seismic anisotropy developing predominantly along the long-edge of the reservoir. We show that the link betweenstress path parameters and seismic anisotropy is complex,where the anisotropic symmetry is controlled not only by model geometry but also the nonlinear rock physics model used. Nevertheless, a workflow has been developed to model seismic anisotropy induced by non-hydrostatic stress changes, allowing field observations of anisotropy to be linked with geomechanical models.

Advances in the deep tectonics and seismic anisotropy of the Lijiang-Xiaojinhe fault zone in the Sichuan-Yunnan Block,Southwestern China

The Sichuan-Yunnan Block(SYB)is located at the SE margin of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau(TP).Under the influence of the southeastward movement of material originated from the TP,intense crustal deformation,frequent seismic activity,and complex geological structures are observed in the SYB.The Lijiang-Xiaojinhe fault(LXF)goes through the central part of the SYB,dividing it into two blocks from north to south,and forming an intersecting fault system with the surrounding faults.This paper firstly introduces the morphology and the nature of the LXF,the distribution of the regional surface displacements and the focal mechanisms,and then analyzes the medium deformation and the effects of faults.Moreover,according to the regional tectonics and geophysical patterns,the paper discusses the characteristics of the north-south blocks of the SYB and the abrupt change of deep structure along the LXF zone.Since seismic anisotropy is an essential property for detecting crustal stress,deep structures and dynamical mechanisms,this paper is dedicated to the advances in seismic anisotropy at different depths and different scales in the study area.There are noteworthy differences in the anisotropic features between the north part and the south part of the SYB,possibly associated with a clear boundary adjacent to the LXF.Such phenomenon suggests some close correlation between anisotropic zoning boundary and the LXF,although this boundary is not consistent with the LXF in strike.The results from the deformation of the crust and the upper mantle elucidate the distribution patterns of the crust-mantle coupling in the north part and the crustmantle decoupling in the south part,even though this conclusion needs to be further verified by more studies.Presently,the scientific understanding of the deep tectonics and the media deformation around the“generalized”LXF i.e.the LXF with the Jinpingshan fault on its eastern side,is still insufficient,and related equivocal topics deserve more in-depth studies.

Research progress on layered seismic anisotropy-A review

Seismic anisotropy is an effective feature to study the inner structure of the Earth.In complex tectonic area,the assumption of single-layer anisotropy is sometimes not well consistent with the observed data;thus,the assumption of multi-layered(i.e.stratified)anisotropy should be considered.At present,the main methods to study anisotropy include receiver functions,shear wave splitting from local and teleseismic events(SKS,SKKS,and PKS,hereafter collectively called XKS),P-and Pn wave travel time inversion,surface wave inversion from far-field earthquakes and ambient noise.Each of the above method has its own advantages and limitations.Thus,one or more of the above methods are often combined to characterize multi-layered anisotropy,of which the depth range of anisotropic layers are different.This paper reviews the research progress of multi-layered anisotropy for the purpose of providing a basis for future seismic anisotropy investigations.

Seismic anisotropy and upper mantle dynamics in Alaska:A review of shear wave splitting analyses

Shear wave splitting(SWS)is regarded as the most effective geophysical method to delineate mantle flow fields by detecting seismic azimuthal anisotropy in the earth's upper mantle,especially in tectonically active regions such as subduction zones.The Aleutian-Alaska subduction zone has a convergence rate of approximately 50 mm/yr,with a trench length reaching nearly 2800 km.Such a long subduction zone has led to intensive continental deformation and numerous strong earthquakes in southern and central Alaska,while northern Alaska is relatively inactive.The sharp contrast makes Alaska a favorable locale to investigate the impact of subduction on mantle dynamics.Moreover,the uniqueness of this subduction zone,including the unusual subducting type,varying slab geometry,and atypical magmatic activity and composition,has intrigued the curiosity of many geoscientists.To identify different sources of seismic anisotropy beneath the Alaska region and probe the influence of a geometrically varying subducting slab on mantle dynamics,extensive SWS analyses have been conducted in the past decades.However,the insufficient station and azimuthal coverage,especially in early studies,not only led to some conflicting results but also strongly limited the in-depth investigation of layered anisotropy and the estimation of anisotropy depth.With the completion of the Transportable Array project in Alaska,recent studies have revealed more detailed mantle structures and characteristics based on the dense station coverage and newly collected massive seismic data.In this study,we review significant regional-and continental-scale SWS studies in the Alaska region and conclude the mantle flow fields therein,to understand how a geometrically varying subducting slab alters the regional mantle dynamics.The summarized mantle flow mechanisms are believed to be conducive to the understanding of seismic anisotropy patterns in other subduction zones with a complicated tectonic setting.

Lattice Preferred Orientation, Water Content, and Seismic Anisotropy of Orthopyroxene

Lattice preferred orientation （LPO） and seismic anisotropy of orthopyroxene （enstatite） in mantle xenoliths from Spitsbergen, Svalbard, near the Arctic, are studied. LPOs of enstatite were determined using electron backseattered diffraction （EBSD）. We found four types of LPOs of orthopyroxene and defined them as type-AC, -AB, -BC, and -ABC. Type-AC LPO of orthopyroxene is defined as （100） plane aligned subparallel to foliation and [001] axis aligned subparallel to lineation. Type-AB LPO is defined as （100） plane aligned subparallel to foliation and [010] axis aligned subparallel to linea- tion. Type-BC LPO is defined as （010） plane aligned subparallel to foliation and [001] axis aligned subparallel to lineation. Type-ABC LPO is defined as both （100） and （010） planes aligned subparallel to foliation with a girdle distribution of both [100] and [010] axes normal to lineation and [001] axis aligned subparallel to lineation. We report for the first time the type-AB, -BC, and -ABC LPO of orthopyroxerie. We found that the LPO pattern has a correlation with the content of orthopyroxene in the specimen. Nicolet 6700 FTIR （Fourier transformation infrared） study of enstatite showed that type-AC LPO was observed mostly in the samples of enstatite with low water content. It is found that the strength of the LPO of enstatite decreases with increasing water content and has a correlation with the strength of the LPO of olivine： the stronger the LPO of enstatite, the stronger the LPO of olivine. Seismic anisotropy of enstatite was smaller than that of olivine in the same specimen.

GPU-acceleration 3D rotated-staggered-grid solutions to microseismic anisotropic wave equation with moment tensor implementation

To improve the accuracy of microseismic inversion,seismic anisotropy and moment tensor source should be carefully considered in the forward modelling stage.In this study,3D microseismic anisotropy wave forward modelling with a moment tensor source was proposed.The modelling was carried out based on a rotated-staggered-grid(RSG)scheme.In contrast to staggered-grids,the RSG scheme defines the velocity components and densities at the same grid,as do the stress components and elastic parameters.Therefore,the elastic moduli do not need to be interpolated.In addition,the detailed formulation and implementation of moment-tensor source loaded on the RSG was presented by equating the source to the stress increments.Meanwhile,the RSG-based 3D wave equation forward modelling was performed in parallel using compute unified device architecture(CUDA)programming on a graphics processing unit(GPU)to improve its efficiency.Numerical simulations including homogeneous and anisotropic models were carried out using the method proposed in this paper,and compared with other methods to prove the reliability of this method.Furthermore,the high efficiency of the proposed approach was evaluated.The results show that the computational efficiency of proposed method can be improved by about two orders of magnitude compared with traditional central processing unit(CPU)computing methods.It could not only help the analysis of microseismic full wavefield records,but also provide support for passive source inversion,including location and focal mechanism inversion,and velocities inversion.

Upper crustal deformation characteristics in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau and its adjacent areas revealed by GNSS and anisotropy data

The northeastern part of the Tibetan Plateau is a region where different tectonic blocks collide and intersect,and large earthquakes are frequent.Global Navigation Satellite System(GNSS)observations show that tectonic deformation in this region is strong and manifests as non-uniform deformation associated with tectonic features.S-wave splitting studies of near-field seismic data show that seismic anisotropy parameters can also reveal the upper crustal medium deformation beneath the reporting station.In this paper,we summarize the surface deformation from GNSS observations and crustal deformation from seismic anisotropy data in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau.By comparing the principal compressive strain direction with the fast S-wave polarization direction of near-field S-wave splitting,we analyzed deformation and its differences in surface and upper crustal media in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau and adjacent areas.The principal compressive strain direction derived from GNSS is generally consistent with the polarization direction of fast S-waves,but there are also local tectonic regions with large differences between them,which reflect the different deformation mechanisms of regional upper crustal media.The combination of GNSS and seismic anisotropy data can reveal the depth variation characteristics of crustal deformation and deepen understanding of three-dimensional crustal deformation and the deep dynamical mechanisms underlying it.it.

V_p/V_s Anisotropy and Implications for Crustal Composition Identification and Earthquake Prediction

The ratio of P- to S-wave velocities （Vp/Vs） is regarded as one of the most diagnostic properties of natural rocks. It has been used as a discriminant of composition for the continental crust and provides valuable constraints on its formation and evolution processes. Furthermore, the spatial and temporal changes in Vp/Vs before and after earthquakes are probably the most promising avenue to understanding the source mechanics and possibly predicting earthquakes. Here we calibrate the variations in Vp/Vs in dry, anisotropic crustal rocks and provide a set of basic information for the interpretation of future seismic data from the Wenchuan earthquake Fault zone Scientific Drilling （WFSD） project and other surveys. Vp/Vs is a constant （Ф0） for an isotropic rock. However, most of crustal rocks are anisotropic due to lattice-preferred orientations of anisotropic minerals （e.g., mica, amphibole, plagioclase and pyroxene） and cracks as well as thin compositional layering. The Vp/Vs ratio of an anisotropic rock measured along a selected pair of propagation-vibration directions is an apparent value （Фy） that is significantly different from the value for its isotropic counterpart （Ф0）. The usefulness of apparent Vp/Vs ratios as a diagnostic of crustal composition depends largely on rock seismic anisotropy. A 5% of P- and S-wave velocity anisotropy is sufficient to make it impossible to determine the crustal composition using the conventional criteria （Vp/Vs≤1.756 for felsic rocks, 1.756〈Vp/Vs≤1.809 for intermediate rocks, 1.809〈Vp/Vs≤1.944 for mafic rocks, and Vp/V2〉1.944 fluidfilled porous/fractured or partially molten rocks） if the information about the wave propagation-polarization directions with respect to the tectonic framework is unknown. However, the variations in Vp/Vs measured from borehole seismic experiments can be readily interpreted according to the orientations of the ray path and the polarization of the shear waves with respect to the present-day principal stress directions （i.e., the orientation of cracks） and the frozen fabric （i.e., foliation and lineation）.

Modeling the efects of fracture infll on frequency‑dependent anisotropy and AVO response of a fractured porous layer

In a fractured porous hydrocarbon reservoir,wave velocities and refections depend on frequency and incident angle.A proper description of the frequency dependence of amplitude variations with ofset(AVO)signatures should allow efects of fracture inflls and attenuation and dispersion of fractured media.The novelty of this study lies in the introduction of an improved approach for the investigation of incident-angle and frequency variations-associated refection responses.The improved AVO modeling method,using a frequency-domain propagator matrix method,is feasible to accurately consider velocity dispersion predicted from frequency-dependent elasticities from a rock physics modeling.And hence,the method is suitable for use in the case of an anisotropic medium with aligned fractures.Additionally,the proposed modeling approach allows the combined contributions of layer thickness,interbedded structure,impedance contrast and interferences to frequency-dependent refection coefcients and,hence,yielding seismograms of a layered model with a dispersive and attenuative reservoir.Our numerical results show bulk modulus of fracture fuid signifcantly afects anisotropic attenuation,hence causing frequencydependent refection abnormalities.These implications indicate the study of amplitude versus angle and frequency(AVAF)variations provides insights for better interpretation of refection anomalies and hydrocarbon identifcation in a layered reservoir with vertical transverse isotropy(VTI)dispersive media.

D″anisotropy inverted from shear wave splitting intensity

The D″layer,located at the bottom of the mantle,is an active thermochemical boundary layer.The upwelling of mantle plumes,as well as possible plate subduction in the D″layer,could lead to large-scale material transformation and mineral deformation,which could result in significant seismic anisotropy.However,owing to limited observations and immense computational cost,the anisotropic structures and geodynamic mechanisms in the D″layer remain poorly understood.In this study,we proposed a new inversion method for the seismic anisotropy in the D″layer quantitatively with shear wave splitting intensities.We first proved the linearity of the splitting intensities under the ray-theory assumption.The synthetic tests showed that,with horizontal axes of symmetry and ray incidences lower than 30°in the D″layer(typical SKS phase),the anisotropy is well resolved.We applied the method to the measured dataset in Africa and Western Europe,and obtained strong D″anisotropy in the margins of the large low shear-wave velocity provinces and subducting slabs.The new method makes it possible to obtain D″anisotropy,which provides essential constraints on the geodynamical processes at the base of the mantle.

Lattice-Preferred orientations of olivine in subducting oceanic lithosphere derived from the observed seismic anisotropies in double seismic zones

Subduction zones can generally be classified into Mariana type and Chilean type depending on plate ages, plate thicknesses, subduction angles, back-arc deformation patterns, etc. The double seismic zones （DSZs） in sub- duction zones are mainly divided into type I and type II which, respectively, correspond to the Mariana type and Chilean type in most cases. Seismic anisotropy is an important parameter characterizing the geophysical fea- tures of the lithosphere, including the subduction zones, and can be described by the two parameters of delay time ~t and fast wave polarization direction ~b. We totally col- lected 524 seismic anisotropy data records from 24 DSZs and analyzed the statistical correlations between seismic anisotropy and the related physical parameters of DSZs. Our statistical analysis demonstrated that the fast wave polarization directions are parallel to the trench strike with no more than 30~ for most type I DSZs, while being nearlyperpendicular to the trench strike for type II DSZs. We also calculated roughly linear correlations that the delay time 6t increases with dip angles but decreases with subduction rates. A linear equation was summarized to describe the strong correlation between DSZ＇s subduction angle DSZ and seismic anisotropy in subduction zones. These results suggest that the anisotropic structure of the subducting lithosphere can be described as a possible equivalent crystal similar to the olivine crystal with three mutually orthogonal polarization axes, of which the longest and the second axes are nearly along the trench-perpendicular and trench-parallel directions, respectively.

Multi-axial unsplit frequency-shifted perfectly matched layer for displacement-based anisotropic wave simulation in infinite domain

Multi-axial perfectly matched layer(M-PML),known to have lost the perfect-matching property owing to multi-axial coordinate stretching,has been numerically validated to be long-time stable and it is thus used extensively in linear anisotropic wave simulation and in isotropic cases where the PML becomes unstable.We are concerned with the construction of the M-PML for anisotropic wave simulation based on a second order wave equation implemented with the displacement-based numerical method.We address the benefit of the incorrect chain rule,which is implicitly adopted in the previous derivation of the M-PML.We show that using the frequency-shifted stretching function improves the absorbing efficiency of the M-PML for near-grazing incident waves.Then,through multi-axial complex-coordinate stretching the second order anisotropic wave equation in a weak form,we derive a time-domain multi-axial unsplit frequency-shifted PML(M-UFSPML)using the frequency-shifted stretching function and the incorrect chain rule.A new approach is provided to reduce the number of memory variables needed for computing convolution terms in the M-UFSPML.The obtained M-UFSPML is well suited for implementation with a finite element or the spectral element method.By providing several typical examples,we numerically verify the accuracy and long-time stability of the implementation of our M-UFSPML by utilizing the Legendre spectral element method.

Shear-wave splitting beneath Yunnan area of Southwest China

Systematic analyses of seismic data recorded by the Yunnan regional seismograph network reveal significant crustal and upper mantle anisotropy. Splitting of the S phase of local earthquakes and teleseismic SKS, PKS, and SKKS phases indicates time-delays from 1.60 ms/km to 2.30 ms/km in the crust, and from 0.55 s to 1.65 s in the upper mantle which corresponds to an The polarization orientations of fast shear waves in direction, and the mantle anisotropy has a nearly styles and mechanisms exist between the crust and anisotropic layer with a thickness about between 55 165 km. the crust are complicated with a predominantly north-south west-east direction. Our results show different deformation upper mantle.

Shear-wave splitting in the crust:Regional compressive stress from polarizations of fast shear-waves

When propagating through anisotropic rocks in the crust, shear-waves split into faster and slower components with almost orthogonal polarizations. For nearly vertical propagation the polarization of fast shear- wave （PFS） is parallel to both the strike of the cracks and the direction of maximum horizontal stress, therefore it is possible to use PFS to study stress in the crust. This study discusses several examples in which PFS is applied to deduce the compressive stress in North China, Longmenshan fault zone of east edge of Tibetan plateau and Yunnan zone of southeast edge of Tibetan plateau, also discusses temporal variations of PFS orientations of 1999 Xiuyan earthquake sequences of northeastern China. The results are consistent to those of other independent traditional stress measurements. There is a bridge between crustal PFS and the crustal principal compressive stress although there are many unclear disturbance sources. This study suggests the PFS results could be used to deduce regional and in situ principal compressive stress in the crust only if there are enough seismic stations and enough data. At least, PFS is a useful choice in the zone where there are a large number of dense seismic stations.

A seismological evidence for the northwestward movement of Africa with respect to Iberia from shear-wave splitting

Seismic anisotropy and its main features along the convergent boundary between Africa and Iberia are detected through the analysis of teleseismic shear-wave splitting. Waveform data generated by 95 teleseismic events recorded at 17 broadband stations deployed in the western Mediterranean region are used in the present study. Although the station coverage is not uniform in the Iberian Peninsula and north- west Africa, significant variations in the fast polarization directions and delay times are observed at stations located at different tectonic domains. Fast polarization directions are oriented predominantly NW-SE at most stations which are close to the plate boundary and in central Iberia; being consistent with the absolute plate motion in the region. In the northern part of the Iberian Peninsula, fast velocity direc- tions are oriented nearly E--W; coincident with previous results. Few stations located slightly north of the plate boundary and to the southeast of lberia show E--W to NE-SW fast velocity directions, which may be related to the Alpine Orogeny and the extension direction in lberia. Delay times vary significantly between 0.2 and 1.9 s for individual measurements, reflecting a highly anisotropic structure beneath the recording stations. The relative motion between Africa and lberia represents the main reason for the observed NW-SE orientations of the fast velocity directions. However, different causes of anisotropy have also to be considered to explain the wide range of the splitting pattern observed in the western Mediterranean region. Many geophysical observations such as the low Pn velocity, lower lithospheric Q values, higher heat flow and the presence of high conductive features support the mantle flow in the western Mediterranean, which may contribute and even modify the splitting pattern beneath the studied region.

Anomalous elasticity of talc at high pressures:Implications for subduction systems

Talc is a layered hydrous silicate mineral that plays a vital role in transporting water into Earth’s interior and is crucial for explaining geophysical observations in subduction zone settings.In this study,we explored the structure,equation of state,and elasticity of both triclinic and monoclinic talc under high pressures up to 18 GPa using first principles simulations based on density functional theory corrected for dispersive forces.Our results indicate that principal components of the full elastic constant tensor C_(11) and C_(22),shear components C_(66),and several off-diagonal components show anomalous pressure dependence.This non-monotonic pressure dependence of elastic constant components is likely related to the structural changes and is often manifested in a polytypic transition from a low-pressure polytype talc-I to a high-pressure polytype talc-Ⅱ.The polytypic transition of talc occurs at pressures within its thermodynamic stability.However,the bulk and shear elastic moduli show no anomalous softening.Our study also shows that talc has low velocity,extremely high anisotropy,and anomalously high V_(P)/V_(S) ratio,thus making it a potential candidate mineral phase that could readily explain unusually high V_(P)/V_(S) ratio and large shear wave splitting delays as observed from seismological studies in many subduction systems.

Distribution of gas hydrate in fractured reservoirs:Insights from anisotropic seismic measurements

Seismic properties of hydrate-bearing reservoirs that are affected significantly by the hydrate distribution are key for quantitative assessment of the reservoir.The knowledge of hydrate distribution in fractured reservoirs remains poorly understood.To obtain such knowledge,we measured and analyzed five anisotropic velocities needed to fully characterize the seismic anisotropy in an artificial sandstone with aligned fractures during hydrate formation associated with varying distribution.We showed that while the formation of hydrate improved the velocities,the improvement was more significant for hydrate saturation above 10%.We also showed that the increasing trends varied among the anisotropic velocities when hydrate saturation was above 10%.Specifically,the compressional wave velocity travelling vertical to the bedding plane and the shear wave velocity with polarization perpendicular to the bedding plane increased more rapidly than the other compressional and shear wave velocities,respectively.Interpretation of the anisotropic seismic results suggested that the hydrate tends to bind to the grains in the fractures at low hydrate saturation,and becomes to bridge the fracture surfaces when the hydrate saturation exceeds 10%.The results have provided new insights into the hydrate distribution and its resulting anisotropic seismic properties in fractured reservoirs.This will pave the way for the successful assessment of hydrate in fractured reservoirs.

Anisotropic zoning in the upper crust of the Tianshan Tectonic Belt

The Tianshan Tectonic Belt is an intracontinental orogenic belt formed by continental convergence that has undergone long-term tectonic evolution. The reactivation that began during the Cenozoic Period has led to complex structural changes. The goals of this study are to review the seismic observational data obtained during 2009–2019 in the Xinjiang regional seismic network and analyze the anisotropy of the upper crust in the Tianshan area. Therefore, a shear-wave splitting system was adopted to collect and analyze shear-wave splitting parameters of 33 stations in the study area. The anisotropy of the upper crust of the Tianshan is spatially diverse, and the dominant polarization directions of fast shear-wave reflect the spatial variations of regional tectonic stress. In addition, the time delays of slow waves are proportional to the intensities of anisotropy in the upper crustal medium. The dominant polarization direction of the fast waves in the western segment of the North Tianshan Mountain,northwestern corner of the Tarim Basin, and northeastern edge of Pamir is consistent with the tectonic stress fields in the area. In the northern part of the Keping Block, the dominant polarization directions of the fast waves are consistent with the fault trends;however, they are at a high angle to the dominant directions of the regional tectonic stress field indicating that the anisotropy is affected by the faults in the area. The anisotropy of the eastern segment of the South Tianshan Mountains and the surrounding area of Urumqi are affected by the local stress field and fault structure. The polarization directions at some of the stations are subparallel to the directions of the regional principal stress. However, for other stations, the polarization directions are aligned with the neighboring faults. The polarization directions of the fast waves in most of the study area are consistent with the local tectonic stress fields. Thus, stress compression phenomena such as the Tarim Basin being thrusted and subducted between the Tianshan crust and the upper mantle due to the far field effects of the convergence between the Indian and Siberian plates are evident.Furthermore, the zoning of the time delays is distinct, and the time delays share an increasing trend from east to west in the North Tianshan and South Tianshan Mountain ranges. These results are consistent with the north-south convergence deformations across the Tianshan Mountains, where the deformation rate increased from east to west. The average values of time delays in northeastern Pamir are significantly higher than that in the other areas due to the occurrence of the most intensive tectonic movements suggesting that the anisotropy of the zone is significantly stronger than that of the other zones in the Tianshan Tectonic Belt. We successfully deciphered the seismic anisotropy in the upper crust and provided a comprehensive and systematic understanding of the dynamic mechanisms of the Tianshan Tectonic Belt.