Processing Seismic Ambient Noise Data to Obtain Reliable Surface Wave Dispersion Measurements

Ambient noise tomography is a rapidly emerging field of seismological research. This paper presents the current status of ambient noise data processing and its development history over the past several years, with the intention to explain and justify this development through salient examples. The ambient noise data processing procedure can be divided into four principal phases： ① single station data preparation; ② cross- correlation and temporal stacking; ③ measurements of dispersion curves （ performed with frequency-time analysis for both group and phase speeds） ; ④ quality control, including SNR analysis and selection of the acceptable measurements. In addition, we provide a specific solution for a better use of the seismic station data to ambient noise study.

Rayleigh waves from correlation of seismic noise in Great Island of Tierra del Fuego,Argentina:Constraints on upper crustal structure

In this study, the ambient seismic noise cross-correlation technique is applied to estimate the upper structure of the crust beneath Great Island of Tierra del Fuego（TdF）, Argentina, by the analysis of shortperiod Rayleigh wave group velocities. The island, situated in the southernmost South America, is a key area of investigation among the interaction between the South American and Scotia plates and is considered as a very seismically active one. Through cross-correlating the vertical components of ambient seismic noise registered at four broadband stations in TdF, we were able to extract Rayleigh waves which were used to estimate group velocities in the period band of 2.5-16 s using a timefrequency analysis. Although ambient noise sources are distributed in homogeneously, robust empirical Green＇s functions could be recovered from the cross-correlation of 12 months of ambient noise, The observed group velocities were inverted considering a non-linear iterative damped least-squares inversion procedure and several 1-D shear wave velocity models of the upper crust were obtained.According to the inversion results, the S-wave velocity ranges between 1.75 and 3,7 km/s in the first10 km of crust, depending on the pair of stations considered. These results are in agreement to the major known surface and sub-surface geological and tectonic features known in the area. This study represents the first ambient seismic noise analysis in TdF in order to constraint the upper crust beneath this region.It can also be considered as a successful feasibility study for future analyses with a denser station deployment for a more detailed imaging of structure.

Local-scale cross-correlation of seismic noise from the Calico fault experiment

Most studies of seismic noise cross-correlation （NCC） have focused on regional/continental scale imaging using empirical surface-wave Green＇s functions extracted from primary （0.05-0.08 Hz） and secondary （0.1-0.16 Hz） microseisms. In this work, we present the NCC results at higher frequencies （〉0.5 Hz） from 6 months seismic noise recorded by a local array （ - 4 km aperture） deployed along the Calico fault in the Mojave Desert, California. Both fast and slow propagating waves are observed from the NCC record-sections. We compare the NCCs from sensor pairs that share a common sensor with the records of a borehole shot located very close to this common sensor. The result shows a good match of the slow surface-wave arrivals, indicating that the NCC method is able to recover unbiased surface-wave Green＇s functions at local scales. The strong body-wave NCC component is caused by the P waves generated offshore California. Along a SW-NE profile across the fault, we observe apparent P-wave arrivals and their reflections, which can be explained by a low-velocity- zone （LVZ） along the Calico fault. We calculat6 the LVZ width to be - 2.3 kin, and the P-wave velocity reduction within the LVZ to be -35 %. These estimates are consistent with other evidence for a relatively wide LVZ along the Calico fault.

Monitoring Media Velocity Variations with Coda Wave Interferometry

Multiply scattered waves are sensitive to media changes owing to the effect of repeated sampling,superposition and amplification. Based on this characteristic,small-medium changes could be detected by using coda wave interferometry. In recent years,coda wave interferometry has been widely used in estimating velocity variation with high precision in areas such as seismology and non-destructive testing. This paper systematically presents the principle and research status of coda wave interferometry,and especial focus is placed on the research of media velocity variations by using repeating earthquakes,artificial sources,and ambient noise. Applications of coda wave interferometry can contribute to the more subtle understanding of dynamic evolution process in the medium.

Quality analysis of crustal tilt and strain observations in China's earthquakes in 2014

This work analyzes the quality of crustal tilt and strain observations during 2014, which were acquired from 269 sets of ground tiltmeters and 212 sets of strainmeters. In terms of data quality, the water tube tiltmeters presented the highest rate of excellent quality,approximately 91%, and the pendulum tiltmeters and ground strainmeters yielded rates of81% and 78%, respectively. This means that a total of 380 sets of instruments produced high-quality observational data suitable for scientific investigations and analyses.

The effect of ocean wave on the vertical spatial correlation of ocean ambient noise

The effect of the correlation function of noise sources derived from the ocean wave spectrum on the vertical spatial correlation of ocean ambient noise is investigated. The spatial correlation models of ocean ambient noise usually assume that the surface noise sources are uncorrelated. This assumption can be used to explain some physical phenomena, but it is not consistent with the real situation. Considering the relation between the ocean wave motion and the ambient noise generated by wind, the spectrum of ocean wave is introduced to calculate the vertical correlation of ocean ambient noise as the correlation function of noise sources by using the Kuperman-Ingenito （K/I） noise model. The comparison of the simulations and the experimental data shows that the simulations of vertical correlation of ambient noise have some differences with the experimental data by assuming the noise sources are uncorrelated and the simulations of vertical correlation of ambient noise have a good agreement with the experimental data by using the correlation function of noise sources derived from the ocean wave spectrum under the situation of high wind speed.