Grid dispersion in generating finite-differences synthetic seismograms

In order to obtain a finite-difference synthetic seismogram, the finite earth model must be subdivided into cells.If the cell size becomes too large in comparison with wavelength of the source signal, waves disperse with increasing traveltime. This phenomenon is known as grid dispersion. The grid dispersion produces a variation of velocity with different frequencies; that is the higher signal frequencies travel more slowly than the lower signal frequencies. Consequently, substantial tailing of the signal arises with increasing traveltime. This may happpen if: (1) the grid spacing is large; (2) the sampling rate is large; or (3) the source wavelength is too short compared with grid size. In other words, an important parameter in generating finite-difference synthetic seismograms is the number of grid points per wavelength of the source signal. In this paper, it is shown that the frequency of a source function has great effects on grid dispersion when P-Sv coupled waves propagate through elastic models by finite-differences. The two-dimensional elastic models considered in this paper consist of : (1) a normal fault, and (2) a layer over a half-space. This study verifies that, when generating finite-difference synthetic seismograms, the grid dispersion will be reduced to a satisfactory level if the grid points per wavelength at the half-power frequency of the source signal for the lowest velocity of the medium exceeds ten.

Numerical Calculation of Seafloor Synthetic Seismograms Caused by Low Frequency Point Sound Source

Elastic wave on seafloor caused by low frequency noise radiated from ship is called ship seismic wave which can be used to identify ship target. In order to analyze the wave components and the propagating properties of ship seismic wave, the numerical calculation of synthetic seismograms on seafloor aroused by a low frequency point sound source is carried out using a wave number integration technique combined with inverse Fourier transform. According to the numerical example of hard seafloor, the time series of seismic wave on seafloor are mostly composed of interface waves and normal mode waves. Each normal mode wave has a well defined low cut-off frequency, while the interface wave doesn't have. The frequency dispersion of normal mode wave is obvious when frequency is lower than 100Hz, while the interface wave is dispersive only in the infra-sound frequency range. The time series of seismic wave is dominated by the interface wave when the source frequency is less than the minimal cut-off frequency of normal mode wave.

The optimum source－time function for generating finite－difference synthetic seismograms

A source-time function plays an important role in generating finite-difference synthetic seismograms.In this regard,we consider the amplitude spectra of five different time functions.This investigation shows that when the high-frequency signals of the time function carry more power than the main signal,the tailing phenomena would be associated with the main signal which is not desirable in producing finite-difference synthetic seismograms.It is illustrated that the time function denoted by is the optimal source-time function among those examined in this paper for generating finite-difference synthetic seismograms.This matter is also verified by making finite-difference synthetic seismograms over an elastic earth model consisting of a layer over a half space.

A cloud-based synthetic seismogram generator implemented using Windows Azure

Synthetic seismograms generated by solving the seismic wave equation using numerical methods are being widely used in seismology. For fully three-dimensional seismic structure models, the generation of these synthetic seismograms may require large amount of computing resources. Conventional high-performance computer clusters may not provide a cost-effective solution to this type of applications. The newly emerging cloud-computing platform provides an alternative solution. In this paper, we describe our implementation of a synthetic seismogram generator based on the reciprocity principle using the Windows Azure cloud application framework. Our preliminary experiment shows that our cloud-based synthetic seismogram generator provides a costeffective and numerically efficient approach for computing synthetic seismograms based on the reciprocity principle.

Seismic prompt gravity strain signals in a layered spherical Earth

Seismic waves generated by an earthquake can produce dynamic perturbations in the Earth’s gravity field before the direct arrival of P-waves.Observations of these so-called prompt elasto-gravity signals by ground-based gravimeters and broadband seismometers have been reported for some large events,such as the 2011 M_(W)9.1 Tohoku earthquake.Recent studies have introduced prompt gravity strain signals(PGSSs)as a new type of observable seismic gravity perturbation that can be used to measure the spatial gradient of the perturbed gravity field.Theoretically,these types of signals can be recorded by indevelopment instruments termed gravity strainmeters,although no successful detection has been reported as yet.Herein,we propose an efficient approach for PGSSs based on a multilayered spherical Earth model.We compared the simulated waveforms with analytical solutions obtained from a homogeneous half-space model,which has been used in earlier studies.This comparison indicates that the effect of the Earth’s structural stratification is significant.With the help of the new simulation approach,we also demonstrated how the PGSSs depend on the magnitude of the seismic source.We further conducted synthetic tests estimating earthquake magnitude using gravity strain signals to demonstrate the potential application of this type of signal in earthquake early warning systems.These results provide essential information for future studies on the synthesis and application of earthquake-induced gravity strain signals.

Seismic waves in 3-D:from mantle asymmetries to reliable seismic hazard assessment

A global cross-section of the Earth parallel to the tectonic equator（TE） path,the great circle representing the equator of net lithosphere rotation,shows a difference in shear wave velocities between the western and eastern flanks of the three major oceanic rift basins.The lowvelocity layer in the upper asthenosphere,at a depth range of 120 to 200 km,is assumed to represent the decoupling between the lithosphere and the underlying mantle.Along the TE-perturbed（TE-pert） path,a ubiquitous LVZ,about 1,000-km-wide and 100-km-thick,occurs in the asthenosphere.The existence of the TE-pert is a necessary prerequisite for the existence of a continuous global flow within the Earth.Ground-shaking scenarios were constructed using a scenario-based method for seismic hazard analysis（NDSHA）,using realistic and duly validated synthetic time series,and generating a data bank of several thousands of seismograms that account for source,propagation,and site effects.Accordingly,with basic selforganized criticality concepts,NDSHA permits the integration of available information provided by the most updated seismological,geological,geophysical,and geotechnical databases for the site of interest,as well as advanced physical modeling techniques,to provide a reliable and robust background for the development of a design basis for cultural heritage and civil infrastructures.Estimates of seismic hazard obtained using the NDSHA and standard probabilistic approaches are compared for the Italian territory,and a case-study is discussed.In order to enable a reliable estimation of the ground motion response to an earthquake,three-dimensional velocity models have to be considered,resulting in a new,very efficient,analytical procedure for computing the broadband seismic wave-field in a 3-D anelastic Earth model.

Strong Earthquake Sequences in Greece during 2008-2014: Moment Tensor Inversions and Fault Plane Discrimination

As is well known, Greece has a significant number of earthquakes each year. Ιn recent years, several earthquakes have occurred in Greece. For this scope, a methodology was used to determine the source parameters. This methodology is based on minimizing the difference between the observed and the synthetic waveforms, using the method Source Parameters Calculation—SPCa [1]. The source parameters, using the proposed methodology, are calculated by comparing observed seismograms and synthetic by inverting data. The synthetics are calculated using the reflectivity method (Kennett, 1983) as implemented by Randall et al. (1994) for a given earth structure. This study includes inversion results for the strongest events that occurred in Greece from 2008 to 2014. For the same events calculated the main fault plane, using the method of Hypocenter Centroid-plot (HC-plot) [2] [3]. This methodology is a simple geometrical method based on the combination between the hypocentral position and the two possible fault planes.

A new numerical technique for simulating the coupled seismic and electromagnetic waves in layered porous media

Chen＇s technique of computing synthetic seismograms, which decomposes every vector with a set of basis of orthogonality and completeness before applying the Luco-Apsel-Chen （LAC） generalized reflection and transmission coefficients method, is confirmed to be efficient in dealing with elastic waves in multi-layered media and accurate in any frequency range. In this article, we extend Chen＇s technique to the computation of coupled seismic and electromagnetic （EM） waves in layered porous media. Expanding the involved mechanical and electromagnetic fields by a set of scalar and vector wave-function basis, we obtain the fundamental equations which are subsequently solved by using a recently developed version of the LAC generalized reflection and transmission coefficients method. Our approach and corresponding program is validated by reciprocity tests. We also show a numerical example of a two-layer model with an explosion source. The P-to-EM conversion waves radiated from the interface may have potential application.

Impedance inversion of pre-stack seismic data in the depth domain

The extensive application of pre-stack depth migration has produced huge volumes of seismic data,which allows for the possibility of developing seismic inversions of reservoir properties from seismic data in the depth domain.It is difficult to estimate seismic wavelets directly from seismic data due to the nonstationarity of the data in the depth domain.We conduct a velocity transformation of seismic data to make the seismic data stationary and then apply the ridge regression method to estimate a constant seismic wavelet.The estimated constant seismic wavelet is constructed as a set of space-variant seismic wavelets dominated by velocities at different spatial locations.Incorporating the weighted superposition principle,a synthetic seismogram is generated by directly employing the space-variant seismic wavelets in the depth domain.An inversion workflow based on the model-driven method is developed in the depth domain by incorporating the nonlinear conjugate gradient algorithm,which avoids additional data conversions between the time and depth domains.The impedance inversions of the synthetic and field seismic data in the depth domain show good results,which demonstrates that seismic inversion in the depth domain is feasible.The approach provides an alternative for forward numerical analyses and elastic property inversions of depth-domain seismic data.It is advantageous for further studies concerning the stability,accuracy,and efficiency of seismic inversions in the depth domain.

Characteristics of head wave in multi-layered half-space

In this article, we analyze the dynamic characteristics of head wave in multi-layered half-space media models with high-velocity layer or low-velocity layer, and the model with a continuous transition-zone between the crust and the mantle by using synthetic seismogram. It is concluded that the dynamic characteristics of head wave are sensitive to the thickness and velocity of the high-velocity layer. There is obvious diffraction phenomenon of seismic wave if the thickness of high-velocity layer is very small compared with the characteristic wavelength. In this case, the high-velocity layer cannot shield the head wave propagating along the upper interface of the media below it, and the amplitude of this head wave is proportional to the thickness or the velocity of the high-velocity layer. When the thickness of high-velocity layer is nearly identical to the characteristic wavelength of seismic wave, the wave phases reflected from the bottom of the high-velocity layer and the head wave phase may have very close arrival and weaken each other because of destructive interference. As to low-velocity layer, the amplitude of the head wave is weak and decreases with the velocity of this layer. It is also found that if a continuous transition-zone between the crust and the mantle is introduced, we can get a strong apparent head wave phase in synthetic seismogram and the amplitude of this phase increases with the thickness or velocity gradient of the transition-zone.

Research on anisotropic parameters by syn-thetic seismogram

Based on the extensive-dilatancy anisotropy theory, the method of synthetic seismogram is used to estimate the anisotropic parameters. The advantages of the method lie in that it avoids the singularity resolution and saves calculation time of computer by using the eigenvalue and eigenvector analytical expressions of Christoffel equation, at the same time, the result is tested by coherence function. The test result reveals that there exists a fine linear relation between original records and synthetic records, indicating the anisotropic parameters estimated by synthetic seismogram can reflect and describe the anisotropic characteristics of the given region medium.

A new method of weighted superposition for seismogram synthesis in depth domain

The extensive use of depth-imaged seismic data produced by pre-stack depth migration(PSDM)leads to the necessity to synthesize seismogram directly in depth domain.However,since seismic wavelet in depth domain is dependent on media velocities.The time-domain convolution operation directly used in depth domain does not meet the linear time-invariant condition.In this paper,we present a new method for genuine depth-domain seismic synthesis.This method constructs the velocity-dependent seismic wavelets varying adaptively with the corresponding interval velocities in the depth direction and weights them by the reflectivities,then the synthetic seismic record is obtained by the superposition of these weighted depth-varying wavelets.We applied this method to synthesize the seismic record of both a multi-layered geological model and the field data.The results show that the method can accommodate the intrinsic velocity-dependent variation characteristics of seismic events in depth domain and avoid the redundant depth-to-time and time-to-depth transformations.

Determining the Source Time Function Using the Modified Matrix Method

The modified matrix method of construction of wavefield on the free surface of an anisotropic medium is proposed. The earthquake source represented by a randomly oriented force or a seismic moment tensor is placed on an arbitrary boundary of a layered anisotropic medium. The theory of the matrix propagator in a homogeneous anisotropic medium by introducing a ＂wave propagator＂ is presented. It is shown that the matrix propagator can be represented by a ＂wave propagator＂ in each layer for anisotropic layered medium. The matrix propagator P（z, z0=0） acts on the free surface of the layered medium and generates stress-displacement vector at depth z. The displacement field on the free surface of an anisotropic medium is obtained from the received system of equations considering the radiation condition and that the free surface is stressless. The new method determining source time function in anisotropic medium for three different types of seismic source is validated.