Cascading multi-segment rupture process of the 2023 Turkish earthquake doublet on a complex fault system revealed by teleseismic P wave back projection method

In this study,the vertical components of broadband teleseismic P wave data recorded by China Earthquake Network are used to image the rupture processes of the February 6th,2023 Turkish earthquake doublet via back projection analysis.Data in two frequency bands(0.5-2 Hz and 1-3 Hz)are used in the imaging processes.The results show that the rupture of the first event extends about 200 km to the northeast and about 150 km to the southwest,lasting~90 s in total.The southwestern rupture is triggered by the northeastern rupture,demonstrating a sequential bidirectional unilateral rupture pattern.The rupture of the second event extends approximately 80 km in both northeast and west directions,lasting~35 s in total and demonstrates a typical bilateral rupture feature.The cascading ruptures on both sides also reflect the occurrence of selective rupture behaviors on bifurcated faults.In addition,we observe super-shear ruptures on certain fault sections with relatively straight fault structures and sparse aftershocks.

3D and 2D topographic correction to estimated geothermal gradient from the base of gas hydrate stability zone in the Andaman Forearc Basin

Methane gas hydrate related bottom-simulating reflectors(BSRs)are imaged based on the in-line and cross-line multi-channel seismic(MCS)data from the Andaman Forearc Basin.The depth of the BSR depends on pressure and temperature and pore water salinity.With these assumptions,the BSR depth can be used to estimate the geothermal gradient(GTG)based on the availability of in-situ temperature measurements.This calculation is done assuming a 1D conductive model based on available in-situ temperature measurement at site NGHP-01-17 in the study area.However,in the presence of seafloor topography,the conductive temperature field in the subsurface is affected by lateral refraction of heat,which focuses heat in topographic lows and away from topographic highs.The 1D estimate of GTG in the Andaman Forearc Basin has been validated by drilling results from the NGHP-01 expedition.2D analytic modeling to estimate the effects of topography is performed earlier along selected seismic profiles in the study area.The study extended to estimate the effect of topography in 3D using a numerical model.The corrected GTG data allow us to determine GTG values free of topographic effect.The difference between the estimated GTG and values corrected for the 3D topographic effect varies up to~5℃/km.These conclude that the topographic correction is relatively small compared to other uncertainties in the 1D model and that apparent GTG determined with the 1D model captures the major features,although the correction is needed prior to interpreting subtle features of the derived GTG maps.

Crustal and uppermost mantle structure of the northeastern Qinghai-Xizang Plateau from joint inversion of surface wave dispersions and receiver functions with P velocity constraints

Lithospheric structure beneath the northeastern Qinghai-Xizang Plateau is of vital significance for studying the geodynamic processes of crustal thickening and expansion of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. We conducted a joint inversion of receiver functions and surface wave dispersions with P-wave velocity constraints using data from the Chin Array Ⅱ temporary stations deployed across the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. Prior to joint inversion, we applied the H-κ-c method(Li JT et al., 2019) to the receiver function data in order to correct for the back-azimuthal variations in the arrival times of Ps phases and crustal multiples caused by crustal anisotropy and dipping interfaces. High-resolution images of vS, crustal thickness, and vP/vSstructures in the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau were simultaneously derived from the joint inversion. The seismic images reveal that crustal thickness decreases outward from the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. The stable interiors of the Ordos and Alxa blocks exhibited higher velocities and lower crustal vP/vSratios. While, lower velocities and higher vP/vSratios were observed beneath the Qilian Orogen and Songpan-Ganzi terrane(SPGZ), which are geologically active and mechanically weak, especially in the mid-lower crust.Delamination or thermal erosion of the lithosphere triggered by hot asthenospheric flow contributes to the observed uppermost mantle low-velocity zones(LVZs) in the SPGZ. The crustal thickness, vS, and vP/vSratios suggest that whole lithospheric shortening is a plausible mechanism for crustal thickening in the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, supporting the idea of coupled lithospheric-scale deformation in this region.

Inversion of walkaway VSP data in the presence of lateral velocity heterogeneity

Multi-azimuth walkaway vertical seismic profiling is an established technique for the estimation of in situ slowness surfaces and inferring anisotropy parameters.Normally,this technique requires the assumption of lateral homogeneity,which makes the horizontal slowness components at depths of downhole receivers equal to those measured at the surface.Any violations of this assumption,such as lateral heterogeneity or nonzero dip of intermediate interfaces,lead to distortions in reconstructed slowness surfaces and,consequently,to errors in estimated anisotropic parameters.In this work,we relax the assumption of lateral homogeneity and discuss how to correct vertical seismic profile data for weak lateral heterogeneity.We describe a procedure of downward continuation of recorded traveltimes that accounts for the presence of both vertical inhomogeneity and weak lateral heterogeneity,which produces correct slowness surfaces at depths of downhole receivers,noticing that sufficiently dense receiver coverage along a borehole is required to separate influences of vertical and lateral heterogeneity on measured traveltimes and obtain accurate estimates of the slowness surfaces.Once the slowness surfaces are found and a desired type of anisotropic model to be inverted is selected,the corresponding anisotropic parameters,providing the best fit to the estimated slownesses,can be obtained.We invert the slowness surfaces of P-waves for parameters of the simplest anisotropic model describing dipping fractures(transversely isotropic medium with a tilted symmetry axis).Five parameters of this model,namely,the P-wave velocity V0 in the direction of the symmetry axis,Thomsen's anisotropic coefficients e and d,the tilt n,and the azimuth b of the symmetry axis,can be estimated in a stable manner when maximum source offset is greater than half of receiver depth.

Analysis of the effect of the 2021 Semeru eruption on water vapor content and atmospheric particles using GNSS and remote sensing

Mount Semeru,an active volcano in East Java,Indonesia,erupted on December 4,2021,following extreme rainfall that caused an avalanche of hot pyroclastic flows and lava.The tropospheric conditions and dominant particle components in the atmosphere can be monitored using Global Navigation Satellite System(GNSS)technology and remote sensing satellites.GNSS signal propagation delay in Precise Point Positioning(PPP)processing can be used to determine Zenith Tropospheric Delay(ZTD)and Precipitable Water Vapor(PWV)variables so that atmospheric conditions can be generated.In addition,by using remote sensing satellite data,it is possible to obtain rainfall data with high temporal resolution as well as the dominant particle and gas content values during eruptions.During the eruption period,the high value of PWV was dominated by the high intensity of precipitation during the rainy season.High rainfall before the eruption caused activity inside the mountain to increase,which occurred in avalanche type eruption.Apart from that,the atmosphere around Semeru was also dominated by SO_(2)content,which spreaded for tens of kilometers.SO_(2)content began to be detected significantly by remote sensing sensors on December 7,2021.In this study,deformation and atmospheric monitoring were also carried out using low-cost GNSS at the Semeru Monitoring Station on September 9-15,2022.The results of the ZTD and ZWD values show the dominance of the wet component,which is directly proportional to rainfall activity in this period.

MAVEN observation of magnetosonic waves in the Martian magnetotail region

Magnetosonic waves are an important medium for energy transfer in collisionless space plasma.Magnetosonic waves have been widely investigated in the upstream of the bow shock at Mars.These waves are believed to originate from pickup ions or reflected particles.By utilizing MAVEN spacecraft data,we have observed the occurrence of quasi-perpendicularly propagating magnetosonic emissions near the proton gyrofrequency in the Martian magnetotail region.These plasma waves are associated with a significant enhancement of proton and oxygen flux.The excited magnetosonic waves could possibly heat the protons through resonance and facilitate the ionospheric plasma escape.Our results could be helpful to better understand the Mars’magnetospheric dynamics and offer insights into possible energy redistribution between waves and plasma in the Martian nightside magnetosphere.

The gravity field and gravity data reduction across the continental area of Nigeria

This research presents the variation of the gravity field and associated gravity field components over the continental area of Nigeria to provide data for geoscience research,geodetic and engineering works,aerodynamic studies and deep crustal inferences.Accurate positions and elevations were observed at 58 of the 59 base stations of the Primary Gravity Network of Nigeria(PGNN),whose absolute gravity values had been accurately determined.The absolute gravity values were plotted against their respective positions to reveal the distribution pattern and strength of the gravity field within the study area.Theoretical gravity values at each base station were generated using the Somigliana's equation.The free-air gravity and free-air anomaly gravity values were generated with respect to the World Geodetic System 1984(WGS84)ellipsoid using GPS-derived elevation data.Then,the perturbing potential,free-air gravity with respect to the geoid,and the indirect effects were evaluated.The average of the indirect effects was used to adjust the WGS84 gravity formula to produce a gravity formula that better approximates the geoid across the continental area of Nigeria,compatible with the heights measured relative to the geoid,which can serve as a reference for establishing a vertical height control.The Bouguer gravity and Bouguer gravity anomalies across Nigeria revealed a“trans-southern gravity high strip”interpreted to be associated with mantle upwelling.Two new major mega-lineaments related to mantle upwelling were mapped.A batholith province trending NWeSE was delineated,occurring from north central Nigeria to the north western region and containing closures of“Bouguer gravity lows”interpreted as batholiths.A separate closure of“Bouguer gravity low”was detected at Azare,north eastern Nigeria,which may be due to the presence of intrusive granitic body.It is recommended that the mantle structure beneath“the trans-southern gravity high strip”,“delineated batholith province”and“isolated gravity closures”around the northeast of Nigeria should be studied from seismic shear wave splitting analysis for better understanding of the deep lithospheric structures and moho relief.

Discussion on origin of Pn velocity variationin China and adjacent region

Pn velocity lateral variation and anisotropy images were reconstructed by adding about 50 000 travel times from the regional seismic networks to the datum set of near 40 000 travel times from National Seismic Network of China used by WANG, et al. We discussed the relation of Pn velocity variation to Moho depth, Earths heat flow, distribution of Cenozoic volcanic rock and the result of rock experiment under high pressure and high temperature. The result of quantitative analysis indicates that Pn velocity is positively correlated with the crust thickness and negatively correlated with the Earths heat flow. Two linear regression equations, one between Pn velocity and crust thickness, and the other between Pn velocity and heat flow, were obtained. The rate of variation of Pn veloc-ity vP with pressure P, Pv/p, estimated from the velocity variation with crust thickness Hv/p, is close to the result obtained from the rock experiment under high pressure and high temperature. If the effect of crust thick-ness on Pn velocity is deducted from the velocity variation, then the low Pn velocity beneath Qinghai-Xizang pla-teau is more notable. The low Pn velocity regions well agree with the Cenozoic volcanic rock. In the several re-gions with significant anisotropy, the direction of fast Pn velocity is consistent with the orientation of maximum principal crustal compressive stress, and also with the direction of present-day crustal movement. It indicates that the fast Pn velocity direction may be related to the deformation or flow of top mantle material along the direction of maximum pressure.

Numerical simulation of dynamic Coulomb stress changes induced by M6.5 earthquake in Wuding, Yunnan and its relationship with aftershocks

Based on the discrete wavenumber method, we calculate the fields of dynamic Coulomb rupture stress changes and static stress changes caused by M6.5 earthquake in Wuding, and study their relationship with the subsequent after- shocks. The results show that the spatial distribution patterns of the positive region of dynamic stress peak value and static stress peak value are similarly asymmetric, which are basically identical with distribution features of aftershock. The dynamic stress peak value and the static stress in the positive region are more than 0.1 MPa and 0.01 MPa of the triggering threshold, respectively, which indicates that the dynamic and static stresses are helpful for the occurrence of aftershock. This suggests that both influences of dynamic and static stresses should be con- sidered other than only either of them when studying aftershock triggering in near field.

A numerical study of 1-D nonlinear P-wave propagation in solid

Two central schemes of finite difference (FD) up to different accuracy orders of space sampling step Dx (Fourth order and Sixth order respectively) were used to study the 1-D nonlinear P-wave propagation in the nonlinear solid media by the numerical method. Distinctly different from the case of numerical modeling of linear elastic wave, there may be several difficulties in the numerical treatment to the nonlinear partial differential equation, such as the steep gradients, shocks and unphysical oscillations. All of them are the great obstacles to the stability and conver-gence of numerical calculation. Fortunately, the comparative study on the modeling of nonlinear wave by the two FD schemes presented in the paper can provide us with an easy method to keep the stability and convergence in the calculation field when the product of the absolute value of nonlinear coefficient and the value of u/x are small enough, namely, the value of bu/x is much smaller than 1. Several results are founded in the numerical study of nonlinear P-wave propagation, such as the waveform aberration, the generation and growth of harmonic wave and the energy redistribution among different frequency components. All of them will be more violent when the initial amplitude A0 is larger or the nonlinearity of medium is stronger. Correspondingly, we have found that the nonlinear P-wave propagation velocity will change with different initial frequency f of source wave or the wave velocity c (equal to the P-wave velocity in the same medium without considering nonlinearity).

The 3D magnetic structure beneath the continental margin of the northeastern South China Sea

Understanding the continental margin of the Northeastern South China Sea is critical to the study of deep structures, tectonic evolution, and dynamics of the region. One set of important data for this endeavor is the total-field magnetic data. Given the challenges associated with the magnetic data at low latitudes and with remanent magnetism in this area, we combine the equivalent-source technique and magnetic amplitude inversion to recover 3D subsurface magnetic structures. The inversion results show that this area is characterized by a north-south block division and east-west zonation. Magnetic regions strike in EW, NE and NW direction and are consistent with major tectonic trends in the region. The highly magnetic zone recovered from inversion in the continental margin differs visibly from that of the magnetically quiet zones to the south. The magnetic anomaly zone strikes in NE direction, covering an area of about 500 km × 60 km, and extending downward to a depth of 25 km or more. In combination with other geophysical data, we suggest that this strongly magnetic zone was produced by deep underplating of magma associated with plate subduction in Mesozoic period. The magnetically quiet zone in the south is an EW trending unit underlain by broad and gentle magnetic layers of lower crust. Its magnetic structure bears a clear resemblance to oceanic crust, assumed to be related to the presence of ancient oceanic crust there.

Review of numerical simulation on the dy-namics of Qinghai-Xizang plateau

In recent twenty years, much numerical simulation work has been done on the evolution of Qinghai-Xizang (Tibetan) plateau. In this paper some principal numerical models and results are reviewed and analyzed. The earlier plane stress or plane strain model has much discrepancy with the actual deformation of Qinghai-Xizang plateau, such as the thickening of Tibetan crust and the lateral extrusion of Tibet along strike-slip faults. The thin viscous sheet model and the thin-plate model may simulate the change of the crustal thickness and the deformation pro-duced by gravitational force. It is suitable for studying the large-scale and long-time deformation. The influence of faults on the deformation of Tibetan plateau should be further studied.

Modeling the dynamic process of tsunami earthquake by liquid-solid coupling model

Tsunami induced by earthquake is an interaction problem between liquid and solid.Shallow-water wave equation is often used to modeling the tsunami,and the boundary or initial condition of the problem is determined by the displacement or velocity field from the earthquake under sea floor,usually no interaction between them is consid-ered in pure liquid model.In this study,the potential flow theory and the finite element method with the interaction between liquid and solid are employed to model the dynamic processes of the earthquake and tsunami.For model-ing the earthquake,firstly the initial stress field to generate the earthquake is set up,and then the occurrence of the earthquake is simulated by suddenly reducing the elastic material parameters inside the earthquake fault.It is dif-ferent from seismic dislocation theory in which the relative slip on the fault is specified in advance.The modeling results reveal that P,SP and the surface wave can be found at the sea surface besides the tsunami wave.The surface wave arrives at the distance of 600 km from the epicenter earlier than the tsunami 48 minutes,and its maximum amplitude is 0.55 m,which is 2 times as large as that of the sea floor.Tsunami warning information can be taken from the surface wave on the sea surface,which is much earlier than that obtained from the seismograph stations on land.The tsunami speed on the open sea with 3 km depth is 175.8 m/s,which is a little greater than that pre-dicted by long wave theory,(gh)1/2=171.5 m,and its wavelength and amplitude in average are 32 km and 2 m,respectively.After the tsunami propagates to the continental shelf,its speed and wavelength is reduced,but its amplitude become greater,especially,it can elevate up to 10 m and run 55 m forward in vertical and horizontal directions at sea shore,respectively.The maximum vertical accelerations at the epicenter on the sea surface and on the earthquake fault are 5.9 m/s2 and 16.5 m/s2,respectively,the later is 2.8 times the former,and therefore,sea water is a good shock absorber.The acceleration at the sea shore is about 1/10 as large as at the epicenter.The maximum vertical velocity at the epicenter is 1.4 times that on the fault.The maximum vertical displacement at the fault is less than that at the epicenter.The difference between them is the amplitude of the tsunami at the epicenter.The time of the maximum displacement to occur on the fault is not at the beginning of the fault slipping but retards 23 s.

Gas hydrate saturation from NGHP 02 LWD data in the Mahanadi Basin

During the Indian National Gas Hydrate Program(NGHP)Expedition 02,Logging-while-drilling(LWD)logs were acquired at three sites(NGHP-02-11,NGHP-02-12,and NGHP-02-13)across the Mahanadi Basin in area A.We applied rock physics theory to available sonic velocity logs to know the distribution of gas hydrate at site NGHP-02-11 and NGHP-02-13.Rock physics modeling using sonic velocity at well location shows that gas hydrate is distributed mainly within the depth intervals of 150-265 m and 100 -215 mbsf at site NGHP-02-11 and NGHP-02-13,respectively,with an average saturation of about 4%of the pore space and the maximum concentration of about 40%of the pore space at 250 m depth at site NGHP-02-11,and at site NGHP-02-13 an average saturation of about 2%of the pore space and the maximum concentration of about 20%of the pore space at 246 m depth,as gas hydrate is distributed mainly within 100-246 mbsf at this site.Saturation of gas hydrate estimated from the electrical resistivity method using density derived porosity and electrical resistivity logs from Archie's empirical formula shows high saturation compared to that from the sonic log.However,estimates of hydrate saturation based on sonic P-wave velocity may differ significantly from that based on resistivity,because gas and hydrate have higher resistivity than conductive pore fluid and sonic P-wave velocity shows strong effect on gas hydrate as a small amount of gas reduces the velocity significantly while increasing velocity due to the presence of hydrate.At site NGHP-02-11,gas hydrate saturation is in the range of 15%e30%,in two zones between 150-180 and 245-265 mbsf.Site NGHP-02-012 shows a gas hydrate saturation of 20%e30%in the zone between 100 and 207 mbsf.Site NGHP-02-13 shows a gas hydrate saturation up to 30%in the zone between 215 and 246 mbsf.Combined observations from rock physics modeling and Archie’s approximation show the gas hydrate concentrations are relatively low(<4%of the pore space)at the sites of the Mahanadi Basin in the turbidite channel system.

The Expanding Earth, Climate Engineering and Earthquake Processes

This article examines the issue of future directions of climate engineering in the light of the consequences of the Earth’s expansion process. One of the directions of climate engineering should be the study of seismic problems, because the state of the geosphere affects not only the atmosphere, but also the processes taking place in the bowels of the planet. If we accept the hypothesis of an expanding Earth [1], then rapid changes in meteorological conditions on the planet will become clear, and the secrets of earthquake processes will come out of the shadow of existing misconceptions among most geophysicists of the world and scientists will understand the mechanisms of energy formation of seismic processes. But, there are multiple arguments of world geophysicists testifying against the hypothesis of an expanding Earth, and in their opinion, scientists supporting this hypothesis allegedly did not provide mechanisms for the expansion of the planet [2]. In turn, the development of the theory of plate tectonics and the alleged discovery of the processes of formation of subduction zones led to the recognition of the hypothesis of plate tectonics by the world scientific community as the main theory of geophysics and sent science straight into a dead end of false conclusions, from which modern geophysics has not found a way out. And it was enough just to listen to A. Einstein and a march into the jungle of unfounded fantasies could be very easily avoided. Everything is extremely simple, but this makes it obvious and incomprehensible to most geophysicists that energy is matter, and matter is energy. For example, only the total amount of solar energy that our planet absorbs, including the atmosphere, land surface, and mirrors of the seas and oceans, is ~3,850,000 EJ per year [3]. And this is without taking into account the energy supply from space in the form of highly energetic particles. This scientific fact, which cannot be denied, must inevitably lead to the formation of matter and, consequently, to the expansion of the planet, because any high school student knows the physical concept of the equivalence of mass and energy arising from the theory of relativity A. Einstein [4], according to which the energy of a body at rest is equivalent to its mass multiplied by the square of the speed of light in a vacuum: E = mc2. That is, whether we like it or not, but the energy of the Sun and Space, as it has been transformed for billions of years into matter familiar to us: rocks, gases, minerals, fluids, will be transformed, in accordance with the laws of science. Otherwise, all the proponents of the expanding Earth hypothesis will have to declare that Mr. Einstein’s formula E = mc2 does not correspond to reality, and recognize the great scientist as a falsifier. Therefore, no matter what far-fetched arguments in the form of mythical subduction zones geophysicists give, no matter what “exotic laws of local significance” they invent, no matter how cynically they mock the fundamental laws of science—all energy entering the planet is necessarily processed and will be processed into matter with an increase in the volume of the planet. Without any exceptions! Only one biochemical process of photosynthesis continuously occurring in algae in one year brings ~3.6 × 1011 tons of oxygen into the Earth’s atmosphere [5], which significantly exceeds the amount of hydrogen and helium “immigrating” into space. Even if we take a geological epoch of one hundred million years, the evidence of an increase in the volume of the Earth only due to oxygen (3.6 × 1011 × 107 tons) becomes quite convincing. the surface area of the Earth is constantly increasing, then the processes of expansion of the planet increase exponentially, which inevitably leads to an increase in seismic activity and volcanic activity, and the increase in the volume of the planet itself serves as a lever for changing the meteorological conditions of the planet’s existence and one of the sources of seismic energy formation. In this article, we will consider seismic processes in the light of the expanding Earth hypothesis.

Interannual Variability of Atmospheric Heat Source/ Sink over the Qinghai-Xizang (Tibetan) Plateau and its Relation to Circulation

Based on the 1961-1995 atmospheric apparent heat source/sink and the 1961-1990 snow-cover days and depth over the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau (QXP) and the 1961-1995 reanalysis data of NCEP/NCAR and the 1975-1994 OLR data, this paper discusses the interannual variability of the heat regime and its relation to atmospheric circulation It is shown that the interannual variability is pronounced, with maximal variability in spring and autumn, and the variability is heterogeneous horizontally. In the years with the weak (or strong) winter cold source, the deep trough over East Asia is to the east (or west) of its normal, which corresponds to strong (or weak) winter monsoon in East Asia. In the years with the strong (or weak) sum mer heat source, there exists an anomalous cyclone (or anticyclone) in the middle and lower troposphere over the QXP and ifs neighborhood and anomalous southwest (or northeast) winds over the Yangtze River valley of China, corresponding to strong (or weak) summer monsoon in East Asia. The summer heat source of the QXP is related to the intensity and position of the South Asia high. The QXP snow cover condition of April has a close relation to the heating intensity of summer. There is a remarkable negative correlation between the summer heat source of the QXP and the convection over the southeastern QXP, the Bay of Bengal, the Indo-China Peninsula, the southeastern Asia, the southwest part of China and the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and in the area from the Yellow Sea of China to the Sea of Japan.

Responses of the Ionosphere to the Great Sumatra Earthquake and Volcanic Eruption of Pinatubo

A sudden ionospheric disturbance was detected by the Doppler shift sounding equipment at Beijing, about 25 min later after the outbreak of the Sumatra earthquake on 26 December 2004. This ionospheric disturbance appeared less than lOmin after the earthquake was first recorded at Beijing seismological station by the arrival of the seismic Rayleigh wave. The analysis shows that about 18rain is the time necessary for the seismic Rayleigh wave to propagate from the epicentre to Beijing and then about 5-10min for acoustic waves to propagate from the surface of the Beijing area to the altitude of the ionosphere. Also, a report was made as another example to show the ionospheric response of Doppler shift observation at Beijing area during the Mount Pinatubo eruption of 1991. These two examples show clear evidence of the lithosphere-atmosphere-ionosphere coupling. The former case is in the frequency domain of infrasonic waves of the Earth surface oscillation due to the Rayleigh waves caused by the earthquake, while the latter is in the acoustic-gravity wave category directly excited in the atmosphere by the mass and energy eruptions of Mount Pinatubo.

Deep structure and origin of active volcanoes in China

We synthesize significant recent results on the deep structure and origin of the active volcanoes in China's Mainland. Magmatism in the western Pacific arc and back-arc areas is caused by dehydration of the subducting slab and by corner flow in the mantle wedge, whereas the intraplate magmatism in China has different origins. The active volcanoes in Northeast China （such as the Changbai and Wudalianchi） are caused by hot upwelling in the big mantle wedge （BMW） above the stagnant slab in the mantle transition zone and deep slab dehydration as well. The Tengchong volcano in Southwest China is caused by a similar process in the BMW above the subducting Burma microplate （or Indian plate）. The Hainan volcano in southernmost China is a hotspot fed by a lower-mantle plume which may be associated with the Pacific and Philippine Sea slabs＇ deep subduction in the east and the Indian slab＇s deep subduction in the west down to the lower mantle. The stagnant slab finally collapses down to the bottom of the mantle, which can trigger the upwelling of hot mantle materials from the lower mantle to the shallow mantle beneath the subducting slabs and may cause the slab-plume interactions.

Crustal flow beneath the eastern margin of the Tibetan plateau

In large continental orogens, an important research topic is the behavior of deep crustal and upper mantle deformation, and the flow styles of ductile material. The morphology of the eastern margin of the Tibetan plateau, adjacent to the Sichuan basin, is characterized by very steep relief with high mountain ranges. The crust beneath this region slows the velocities in the middle and lower crust. We have adopted a relatively dense network to inverse the detailed structure of the crust and upper mantle along the eastern margin of the Tibetan plateau and Sichuan basin, using teleseismic data via receiver function analysis. The results are in-line with the hypothesis that viscous crustal material is flowing beneath the eastern margin of the Tibetan plateau and that this process drives overlying crustal material around the strong and rigid Sichuan basin. When the viscous material hits this obstruction, flows are divided into two or more branches with different directions. The upper part of the upwelling viscous flow produces the pressure to intrude the upper crust, thereby driving uplift of mountain ranges and high peaks. In contrast, the lower part of the downwelling viscous flow produces the pressure to intrude the lower crust and upper mantle to deepen the Moho discontinuity, causing observed crustal thickening.

Forward modeling of ocean-bottom cable data and wave-mode separation in fluid–solid elastic media with irregular seabed

In marine seismic exploration, ocean-bottom cable techniques accurately record the multicomponent seismic wavefield; however, the seismic wave propagation in fluid–solid media cannot be simulated by a single wave equation. In addition, when the seabed interface is irregular, traditional finite-difference schemes cannot simulate the seismic wave propagation across the irregular seabed interface. Therefore, an acoustic–elastic forward modeling and vector-based P-and S-wave separation method is proposed. In this method, we divide the fluid–solid elastic media with irregular interface into orthogonal grids and map the irregular interface in the Cartesian coordinates system into a horizontal interface in the curvilinear coordinates system of the computational domain using coordinates transformation. The acoustic and elastic wave equations in the curvilinear coordinates system are applied to the fluid and solid medium, respectively. At the irregular interface, the two equations are combined into an acoustic–elastic equation in the curvilinear coordinates system. We next introduce a full staggered-grid scheme to improve the stability of the numerical simulation. Thus, separate P-and S-wave equations in the curvilinear coordinates system are derived to realize the P-and S-wave separation method.