Articles | Volume 12, issue 11
https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-2597-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-2597-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
19 Nov 2021
Research article |
| 19 Nov 2021
| 19 Nov 2021
3D crustal structure of the Ligurian Basin revealed by surface wave tomography using ocean bottom seismometer data
GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, 24148 Kiel,
Germany
Dietrich Lange
GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, 24148 Kiel,
Germany
Anke Dannowski
GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, 24148 Kiel,
Germany
Martin Thorwart
Institute of Geosciences, Kiel University, 24118 Kiel, Germany
Wayne Crawford
Laboratoire de Géosciences Marines, Institut de Physique du
Globe de Paris, Paris, 75238 CEDEX 5, France
Lars Wiesenberg
Institute of Geosciences, Kiel University, 24118 Kiel, Germany
Ingo Grevemeyer
GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, 24148 Kiel,
Germany
Heidrun Kopp
GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, 24148 Kiel,
Germany
Institute of Geosciences, Kiel University, 24118 Kiel, Germany
A full list of authors appears at the end of the paper.
Related authors
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Guilherme W. S. de Melo, Ingo Grevemeyer, Sibiao Liu, Marcia Maia, and Lars Rüpke
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1826, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1826, 2025
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Solid Earth (SE).
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The St. Paul Transform System on the equatorial Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a seismically active multi-fault system. This study re-examines the focal depths of 35 earthquakes (Mw 5.3-6.9) from Transforms A, B, and C. The data suggest that the seismogenic zone ranges from 5 to 18 km deep, with the deepest occurring in cooler lithosphere around the center of the transform segments. This challenges earlier hypotheses and indicates a global pattern of cooler mantle in center of oceanic transform faults.
Yueyang Xia, Dirk Klaeschen, Heidrun Kopp, and Michael Schnabel
Solid Earth, 13, 367–392, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-367-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-367-2022, 2022
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Geological interpretations based on seismic depth images depend on an accurate subsurface velocity model. Reflection tomography is one method to iteratively update a velocity model based on depth error analysis. We used a warping method to estimate closely spaced data-driven depth error displacement fields. The application to a multichannel seismic line across the Sunda subduction zone illustrates the approach which leads to more accurate images of complex geological structures.
Martin Thorwart, Anke Dannowski, Ingo Grevemeyer, Dietrich Lange, Heidrun Kopp, Florian Petersen, Wayne C. Crawford, Anne Paul, and the AlpArray Working Group
Solid Earth, 12, 2553–2571, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-2553-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-2553-2021, 2021
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We analyse broadband ocean bottom seismometer data of the AlpArray OBS network in the Ligurian Basin. Two earthquake clusters with thrust faulting focal mechanisms indicate compression of the rift basin. The locations of seismicity suggest reactivation of pre-existing rift structures and strengthening of crust and uppermost mantle during rifting-related extension. Slightly different striking directions of faults may mimic the anti-clockwise rotation of the Corsica–Sardinia block.
Yueyang Xia, Jacob Geersen, Dirk Klaeschen, Bo Ma, Dietrich Lange, Michael Riedel, Michael Schnabel, and Heidrun Kopp
Solid Earth, 12, 2467–2477, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-2467-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-2467-2021, 2021
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The 2 June 1994 Java tsunami earthquake ruptured in a seismically quiet subduction zone and generated a larger-than-expected tsunami. Here, we re-process a seismic line across the rupture area. We show that a subducting seamount is located up-dip of the mainshock in a region that did not rupture during the earthquake. Seamount subduction modulates the topography of the marine forearc and acts as a seismic barrier in the 1994 earthquake rupture.
Anke Dannowski, Heidrun Kopp, Ingo Grevemeyer, Dietrich Lange, Martin Thorwart, Jörg Bialas, and Martin Wollatz-Vogt
Solid Earth, 11, 873–887, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-873-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-873-2020, 2020
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The Ligurian Sea opened ~30–15 Ma during the SE migration of the Calabrian subduction zone. Seismic travel time tomography reveals the absence of oceanic crust, documenting that the extension of continental lithosphere stopped before seafloor spreading initiated. The extension led to extreme crustal thinning and possibly exhumed mantle accompanied by syn-rift sedimentation. Our new interpretation of the crust's nature is important for plate reconstruction modelling related to the Alpine orogen.
Anke Dannowski, Heidrun Kopp, Frauke Klingelhoefer, Dirk Klaeschen, Marc-André Gutscher, Anne Krabbenhoeft, David Dellong, Marzia Rovere, David Graindorge, Cord Papenberg, and Ingo Klaucke
Solid Earth, 10, 447–462, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-447-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-447-2019, 2019
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The nature of the Ionian Sea crust has been the subject of scientific debate for more than 30 years. Seismic data, recorded on ocean bottom instruments, have been analysed and support the interpretation of the Ionian Abyssal Plain as a remnant of the Tethys oceanic lithosphere with the Malta Escarpment as a transform margin and a Tethys opening in the NNW–SSE direction.
Dietrich Lange, Frederik Tilmann, Tim Henstock, Andreas Rietbrock, Danny Natawidjaja, and Heidrun Kopp
Solid Earth, 9, 1035–1049, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-9-1035-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-9-1035-2018, 2018
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S. C. Stähler, K. Sigloch, K. Hosseini, W. C. Crawford, G. Barruol, M. C. Schmidt-Aursch, M. Tsekhmistrenko, J.-R. Scholz, A. Mazzullo, and M. Deen
Adv. Geosci., 41, 43–63, https://doi.org/10.5194/adgeo-41-43-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/adgeo-41-43-2016, 2016
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RHUM-RUM is a German-French project to record motion of the sea-floor caused by earthquakes around La Réunion. For this, 57 autonomous ocean-bottom seismometers were installed for one year in an area of 2000 × 2000 km around the island. These 57 were of two different types (Kiel-built LOBSTER and LCPO2000 from Scripps), whose performances are reviewed here. It was found that the LCPO2000-type is better suited for low frequencies, at the cost of higher power consumption and more difficult handling.
Related subject area
Subject area: Crustal structure and composition | Editorial team: Seismics, seismology, paleoseismology, geoelectrics, and electromagnetics | Discipline: Seismology
Seismic noise characterization for the Buddusò–Ala dei Sardi wind park (Sardinia, Italy) and its impact on the Einstein Telescope candidate site
The 3D QP model of the China Seismic Experimental Site (CSES-Q1.0) and its tectonic implications
Understanding seismic anisotropy in the Rotondo granite: investigating stress as a potential source
A new look at reflection seismic data from the Central Caledonian Transect across the Scandinavian Peninsula
Earthquakes triggered by the subsurface undrained response to reservoir impoundment at Irapé, Brazil
Accretionary prism deformation and fluid migration caused by slow earthquakes in the Nankai subduction zone
Extraction of pre-earthquake anomalies from borehole strain data using Graph WaveNet: a case study of the 2013 Lushan earthquake in China
Frequency-dependent shear wave attenuation across the Central Anatolia region, Türkiye
Thermal structure of the southern Caribbean and northwestern South America: implications for seismogenesis
Reference seismic crustal model of the Dinarides
The impact of seismic noise produced by wind turbines on seismic borehole measurements
Probing environmental and tectonic changes underneath Mexico City with the urban seismic field
Quantifying gender gaps in seismology authorship
Mapping the basement of the Cerdanya Basin (eastern Pyrenees) using seismic ambient noise
Constraints on fracture distribution in the Los Humeros geothermal field from beamforming of ambient seismic noise
Radial anisotropy and S-wave velocity depict the internal to external zone transition within the Variscan orogen (NW Iberia)
Distributed acoustic sensing as a tool for subsurface mapping and seismic event monitoring: a proof of concept
Seismic monitoring of the STIMTEC hydraulic stimulation experiment in anisotropic metamorphic gneiss
One-dimensional velocity structure modeling of the Earth's crust in the northwestern Dinarides
A functional tool to explore the reliability of micro-earthquake focal mechanism solutions for seismotectonic purposes
Changepoint detection in seismic double-difference data: application of a trans-dimensional algorithm to data-space exploration
Elastic anisotropies of deformed upper crustal rocks in the Alps
A revised image of the instrumental seismicity in the Lodi area (Po Plain, Italy)
Seismic radiation from wind turbines: observations and analytical modeling of frequency-dependent amplitude decays
Relocation of earthquakes in the southern and eastern Alps (Austria, Italy) recorded by the dense, temporary SWATH-D network using a Markov chain Monte Carlo inversion
Seismic noise variability as an indicator of urban mobility during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Santiago metropolitan region, Chile
Transversely isotropic lower crust of Variscan central Europe imaged by ambient noise tomography of the Bohemian Massif
Evaluating seismic beamforming capabilities of distributed acoustic sensing arrays
Crustal structure of southeast Australia from teleseismic receiver functions
Seismic monitoring of the Auckland Volcanic Field during New Zealand's COVID-19 lockdown
Using horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratios to construct shear-wave velocity profiles
Crustal structures beneath the Eastern and Southern Alps from ambient noise tomography
Introducing noisi: a Python tool for ambient noise cross-correlation modeling and noise source inversion
Deep learning for fast simulation of seismic waves in complex media
Fault reactivation by gas injection at an underground gas storage off the east coast of Spain
Lithospheric image of the Central Iberian Zone (Iberian Massif) using global-phase seismic interferometry
Modeling active fault systems and seismic events by using a fiber bundle model – example case: the Northridge aftershock sequence
Visual analytics of aftershock point cloud data in complex fault systems
Passive processing of active nodal seismic data: estimation of VP∕VS ratios to characterize structure and hydrology of an alpine valley infill
Monitoring of induced distributed double-couple sources using Marchenko-based virtual receivers
ER3D: a structural and geophysical 3-D model of central Emilia-Romagna (northern Italy) for numerical simulation of earthquake ground motion
Migration of reflector orientation attributes in deep seismic profiles: evidence for decoupling of the Yilgarn Craton lower crust
The cross-dip correction as a tool to improve imaging of crooked-line seismic data: a case study from the post-glacial Burträsk fault, Sweden
Green's theorem in seismic imaging across the scales
Near-surface structure of the North Anatolian Fault zone from Rayleigh and Love wave tomography using ambient seismic noise
Power spectra of random heterogeneities in the solid earth
A multi-technology analysis of the 2017 North Korean nuclear test
Obtaining reliable source locations with time reverse imaging: limits to array design, velocity models and signal-to-noise ratios
Giovanni Diaferia, Irene Molinari, Marco Olivieri, Fabio Di Felice, Andrea Contu, Domenico D'Urso, Luca Naticchioni, Davide Rozza, Jan Harms, Alessandro Cardini, Rosario De Rosa, Matteo Di Giovanni, Valentina Mangano, Fulvio Ricci, Lucia Trozzo, Carlo Murineddu, and Carlo Giunchi
Solid Earth, 16, 441–456, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-16-441-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-16-441-2025, 2025
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Seismic noise from wind farms can disturb nearby sensitive instruments. We examine the noise of Italy's largest wind farm, located near the proposed site for the third-generation gravitational wave detector. We find that seismic noise is considerable and can be detected up to 13 km distance. Seismic sensors placed at ∼ 250 m depth confirm an excellent level of noise suppression; however, small disturbances in the recorded spectra are detectable when the wind park operates at full capacity.
Mengqiao Duan, Lianqing Zhou, Ying Fu, Yanru An, Jingqiong Yang, and Xiaodong Zhang
Solid Earth, 16, 391–408, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-16-391-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-16-391-2025, 2025
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We obtain the highest-resolution three-dimensional P-wave attenuation model in the China Seismic Experimental Site to date. The P-wave attenuation value anomalies along large fault zones, some basin areas, and the Tengchong volcanic area are low, reflecting the high degree of medium fragmentation in these areas with thick sedimentary layers or rich in fluids.
Kathrin Behnen, Marian Hertrich, Hansruedi Maurer, Alexis Shakas, Kai Bröker, Claire Epiney, María Blanch Jover, and Domenico Giardini
Solid Earth, 16, 333–350, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-16-333-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-16-333-2025, 2025
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Several cross-hole seismic surveys in the undisturbed Rotondo granite are used to analyze the seismic anisotropy in the Bedretto Lab, Switzerland. The P and S1 waves show a clear trend of faster velocities in the NE–SW direction and slower velocities perpendicular to it, indicating a tilted transverse isotropic velocity model. The symmetry plane is mostly aligned with the direction of maximum stress, but also the orientation of fractures is expected to influence the velocities.
Christopher Juhlin, Rodolphe Lescoutre, and Bjarne Almqvist
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1196, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1196, 2025
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Reflection seismic data can provide high resolution images of the Earth's crust and allow a better understanding of crustal structure on all continents. In this paper we revisit reflection seismic data that were acquired previously across the central part of the Scandinavian peninsula. Merging of individual components of the data set in a more optimal manner resulted in a new image of the crust below the Scandinavian Caledonides with a revised interpretation of the crustal structure in the west.
Haris Raza, George Sand França, Eveline Sayão, and Victor Vilarrasa
Solid Earth, 15, 1407–1417, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-15-1407-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-15-1407-2024, 2024
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Hydropower dams associated with a large reservoir, a key renewable, face challenges like reservoir-triggered seismicity (RTS). Here, rock samples show 6.3 %–14.7 % porosity and a maximum permeability of 0.0098 mD. A 136 m reservoir rise causes a 0.61 MPa pore pressure increase. Vertical stress rises by 0.75 MPa, and horizontal stress falls by 0.48 MPa, which leads to fault destabilization, causing RTS. These facts urge the adoption of sustainable energy strategies and future dam development.
Takashi Tonegawa, Takeshi Akuhara, Yusuke Yamashita, Hiroko Sugioka, Masanao Shinohara, Shunsuke Takemura, and Takeshi Tsuji
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3405, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3405, 2024
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This study demonstrates that for slow earthquakes in the shallow Nankai subduction zone, (1) the velocity reductions in the accretionary prism reflect the stress field changes due to the slow earthquakes, and (2) the temporal variations in the heterogeneous structure correspond to upward fluid migrations from the source region of the slow earthquakes.
Chenyang Li, Yu Duan, Ying Han, Zining Yu, Chengquan Chi, and Dewang Zhang
Solid Earth, 15, 877–893, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-15-877-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-15-877-2024, 2024
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This study advances the field of earthquake prediction by introducing an extraction method for pre-seismic anomalies based on the structure of Graph WaveNet networks. We believe that our study makes a significant contribution to the literature as it not only demonstrates the effectiveness of this innovative approach in integrating borehole strain data from multiple stations but also reveals distinct temporal and spatial correlations preceding earthquake events.
Gizem Izgi, Tuna Eken, Peter Gaebler, Tülay Kaya-Eken, and Tuncay Taymaz
Solid Earth, 15, 657–669, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-15-657-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-15-657-2024, 2024
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In this manuscript, we investigate the complexity of the upper-crustal block of the Central Anatolia region, Türkiye. We present the results of seismic attenuation by examining 1509 local earthquakes recorded at 72 broadband stations and deployed within the framework of a passive seismic experiment. We emphasize the detailed 2D maps of intrinsic and scattering attenuation within the area where two devastating earthquakes (M1 7.8 and M1 7.5 Kahramanmaraş Earthquake Sequence) happened in 2023.
Ángela María Gómez-García, Álvaro González, Mauro Cacace, Magdalena Scheck-Wenderoth, and Gaspar Monsalve
Solid Earth, 15, 281–303, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-15-281-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-15-281-2024, 2024
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We compute a realistic three-dimensional model of the temperatures down to 75 km deep within the Earth, below the Caribbean Sea and northwestern South America. Using this, we estimate at which rock temperatures past earthquakes nucleated in the region and find that they agree with those derived from laboratory experiments of rock friction. We also analyse how the thermal state of the system affects the spatial distribution of seismicity in this region.
Katarina Zailac, Bojan Matoš, Igor Vlahović, and Josip Stipčević
Solid Earth, 14, 1197–1220, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-14-1197-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-14-1197-2023, 2023
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Presently there is no complete crustal model of the Dinarides. Using the compilations of previous studies, we have created vertically and laterally varying crustal models defined on a regular grid for the wider area of the Dinarides, also covering parts of the Adriatic Sea and the SW part of the Pannonian Basin. In addition to the seismic velocities and density, we also defined three interfaces: sedimentary deposit bottom, carbonate rock thickness and crustal thickness.
Fabian Limberger, Georg Rümpker, Michael Lindenfeld, and Hagen Deckert
Solid Earth, 14, 859–869, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-14-859-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-14-859-2023, 2023
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Wind turbines that are located close to a seismometer produce ground tremors that can increase the noise level at the seismic station. Using numerical models, we analyse the effectivity of borehole installations to reduce this impact. We study effects of geophysical parameters on the borehole effectivity and validate our modelling approach with data from real boreholes. Boreholes are effective in reducing the impact of wind turbines; however, this depends on the wavelength of the seismic wave.
Laura A. Ermert, Enrique Cabral-Cano, Estelle Chaussard, Darío Solano-Rojas, Luis Quintanar, Diana Morales Padilla, Enrique A. Fernández-Torres, and Marine A. Denolle
Solid Earth, 14, 529–549, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-14-529-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-14-529-2023, 2023
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Mexico City is built on a unique ground containing the clay-rich sediments of the ancient lake Texcoco. Continuous imperceptible shaking of these deposits by city traffic and other sources allows us to monitor changes in the subsurface seismic wave speed. Wave speed varies seasonally, likely due to temperature and rain effects; it temporarily drops after large earthquakes then starts to recover. Throughout the studied period, it increased on average, which may be related to soil compaction.
Laura Anna Ermert, Maria Koroni, and Naiara Korta Martiartu
Solid Earth, 14, 485–498, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-14-485-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-14-485-2023, 2023
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We investigate women's representation in seismology to raise awareness of existing gender disparities.
By analysing the authorship of peer-reviewed articles, we identify lower representation of women among single authors, high-impact authors, and highly productive authors. Seismology continues to be a male-dominated field, and trends suggest that parity is decades away. These gaps are an obstacle to women’s career advancement and, if neglected, may perpetuate the leaky-pipeline problem.
Jordi Díaz, Sergi Ventosa, Martin Schimmel, Mario Ruiz, Albert Macau, Anna Gabàs, David Martí, Özgenç Akin, and Jaume Vergés
Solid Earth, 14, 499–514, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-14-499-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-14-499-2023, 2023
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We assess the capability of multiple methods based on the interpretation of seismic noise to map the basement of the Cerdanya Basin, located in the eastern Pyrenees. Basement depth estimations retrieved from the different approaches are consistent, with maximum depths reaching 700 m close to the Têt fault bounding the basin to the east. Our results prove that seismic noise analysis using high-density networks is an excellent tool to improve the geological characterization of sedimentary basins.
Heather Kennedy, Katrin Löer, and Amy Gilligan
Solid Earth, 13, 1843–1858, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-1843-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-1843-2022, 2022
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The energy transition is an important topic for benefiting the future; thus renewable energy is required to reach net-zero carbon emission goals. Geothermal energy, heat from the ground, can be used in this transition. Therefore, geothermal fields need to be characterized as much as possible to allow for increased productivity within these fields. This study involves and looks at potential fractures within a geothermal field at depth to help increase the overall understanding of this field.
Jorge Acevedo, Gabriela Fernández-Viejo, Sergio Llana-Fúnez, Carlos López-Fernández, Javier Olona, and Diego Pérez-Millán
Solid Earth, 13, 659–679, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-659-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-659-2022, 2022
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The NW Iberian Peninsula provides one of the most complete Variscan sections in Europe, showing the transition between a sedimentary domain with folds and thrust and a metamorphic domain with igneous intrusions. By processing the seismic ambient noise recorded by several seismograph networks in this area, new 3-D S-wave velocity and radial anisotropy models were created. These models reveal the limit between the two domains, delineating the core of the large western European Variscan Belt.
Nicola Piana Agostinetti, Alberto Villa, and Gilberto Saccorotti
Solid Earth, 13, 449–468, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-449-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-449-2022, 2022
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Sensing the Earth is a fundamental operation for the future where georesources, like geothermal energy and CO2 underground storage, will become important tools for addressing societal challenges. The development of networks of optical fibre cables gives the possibility of a sensing grid with an unprecedented spatial coverage. Here, we investigate the potential of using portions of a optical fibre cable as a standard seismometer for exploring the subsurface and monitoring georesources.
Carolin M. Boese, Grzegorz Kwiatek, Thomas Fischer, Katrin Plenkers, Juliane Starke, Felix Blümle, Christoph Janssen, and Georg Dresen
Solid Earth, 13, 323–346, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-323-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-323-2022, 2022
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Hydraulic stimulation experiments in underground facilities allow for placing monitoring equipment close to and surrounding the stimulated rock under realistic and complex conditions at depth. We evaluate how accurately the direction-dependent velocity must be known for high-resolution seismic monitoring during stimulation. Induced transient deformation in rocks only 2.5–5 m apart may differ significantly in magnitude and style, and monitoring requires sensitive sensors adapted to the frequency.
Gregor Rajh, Josip Stipčević, Mladen Živčić, Marijan Herak, Andrej Gosar, and the AlpArray Working Group
Solid Earth, 13, 177–203, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-177-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-177-2022, 2022
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We investigated the 1-D velocity structure of the Earth's crust in the NW Dinarides with inversion of arrival times from earthquakes. The obtained velocity models give a better insight into the crustal structure and show velocity variations among different parts of the study area. In addition to general structural implications and a potential for improving further work, the results of our study can also be used for routine earthquake location and for detecting errors in seismological bulletins.
Guido Maria Adinolfi, Raffaella De Matteis, Rita de Nardis, and Aldo Zollo
Solid Earth, 13, 65–83, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-65-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-65-2022, 2022
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We propose a methodology useful to evaluate (1) the reliability of a focal mechanism solution inferred by the inversion of seismological data and (2) the performance of a seismic network, operated to monitor natural or induced seismicity, to assess focal mechanism solutions. As a test case, we studied the focal mechanism reliability by using synthetic data computed for ISNet, a local seismic network monitoring the Irpinia fault system (southern Italy).
Nicola Piana Agostinetti and Giulia Sgattoni
Solid Earth, 12, 2717–2733, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-2717-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-2717-2021, 2021
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One of the present-day challenges for geoscientists is tackling the big data revolution. An ever-growing amount of data needs to be processed and data are subjectively handled before using them to make inferences on the Earth’s interior. But imposing subjective decisions on the data might have strong influences on the final outputs. Here we present a totally novel and automatic application for screening the data and for defining data volumes that are consistent with physical hypotheses.
Ruth Keppler, Roman Vasin, Michael Stipp, Tomás Lokajícek, Matej Petruzálek, and Nikolaus Froitzheim
Solid Earth, 12, 2303–2326, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-2303-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-2303-2021, 2021
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Rocks in mountain belts have been deformed during continental collision causing a certain alignment of the minerals referred to as crystallographic preferred orientation (CPO). Minerals have anisotropic properties: the velocity of seismic waves travelling through them is direction dependent. This leads to anisotropy of the rocks. We measured the CPO of common rocks within the Alps. With this data and known anisotropic properties of the minerals we calculated the seismic anisotropy of the rocks.
Laura Peruzza, Alessandra Schibuola, Maria Adelaide Romano, Marco Garbin, Mariangela Guidarelli, Denis Sandron, and Enrico Priolo
Solid Earth, 12, 2021–2039, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-2021-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-2021-2021, 2021
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In weakly seismic or poorly monitored areas, the uncritical use of earthquake catalogues can be misleading. This is the case for a central sector in the Po Valley, where the Northern Apennines and Southern Alps collide. We collect and reprocess the available instrumental data of about 300 earthquakes from 1951 to 2019. The seismicity is weak, deeper than expected, and far from some existing human activities carried out underground. The potential tectonic causative sources are still unknown.
Fabian Limberger, Michael Lindenfeld, Hagen Deckert, and Georg Rümpker
Solid Earth, 12, 1851–1864, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-1851-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-1851-2021, 2021
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Frequency-dependent amplitude decays of seismic signals induced by wind turbines are determined from (up to) 6 months of continuous recordings measured along an 8 km profile located at a wind farm in Bavaria, Germany. The radiation pattern and amplitude decay of the induced signals are accounted for by an analytical approach that includes path and source effects. This approach is generalized to predict the characteristic seismic radiation patterns of arbitrary wind farm configurations.
Azam Jozi Najafabadi, Christian Haberland, Trond Ryberg, Vincent F. Verwater, Eline Le Breton, Mark R. Handy, Michael Weber, and the AlpArray and AlpArray SWATH-D working groups
Solid Earth, 12, 1087–1109, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-1087-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-1087-2021, 2021
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This study achieved high-precision hypocenters of 335 earthquakes (1–4.2 ML) and 1D velocity models of the Southern and Eastern Alps. The general pattern of seismicity reflects head-on convergence of the Adriatic Indenter with the Alpine orogenic crust. The relatively deeper seismicity in the eastern Southern Alps and Giudicarie Belt indicates southward propagation of the Southern Alpine deformation front. The derived hypocenters form excellent data for further seismological studies, e.g., LET.
Javier Ojeda and Sergio Ruiz
Solid Earth, 12, 1075–1085, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-1075-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-1075-2021, 2021
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In Santiago, Chile, the lockdown imposed due to COVID-19 was recorded by seismological instruments. This analysis shows temporal changes in the surface vibrations controlled by lockdown phases, mobility, and epidemiological factors. Our findings suggest that
dynamic lockdownand the early deconfinement in April 2020 caused an increase in mobility and therefore virus transmission. We propose that seismic networks could be used to monitor urban mobility as a new proxy in public policies.
Jiří Kvapil, Jaroslava Plomerová, Hana Kampfová Exnerová, Vladislav Babuška, György Hetényi, and AlpArray Working Group
Solid Earth, 12, 1051–1074, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-1051-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-1051-2021, 2021
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This paper presents a high-resolution 3-D shear wave velocity (vS) model of the Bohemian Massif crust imaged from high-density data and enhanced depth sensitivity of tomographic inversion. The dominant features of the model are relatively higher vS in the upper crust than in its surrounding, a distinct intra-crustal interface, and a velocity decrease in the lower part of the crust. The low vS in the lower part of the crust is explained by the anisotropic fabric of the lower crust.
Martijn P. A. van den Ende and Jean-Paul Ampuero
Solid Earth, 12, 915–934, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-915-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-915-2021, 2021
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Distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) is an emerging technology that measures stretching of an optical-fibre cable. This technology can be used to record the ground shaking of earthquakes, which offers a cost-efficient alternative to conventional seismometers. Since DAS is relatively new, we need to verify that existing seismological methods can be applied to this new data type. In this study, we reveal several issues by comparing DAS with conventional seismometer data for earthquake localisation.
Mohammed Bello, David G. Cornwell, Nicholas Rawlinson, Anya M. Reading, and Othaniel K. Likkason
Solid Earth, 12, 463–481, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-463-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-463-2021, 2021
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In this study, ground motion caused by distant earthquakes recorded in southeast Australia is used to image the structure of the crust and underlying mantle. This part of the Australian continent was assembled over the last 500 million years, but it remains poorly understood. By studying variations in crustal properties and thickness, we find evidence for the presence of an old microcontinent that is embedded in the younger terrane and forms a connection between Victoria and Tasmania.
Kasper van Wijk, Calum J. Chamberlain, Thomas Lecocq, and Koen Van Noten
Solid Earth, 12, 363–373, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-363-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-363-2021, 2021
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The Auckland Volcanic Field is monitored by a seismic network. The lockdown measures to combat COVID-19 in New Zealand provided an opportunity to evaluate the performance of seismic stations in the network and to search for small(er) local earthquakes, potentially hidden in the noise during "normal" times. Cross-correlation of template events resulted in detection of 30 new events not detected by GeoNet, but there is no evidence of an increase in detections during the quiet period of lockdown.
Janneke van Ginkel, Elmer Ruigrok, and Rien Herber
Solid Earth, 11, 2015–2030, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-2015-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-2015-2020, 2020
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Knowledge of subsurface velocities is key to understand how earthquake waves travel through the Earth. We present a method to construct velocity profiles for the upper sediment layer on top of the Groningen field, the Netherlands. Here, the soft-sediment layer causes resonance of seismic waves, and this resonance is used to compute velocities from. Recordings from large earthquakes and the background noise signals are used to derive reliable velocities for the deep sedimentary layer.
Ehsan Qorbani, Dimitri Zigone, Mark R. Handy, Götz Bokelmann, and AlpArray-EASI working group
Solid Earth, 11, 1947–1968, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-1947-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-1947-2020, 2020
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The crustal structure of the Eastern and Southern Alps is complex. Although several seismological studies have targeted the crust, the velocity structure under this area is still not fully understood. Here we study the crustal velocity structure using seismic ambient noise tomography. Our high-resolution models image several velocity anomalies and contrasts and reveal details of the crustal structure. We discuss our new models of the crust with respect to the geologic and tectonic features.
Laura Ermert, Jonas Igel, Korbinian Sager, Eléonore Stutzmann, Tarje Nissen-Meyer, and Andreas Fichtner
Solid Earth, 11, 1597–1615, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-1597-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-1597-2020, 2020
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We present an open-source tool to model ambient seismic auto- and cross-correlations with spatially varying source spectra. The modeling is based on pre-computed databases of seismic wave propagation, which can be obtained from public data providers. The aim of this tool is to facilitate the modeling of ambient noise correlations, which are an important seismologic observable, with realistic wave propagation physics. We present a description and benchmark along with example use cases.
Ben Moseley, Tarje Nissen-Meyer, and Andrew Markham
Solid Earth, 11, 1527–1549, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-1527-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-1527-2020, 2020
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Simulations of seismic waves are very important; they allow us to understand how earthquakes spread and how the interior of the Earth is structured. However, whilst powerful, existing simulation methods usually require a large amount of computational power and time to run. In this research, we use modern machine learning techniques to accelerate these calculations inside complex models of the Earth.
Antonio Villaseñor, Robert B. Herrmann, Beatriz Gaite, and Arantza Ugalde
Solid Earth, 11, 63–74, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-63-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-63-2020, 2020
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We present new earthquake focal depths and fault orientations for earthquakes that occurred in 2013 in the vicinity of an underground gas storage off the east coast of Spain. Our focal depths are in the range of 5–10 km, notably deeper than the depth of the gas injection (2 km). The obtained fault orientations also differ from the predominant faults at shallow depths. This suggests that the faults reactivated are deeper, previously unmapped faults occurring beneath the sedimentary layers.
Juvenal Andrés, Deyan Draganov, Martin Schimmel, Puy Ayarza, Imma Palomeras, Mario Ruiz, and Ramon Carbonell
Solid Earth, 10, 1937–1950, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-1937-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-1937-2019, 2019
Marisol Monterrubio-Velasco, F. Ramón Zúñiga, José Carlos Carrasco-Jiménez, Víctor Márquez-Ramírez, and Josep de la Puente
Solid Earth, 10, 1519–1540, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-1519-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-1519-2019, 2019
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Earthquake aftershocks display spatiotemporal correlations arising from their self-organized critical behavior. Stochastical models such as the fiber bundle (FBM) permit the use of an analog of the physical model that produces a statistical behavior with many similarities to real series. In this work, a new model based on FBM that includes geometrical faults systems is proposed. Our analysis focuses on aftershock statistics, and as a study case we modeled the Northridge sequence.
Chisheng Wang, Junzhuo Ke, Jincheng Jiang, Min Lu, Wenqun Xiu, Peng Liu, and Qingquan Li
Solid Earth, 10, 1397–1407, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-1397-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-1397-2019, 2019
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The point cloud of located aftershocks contains the information which can directly reveal the fault geometry and temporal evolution of an earthquake sequence. However, there is a lack of studies using state-of-the-art visual analytics methods to explore the data to discover hidden information about the earthquake fault. We present a novel interactive approach to illustrate 3-D aftershock point clouds, which can help the seismologist to better understand the complex fault system.
Michael Behm, Feng Cheng, Anna Patterson, and Gerilyn S. Soreghan
Solid Earth, 10, 1337–1354, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-1337-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-1337-2019, 2019
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New acquisition styles for active seismic source exploration provide a wealth of additional quasi-passive data. We show how these data can be used to gain complementary information about the subsurface. Specifically, we process an active-source dataset from an alpine valley in western Colorado with both active and passive inversion schemes. The results provide new insights on subsurface hydrology based on the ratio of P-wave and S-wave velocity structures.
Joeri Brackenhoff, Jan Thorbecke, and Kees Wapenaar
Solid Earth, 10, 1301–1319, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-1301-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-1301-2019, 2019
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Earthquakes in the subsurface are hard to monitor due to their complicated signals. We aim to make the monitoring of the subsurface possible by redatuming the sources and the receivers from the surface of the Earth to the subsurface to monitor earthquakes originating from small faults in the subsurface. By using several sources together, we create complex earthquake signals for large-scale faults sources.
Peter Klin, Giovanna Laurenzano, Maria Adelaide Romano, Enrico Priolo, and Luca Martelli
Solid Earth, 10, 931–949, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-931-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-931-2019, 2019
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Using geological and geophysical data, we set up a 3-D digital description of the underground structure in the central part of the Po alluvial plain. By means of computer-simulated propagation of seismic waves, we were able to identify the structural features that caused the unexpected elongation and amplification of the earthquake ground motion that was observed in the area during the 2012 seismic crisis. The study permits a deeper understanding of the seismic hazard in alluvial basins.
Andrew J. Calvert and Michael P. Doublier
Solid Earth, 10, 637–645, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-637-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-637-2019, 2019
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Deep (> 40 km) seismic reflection surveys are acquired on land along crooked roads. Using the varying azimuth between source and receiver, the true 3-D orientation of crustal structures can be determined. Applying this method to a survey over the ancient Australian Yilgarn Craton reveals that most reflectors in the lower crust exhibit a systematic dip perpendicular to those in the overlying crust, consistent with lateral flow of a weak lower crust in the hotter early Earth 2.7 billion years ago.
Ruth A. Beckel and Christopher Juhlin
Solid Earth, 10, 581–598, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-581-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-581-2019, 2019
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Scandinavia is crossed by extensive fault scarps that have likely been caused by huge earthquakes when the ice sheets of the last glacial melted. Due to the inaccessibility of the terrain, reflection seismic data have to be collected along crooked lines, which reduces the imaging quality unless special corrections are applied. We developed a new correction method that is very tolerant to noise and used it to improve the reflection image of such a fault and refine its geological interpretation.
Kees Wapenaar, Joeri Brackenhoff, and Jan Thorbecke
Solid Earth, 10, 517–536, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-517-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-517-2019, 2019
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The earthquake seismology and seismic exploration communities have developed a variety of seismic imaging methods for passive- and active-source data. Despite the seemingly different approaches and underlying principles, many of these methods are based in some way or another on the same mathematical theorem. Starting with this theorem, we discuss a variety of classical and recent seismic imaging methods in a systematic way and explain their similarities and differences.
George Taylor, Sebastian Rost, Gregory A. Houseman, and Gregor Hillers
Solid Earth, 10, 363–378, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-363-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-363-2019, 2019
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We constructed a seismic velocity model of the North Anatolian Fault in Turkey. We found that the fault is located within a region of reduced seismic velocity and skirts the edges of a geological unit that displays high seismic velocity, indicating that this unit could be stronger than the surrounding material. Furthermore, we found that seismic waves travel fastest in the NE–SW direction, which is the direction of maximum extension for this part of Turkey and indicates mineral alignment.
Haruo Sato
Solid Earth, 10, 275–292, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-275-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-275-2019, 2019
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Recent seismological observations clarified that the velocity structure of the crust and upper mantle is randomly heterogeneous. I compile reported power spectral density functions of random velocity fluctuations based on various types of measurements. Their spectral envelope is approximated by the third power of wavenumber. It is interesting to study what kinds of geophysical processes created such a power-law spectral envelope at different scales and in different geological environments.
Peter Gaebler, Lars Ceranna, Nima Nooshiri, Andreas Barth, Simone Cesca, Michaela Frei, Ilona Grünberg, Gernot Hartmann, Karl Koch, Christoph Pilger, J. Ole Ross, and Torsten Dahm
Solid Earth, 10, 59–78, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-59-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-59-2019, 2019
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On 3 September 2017 official channels of the Democratic People’s Republic of
Korea announced the successful test of a nuclear device. This study provides a
multi-technology analysis of the 2017 North Korean event and its aftermath using a wide array of geophysical methods (seismology, infrasound, remote sensing, radionuclide monitoring, and atmospheric transport modeling). Our results clearly indicate that the September 2017 North Korean event was in fact a nuclear test.
Claudia Werner and Erik H. Saenger
Solid Earth, 9, 1487–1505, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-9-1487-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-9-1487-2018, 2018
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Time reverse imaging is a method for locating quasi-simultaneous or low-amplitude earthquakes. Numerous three-dimensional synthetic simulations were performed to discover the influence of station distributions, complex velocity models and high noise rates on the reliability of localisations. The guidelines obtained enable the estimation of the localisation success rates of an existing station set-up and provide the basis for designing new arrays.
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Short summary
The Ligurian Sea opened ~30–15 Ma during SE migration of the Calabrian subduction zone. Using ambient seismic noise from stations on land and at the ocean bottom, we calculated a 3D shear-velocity model of the Ligurian Basin. In keeping with existing 2D studies, we find a shallow crust–mantle transition at the SW basin centre that deepens towards the northeast, Corsica, and the Liguro-Provençal coast. We observe a separation of SW and NE basins. We do not observe high crustal vP/vS ratios.
The Ligurian Sea opened ~30–15 Ma during SE migration of the Calabrian subduction zone. Using...
