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We develop an original algorithm for velocity estimation that incorporates the constraints of three seismic functionals: surface wave dispersion, P-receiver function, and S-waveform. Here, we use a parallelized reflectivity algorithm to generate synthetic seismograms and match the observed functionals by a global optimization scheme called very fast simulated annealing (VFSA). This method also allows us to assess the uniqueness and parameter independence of the resultant models. Synthetic tests using surface wave (SW) dispersion and receiver functions (RF), and then SW, RF, and waveforms windowed around the S arrival, establish that inclusion of the third functional results in the best recovery of the model. We employ the algorithm to model the Kachchh basin in Gujarat, India, because the area is of active interest for monitoring purposes, and prior results of RF and SW modeling are available for comparison. The waveform functionals used here are generated from broadband seismograms of teleseismic, deep (396–609 km), and moderate- to large-magnitude (6–6.8) earthquake events recorded at semipermanent seismograph stations in the Kachchh basin. Joint inversion of SW, RF, and S-waveform improves the velocity structure by revealing layers that were not identified in previous modeling that used SW and RF alone. Our model clearly shows low-velocity zones (LVZs), crustal and lithospheric thinning, and the lithosphere–asthenosphere boundary. We estimate the crustal thickness to be 41 km at all but one station, and the lithosphere to be in the range of 70–80 km. P- and S-velocities from the uppermost crust to the Moho vary from 4.7 to 7.0 km/s, and 2.7–4.1 km/s, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A swarm of volcano-tectonic earthquakes (VTEs) started in May 2018 at the east of Mayotte. In addition, in the following month, long-period earthquakes (LPEs) also started occurring at this swarm zone, transmitting long-period (LP) waves whose records in broadband seismographs are analyzed. Since then, 251 LPEs of magnitude (Ms) between 3.2 and 4.9 have occurred. The LPE occurrence was maximum during October 2018; the occurrence decreased significantly from June 2019 and continued to January 2022. Prior to the VTE swarm, two more LPEs, each of magnitude 3.2, occurred in the same zone in May 2010 and January 2018. Records of many LPEs show that the amplitude of LP waves is small at the beginning, attains maximum by 3–5 min and decreases thereafter. However, there are other LPEs showing waves with a repeated increase and decrease in amplitude. The LP waves are of duration of about 26 min and consist of monochromatic Rayleigh waves with a period between 14.52 s and 15.63 s. The increase and decrease in the period happened simultaneously with the increase and decrease in the number of LPEs. An increase in period was noted in January 2018 prior to the volcano-tectonic activity that started in May 2018. Comparisons of synthetic and observed seismograms show that a LP waveform depicts amplitude-varying monochromatic oscillation of a volcanic fluid-filled resonator; varieties of amplitude variation pattern of an oscillation are noted for different LPEs. To explain such amplitude-varying oscillation, we need to refine the existing fluid mechanics in the resonator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As seismologists continue to place more stringent demands on data quality, accurately described metadata are becoming increasingly important. In order to better constrain the orientation and sensitivities of seismometers deployed in U.S. Geological Survey networks, the Albuquerque Seismological Laboratory (ASL) has recently begun identifying true north with a fiber optic gyroscope (FOG) and has developed methodologies to constrain mid-band, vertical component sensitivity levels to less than 1% in a controlled environment. However, questions remain regarding the accuracy of this new alignment technique as well as if instrument sensitivities and background noise levels are stable when the seismometers are installed in different environmental settings. In this study, we examine the stability and repeatability of these parameters by reinstalling two high-quality broadband seismometers (Streckeisen STS-2.5 and Nanometrics T-360 Global Seismographic Network (GSN) version) at different locations around the ASL and comparing them to each other and a reference STS-6 seismometer that stayed stationary for the duration of the experiment. We find that even in different environmental conditions, the sensitivities of the two broadband seismometers stayed stable to within 0.1% and that orientations attained using the FOG are generally accurate to within a degree. However, one install was off by 5° due to a mistake made by the installation team. These results indicate that while technology and methodologies are now in place to calibrate and orient a seismometer to within 1°, human error both during the installation and while producing the metadata is often a limiting factor. Finally, we find that background noise levels at short periods (0.1–1 s) become noisier when the sensors are emplaced in unconsolidated materials, whereas the noise levels at long periods (30–100 s) are not sensitive to local geological structure on the vertical components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Site and path effects are always required to isolate the source term from a recorded seismograph for the estimation of source characteristics. In this paper, the site and path effects are assessed in terms of site amplification and anelastic attenuation (quality factor), respectively, to obtain an isolated source term for the estimation of earthquake source parameters in the Kinnaur Himalaya. These terms are then applied to calculate the source parameters of 75 local earthquakes in the range 1.5 ≤ moment magnitude (Mw) ≤ 3.6 recorded in the Kinnaur region. The scaling relations of earthquake source parameters are also established for this region. The site amplification curves and S-wave quality factor Qs(f) are determined and further utilized to correct the Fourier spectrum of earthquake records. The obtained source spectrum corrected for these two terms is compared with the theoretical source spectrum based on the Brune (J Geophys Res 75:4997–5009, 1970) source model. The root-mean-square error (RMSE) between the observed and theoretical spectrum is formulated by implementing iterative forward modeling. The obtained range of source parameters of 75 events reveals ranges of 2.73 × 1011–3.44 × 1014 N-m for seismic moment, 0.03–13 bar for stress drop, 0.3–0.9 km for source radius, and 5.64 × 1002–1.19 × 1008 J for radiated energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hurst exponent was computed locally for three triaxial seismometers monitoring the KAGRA corner station and the two end stations of the interferometer allowing to estimate variability in the persistent behaviour of the seismometer time series. Results show that, in all the three cases considered, the vertical component of the seismometer has lower persistency compared to the horizontal degrees of freedom, as also confirmed by the low frequency region of the amplitude spectral density of the data. Furthermore, data of the horizontal components of the EXV end station, located in the direction of the X arm of the interferometer, exhibits lower values of seismic noise and of its Hurst exponent. This is possibly due to the lack of an exit point at this location, and hence to a reduced human activity, to the presence of water flow in the mine hosting the KAGRA detector or to differences in seismometers' self noise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A methodology using adaptive time series analysis is tested on data from a seismometer monitoring the north end building (NEB) of the Virgo interferometer during four acoustic noise injections. Empirical mode decomposition (EMD) is used for adaptive detrending, while the recently developed time-varying filter EMD algorithm is used for narrowband mode extraction. Mode persistency is evaluated with detrended fluctuation analysis, and denoising is achieved by setting a threshold H thr on the Hurst exponent of the obtained modes. The adopted methodology is proven useful in adaptively separating the seismic noise induced by the acoustic noise injections from the underlying nonlinear non-stationary recordings of the seismometer monitoring NEB. The Hilbert–Huang transform provides a high-resolution time–frequency representation of the data. Furthermore, the local Hurst exponent exhibits a drop due to the injections that is of the same order of H thr . This suggests that the local Hurst exponent could be calculated as an initial step in order to select the threshold H thr . The algorithms could be used for detector characterisation purposes such as the investigation of non-Gaussian noise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A broadband seismological station (PRIMA) installed offshore Nice airport (southeastern France) reveals a strong amplification effect of seismic waves. PRIMA station was in operation for 2 years (9/2016 to 10/2018) on the outer shelf at a water depth of 18 m. Situated at the mouth of the Var River, this zone is unstable and prone to landslides. A catastrophic landslide and tsunami already occurred in 1979, causing 10 casualties. Given the level of seismicity of the area, it is important to infer the impact of an earthquake on this zone. We analyze the recordings of earthquakes and seismic noise at the PRIMA station by comparing them to nearby inland stations. We find that the seismic waves are strongly amplified at PRIMA at some specific frequencies (with an amplification factor greater than 10 at 0.9 Hz). Using geological and geophysical data, we show that the main amplification frequency peak (at 0.9 Hz) is due to the velocity contrast between the Pliocene sedimentary layer and fine-grained sediments dated from the Holocene, at about 100 m depth. This velocity contrast is also present along the Var valley, but the level of amplification detected on PRIMA station is larger. Using numerical simulations of seismic waves in a 2D model that accounts for the pinch-out geometry related to the termination of the Holocene sedimentary layer, we can partially explain this amplification. This offshore site effect could have a crucial impact on the triggering of a submarine landslide by an earthquake in this region. More generally, this effect should be taken into account for the modeling of landslides and induced tsunamis triggered by seismic waves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The local Hurst exponent H(t) has been computed for an array of 38 seismometers, deployed at the Virgo West End Building for Newtonian Noise characterisation purposes. The analysed period is from January 31st, 2018 to February 5th, 2018. The Hurst exponent H is a fractal index quantifying the persistent behaviour of a time series, higher H corresponding to higher persistency. The adopted methodology makes use of the local Hurst exponent computed using small sliding windows, in order to characterise the properties of the seismometers. Hourly averages and averages of H(t) have been computed over the whole analysed period. Results show that seismometers placed on a concrete slab closer to the centre of the room systematically exhibit higher persistency than the ones that are not placed on it. Seismometers placed next to the outer walls also exhibit higher persistency. The seismometer placed on a thin metal plate exhibits instead very low values of persistency during the analysed period, compared to the rest of the array. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ground-motion models (GMMs) are a key driver for the results of probabilistic seismic hazard analyses and their uncertainty. GMMs that bridge seismological and empirical approaches are an effective tool to represent the distribution of ground motion and its uncertainty in seismic hazard assessment. A methodology is presented that uses ground-motion data recorded at seismograph sites in eastern North America and shows how they can be used to calibrate simple scalable seismological models of ground-motion generation and propagation. Such GMMs can directly account for the gross features of source scaling (magnitude and stress parameter), attenuation, site response, and kappa effects. It is shown that, by application of appropriate GMM strategies, sigma (aleatory uncertainty) could be greatly reduced, resulting in lower calculated hazard for nuclear plants founded on rock. This reduction in sigma requires that high-quality seismic monitoring (e.g., broadband seismograph stations) be installed and operated over a period of years (in addition to strong-motion stations), and that an ongoing investment be made in data analysis and targeted GMM development using the data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earthquakes with submarine foci are generally located with high uncertainties, and their focal mechanisms are poorly resolved, due to the confinement of the monitoring network onshore and the consequent poor azimuthal coverage. The use of amphibious networks, combining ocean-bottom seismometers (OBSs) and land stations, helps to reduce the epicentral distance and the azimuth gap, thus better constraining the hypocentral locations and decreasing the focal mechanism uncertainties. A second important factor in improving the location accuracy for offshore seismicity is the use of a suitable velocity model. The objective of this paper is to study how the combination of an amphibious network with 3D crustal models can improve offshore earthquake hypocenter locations and focal mechanisms. The study area is SW Iberia near Cape St. Vincent, which generated some of the most striking earthquakes and tsunamis in Europe in past centuries, such as the 1755 Lisbon earthquake (Imax = X). We deployed an array of six broadband OBSs 200 km offshore Cape St. Vincent to study the seismicity of the region for a period of 8 months. During this period, we detected 52 earthquakes, the largest with magnitude M (mbLg) ≈ 5. Thirty-eight earthquakes are relocated using land stations in Iberia and North Africa and the OBS array with different velocity models. Focal mechanisms and moment tensors are computed for a data set of seven earthquakes based on first-motion polarities, body-wave amplitude spectra and waveform cross-correlation. We show that if we include offshore OBS data and consider accurate 3D velocity models to locate earthquakes, the focal parameter uncertainties decrease substantially, thus improving the depth constraint. We also show that the locations and focal mechanisms obtained using the amphibious network agree with the regional stress pattern in the SW Iberia region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We assessed the seismic potential around the northeastern edge of the Longmenshan fault zone (LFZ) by analyzing the aftershocks of the 2008 Mw 7.9 Wenchuan earthquake, focusing on the right-lateral strike-slip Qingchuan fault (QCF). The data used in the present study were collected from a dense network of broadband seismographs, installed after the Mw 7.9 mainshock by the China Earthquake Administration. We analyzed 440 aftershocks that occurred around the northeastern part of the aftershock area between December 2008 and June 2009, the local magnitudes (ML) of which ranged from 2.0 to 5.2. We determined 127 well-constrained focal mechanism solutions for these aftershocks down to ML 2.5 by using P-wave polarity data in conjunction with body-wave amplitudes. An analysis of the stress tensor inversion revealed that, upon approaching the QCF from the LFZ, the stress field changes from a reverse faulting regime to a mixed regime containing strike-slip components and the orientation of the maximum compressional stress changes from a NW–SE to a WNW–ESE direction. This stress field favors a right-lateral strike-slip movement along the fault. The slip tendency analysis revealed that the QCF is regarded as being favorably oriented to the present-day stress field. The coseismic Coulomb stress changes induced by the mainshock increased along the preferred fault plane in the northeastern half of the QCF, which is further loaded by viscoelastic relaxation. This evidence suggests that the potential for a future earthquake in the QCF is high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ocean bottom seismometers (OBS) have been widely used in studies of oceanic crustal structure. However, it is challenging to estimate the oceanic crustal structure using teleseismic P waves recorded at a single OBS station, due to water reverberations and the close arrival time between the Moho-converted Ps phase and its multiples. We propose herein a method (the H–β algorithm) based on wavefield continuation and decomposition, whereby the oceanic crustal thickness and average S wave velocity can be estimated by minimizing the energy of the upgoing S wave within the uppermost mantle. Forward tests indicate that the H–β algorithm can resolve the thickness and S-wave velocity of each crustal layer robustly. We apply this method to an OBS station near Hawaii (station PL11) and obtain the oceanic crustal structure beneath the station. The resolved crustal thickness is consistent with previous studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a systematic study of seismic attenuation and its related Q structure derived from the spectral analysis of P-, S-waves in the southern India. The study region is separated into parts of EDC (Eastern Dharwar Craton), Western Dharwar Craton (WDC) and Southern Granulite Terrain (SGT). The study is carried out in the frequency range 1-20 Hz, using a single-station spectral ratio technique. We make use of about 45 earthquakes, recorded in a network of about 32 broadband 3-component seismograph-stations, having magnitudes ( M ) varying from 1.6 to 4.5, to estimate the average seismic body wave attenuation quality factors; Q and Q . Their estimated average values are observed to be fitting to the power law form of Q = Q f . The averaged power law relations for Southern Indian region (as a whole) are obtained as Q = (95 ± 1.12) f ; Q = (128 ± 1.84) f . Based on the stations and recorded local earthquakes, for parts of EDC, WDC and SGT, the average power law estimates are obtained as: Q = (97 ± 5) f , Q = (116 ± 1.5) f for EDC region; Q = (130 ± 7) f , Q = (103 ± 3) f for WDC region; Q = (68 ± 2) f , Q = (152 ± 6) f for SGT region. These estimates are weighed against coda Q ( Q ) estimates, using the coda decay technique, which is based on a weak backscattering of S-waves. A major observation in the study of body wave analysis is the low body wave Q ( Q < 200), moderately high value of the frequency-exponent, ' n' (>0.5) and Q / Q ≫ 1, suggesting lateral stretches of dominant scattering mode of seismic wave propagation. This primarily could be attributed to possible thermal anomalies and spread of partially fluid-saturated rock-masses in the crust and upper mantle of the southern Indian region, which, however, needs further laboratory studies. Such physical conditions might partly be correlated to the active seismicity and intraplate tectonism, especially in SGT and EDC regions, as per the observed low- Q and Q values. Additionally, the enrichment of coda waves and significance of scattering mechanisms is evidenced in our observation of Q > Q estimates. Lapse time study shows Q values increasing with lapse time. High Q values at 40 s lapse times in WDC indicate that it may be a relatively stable region. In the absence of detailed body wave attenuation studies in this region, the frequency dependent Q relationships developed here are useful for the estimation of earthquake source parameters of the region. Also, these relations may be used for the simulation of earthquake strong ground motions which are required for the estimation of seismic hazard, geotechnical and retrofitting analysis of critical structures in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the uppermost mantle velocities and dip of Indian Moho beneath the NW Himalaya and Ladakh using 42 regional waveform data recorded on 15 seismographs along a ~600 km-long profile. We use the two-way travel time and interstation velocity methods. The apparent Pn and Sn velocities beneath the NW Himalaya are 8.08 ± 0.04 and 4.64 ± 0.07 km/s for earthquakes occurring south of the profile (downdip, western Indian shield) and 8.70 ± 0.13 and 4.76 ± 0.12 km/s for earthquakes from north (updip, western Tibet). Similarly, these velocities beneath Ladakh are 7.18 ± 0.07 and 4.32 ± 0.05 km/s for earthquakes due south (downdip, north Indian shield) and 8.50 ± 0.10 and 4.39 ± 0.12 km/s for earthquakes due north (updip, western Tibet). These velocity variations constrain the Moho dip at ~2.4 ± 0.14º beneath the NW Himalaya and ~6.6 ± 0.54º beneath Ladakh. Considering the varying dips along the profile, we observe that the true Pn (8.37 ± 0.07 km/s) and Sn (4.70 ± 0.1 km/s) velocities are higher for the NW Himalaya than for Ladakh (7.73 ± 0.08 and 4.33 ± 0.09 km/s). The large variation in interstation Pn velocity is observed between the station pairs near the Indus Zangpo Suture zone due to steep dipping (~7.1º to 6.26º) of the Indian Moho. In the Himalaya region, the interstation and average values of the velocities and Moho dip are comparable, whereas a variation is observed in different segments of the Ladakh region. The results show that the Indian Moho is underthrusting at a shallow angle (~2.5º) beneath the Himalaya, steepens abruptly (~6.6º) further north of the Southern Tibetan Detachment and continues at a shallow angle (~3.8º) beneath Ladakh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we present a first report on magnetic disturbances over the Brazilian sector that occurred on September 16-17, 2015. These disturbances are associated with the Illapel earthquake. Using seven magnetometers installed across Brazil, and distributed within 4500 km from the epicenter, the presence of magnetic disturbances is noted ~15 min after the time of earthquake. The seismometers registered the arrival of the first seismic waves ~10 min prior to the observed signatures on magnetic disturbances, suggesting that such waves are possibly from seismogenic origin, which involves the lithosphere-atmosphere-ionosphere coupling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the 2015 Illapel earthquake the radial and spheroidal modes up to 1 mHz were registered by the network of superconducting gravimeters. These data provide unique opportunity to obtain ultralow-frequency estimates of several centroid moment tensor components. We employ the superconducting-gravimeter records of 60-h lengths and perform the joint inversion for $$M_{rr}$$ , $$(M_{\vartheta \vartheta }-M_{\varphi \varphi })/2$$ and $$M_{\vartheta \varphi }$$ centroid moment tensor components from spheroidal modes up to 1 mHz. The $$M_{rr}$$ component is also obtained from independent inversion of the radial modes $$_0S_0$$ and $$_1S_0$$ . Our results are consistent with the published solutions obtained from higher frequency data, suggesting thus negligible slow afterslip phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earthquake time series are widely used to characterize the main features of seismicity and to provide useful insights into the dynamics of the seismogenic system. Properties such as intermittency and non-stationary clustering are common in earthquake time series such that multifractal concepts seem essential to describe the temporal clustering variability. Here we use a multifractal approach to study the time dynamics of the recent earthquake activity in the Corinth rift. The results indicate the degree of heterogeneous clustering and correlations acting at all time scales that suggest non-Poissonian behavior. Additionally, the multifractal analysis in different time periods showed that the degree of multifractality exhibits strong variations with time, which are associated with the dynamic evolution of the earthquake activity in the rift and the transition between periods of high and low seismicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present evidence for ancient seismicity in the form of tectonic pseudotachylyte and coeval, cyclic hydrothermal alteration, and cataclasis along fault zones exhumed from 2.4 to 6.0 km in the central Sierra Nevada, CA. The Glacier Lakes fault (GLF) and Granite Pass fault (GPF) are exhumed left-lateral to left-lateral oblique, strike-slip faults with up to 125 m of left-lateral separation exposed in Mesozoic granite and granodiorite plutons. Precipitation of epidote along fault slip-surfaces, chloritization of biotite, saussurite and sericite alteration of plagioclase, and quartz- and-calcite filled veins are present in the GLF and GPF zones. One difficulty encountered in studying exhumed fault zones is providing convincing evidence for a frictional melt origin of pseudotachylyte. Rocks in the field may preserve convincing evidence for frictional melt (i.e., aphanitic, dark, injection structures) that are later shown to be related to cataclasis or injection of hydrothermal fluids. Another challenge results from the low preservation potential of several of the microscopic features that are convincing evidence of a frictional melt origin (microlites, amygdules, and glassy matrix). Here we test the usefulness of grain shape and nearest neighbor distribution analysis of pseudotachylyte and cataclasites from the GLF and GPF to discriminate between these fault rocks and to determine a frictional melt origin for pseudotachylyte. Fabric analyses of the clasts within the pseudotachylytes examined are more circular and exhibit a random nearest neighbor clast distribution relative to adjacent cataclasites. With increased comminution and melting the mean clast circularity increases and the nearest neighbor distances approach a random distribution. We conclude that this observed pattern can be applied to other fault zones as an indicator of a frictional melt origin for fault-related rocks. Mutually cross-cutting zones of hydrothermal alteration and calcite deformation twins constrain the ambient temperature conditions in the fault zone to between 170 and 320 °C during pseudotachylyte formation. Based on previous thermochronologic studies, the temperature conditions of the country rock during faulting were between 110 and 220 °C. The overlapping to elevated temperatures in the fault zone can be explained by: (1) infiltration of hydrothermal fluids into the fault zone; or (2) residual elevated temperatures as a result of frictional heating in the fault zone during seismic slip. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seismotectonic studies of the 2008 Storfjorden aftershock sequence were limited to data acquired by the permanent, but sparse, regional seismic network in the Svalbard archipelago. Storfjorden's remote location and harsh polar environment inhibited deployment of temporary seismometers that would have improved observations of sequence events. The lack of good station coverage prevented the detection and computation of hypocenter locations of many low magnitude events (mb < 2.5) in the NORSAR analyst-reviewed bulletin. As a result, the fine structure of the sequence's space-time distribution was not captured. In this study, an autonomous event detection and clustering framework is employed to build a more complete catalog of Storfjorden events using data from the Spitsbergen (SPITS) array. The new catalog allows the spatiotemporal distribution of seismicity within the fjord to be studied in greater detail. Information regarding the location of active event clusters provides a means of inferring the tectonic structure within the fault zone. The distribution of active clusters and moment tensor solutions for the Storfjorden sequence suggests there are at least two different structures within the fjord: a NE-SW trending linear feature with oblique-normal to strike-slip faulting and E-W trending normal faults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Correctly characterizing tsunami source generation is the most critical component of modern tsunami forecasting. Although difficult to quantify directly, a tsunami source can be modeled via different methods using a variety of measurements from deep-ocean tsunameters, seismometers, GPS, and other advanced instruments, some of which in or near real time. Here we assess the performance of different source models for the destructive 11 March 2011 Japan tsunami using model-data comparison for the generation, propagation, and inundation in the near field of Japan. This comparative study of tsunami source models addresses the advantages and limitations of different real-time measurements with potential use in early tsunami warning in the near and far field. The study highlights the critical role of deep-ocean tsunami measurements and rapid validation of the approximate tsunami source for high-quality forecasting. We show that these tsunami measurements are compatible with other real-time geodetic data, and may provide more insightful understanding of tsunami generation from earthquakes, as well as from nonseismic processes such as submarine landslide failures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'Repeating earthquakes' identified by waveform cross-correlation, with inter-event separation of no more than 1 km, can be used for assessment of location precision. Assuming that the network-measured apparent inter-epicenter distance X of the 'repeating doublets' indicates the location precision, we estimated the regionalized location quality of the China National Seismograph Network by comparing the 'repeating events' in and around China by S chaff and R ichards (Science 303: 1176-1178, ; J Geophys Res 116: B03309, ) and the monthly catalogue of the China Earthquake Networks Center. The comparison shows that the average X value of the China National Seismograph Network is approximately 10 km. The mis-location is larger for the Tibetan Plateau, west and north of Xinjiang, and east of Inner Mongolia, as indicated by larger X values. Mis-location is correlated with the completeness magnitude of the earthquake catalogue. Using the data from the Beijing Capital Circle Region, the dependence of the mis-location on the distribution of seismic stations can be further confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tsunami Warning Centers issue rapid and accurate tsunami warnings to coastal populations by estimating the location and size of the causative earthquake as soon as possible after rupture initiation. Both US Tsunami Warning Centers have therefore been using Mwp to issue Tsunami Warnings 5-10 min after Earthquake origin time since 2002. However, because Mwp ( Tsuboi et al., Bulletin of the Seismological society of America 85:606-613, ) is based on the far-field approximation to the P-wave displacement due to a double couple point source, we should only very carefully apply Mwp to data obtained in the near field, at distances of less than a few wavelengths from the fault. On the other hand, the surface waves from Great Earthquakes, including those that occur just offshore of populated areas, such as the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, clip seismographs located near the fault. Because the first arriving P-waves from such large events are often on scale, Mwp should provide useful information, even for these Great Earthquakes. We therefore calculate Mwp from 18 unclipped STS-1 broadband P-wave seismograms, recorded at 2-15° distance from the Tohoku epicenter to determine if Mwp can usefully estimate Mw for this earthquake, using data obtained close to the epicenter. In this case there should be a good chance to get reliable Mwp values for stations at epicentral distances of 9-10°, since the source duration for the Tohoku earthquake is less than 200 s and the time window used to estimate Mwp is 120 s in duration. Our analysis indicates that Mwp does indeed give reliable results (Mw ~ 9.1) beginning at about 11° distance from the epicenter. The values of Mwp from seismic waveforms obtained at 11-15° epicentral distance from the Mw 9.1 off the east coast of Tohuku earthquake of March 11, 2011 fell within the range 9.1-9.3, and were available within 4-5 min after origin time. Even the Mwp values of 7.7-8.4, obtained at less than 5° epicentral distance, exceed the PTWC's threshold of Mw 7.6 for issuing a regional tsunami warning to coastal populations within 1,000 km of the epicenter, and of Mw 6.9 for issuing a local tsunami warning to the coastal populations of Hawaii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Kumaon Himalaya region in India has accumulated considerable seismic risk potential from moderate to high seismicity due to ongoing tectonic evolutionary processes. To assess conditions of high seismic risk arising from local site effects at populated locations, we applied the empirical horizontal to vertical ( H/ V) spectral amplitude ratio method ( Nakamura in Quarterly Reports of the Railway Technical Research Institute Tokyo, 30:25-33, ) using ambient seismic noise recorded by a network of 32 digital broadband seismographs from June 2005 to June 2008. The data and the estimated parameters were subjected to stability tests to assess the effect of seasonal variations. Seasonal variations in the ambient noise data seemed to show a lesser effect on fundamental frequency estimates and a slightly greater effect on the peak H/ V amplitudes. Validation of the ambient noise results was done by complementary tests using H/ V ratios of local and regional earthquakes. The 'peak' corresponding to the fundamental resonance frequency is prominently present in both the ambient noise and the earthquake datasets. The study locations showed distinct H/ V curve topologies, corresponding to the effects of both velocity contrast at well-defined frequencies and characteristic topographic effect around a certain frequency range. The clearly indicated 'peaks' in the H/ V curves possibly correspond to velocity contrasts created by weathered sediments overlying hard rock basements in rocky hills. Our study indicates high site responses at many populated locations near the surface trace of the seismically active Main Central Thrust (MCT) and other fault boundaries. The fundamental resonance frequencies estimated from the site response studies at the 32 locations could be useful in preliminary site characterization, ground motion prediction and seismic hazard analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a fresh look at the source region of the 22 January 2003 M 7.4 Armería earthquake, which occurred off the Pacific coast of the state of Colima, Mexico, near the town of Armería. The effects of this earthquake in the neighboring states of Colima and Jalisco were different and stronger than those of previous recent major earthquakes in the region. This earthquake and its aftershocks were recorded by two local telemetered seismograph networks (RESCO and RESJAL). From 22 January to 24 January 2003, no important seismicity was located on the plates interface, or within the Rivera Plate, and most epicenters were located west of the Armería River, which is the western border of the Colima Graben, and is located outside of the Colima Gap region. From 24 January to 31 January, the seismicity recorded by both networks showed a migration in depth, with an almost vertical offshore distribution between 4 and 24 km in depth. For this period, a seven-station portable digital seismograph network, equipped with three-component seismometers, was deployed in the epicentral area to study the aftershock sequence in detail. With this denser network more than 200 M > 2.0 aftershocks were recorded. The aftershock foci were deeper than those recorded during the early period and most of them locate on a hypothetical 12° dipping interface between the Rivera and North American Plates. Composite focal mechanism solutions for the aftershocks located during both periods indicate a reverse fault character that changes with time. Analysis of the new dataset still indicates that the earthquake was a shallow intraplate event. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We relocated the hypocentral coordinates of small to moderate-sized earthquakes reported by the National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC) between April 2002 and August 2006 in the Gulf of California region and recorded by the broadband stations of the network of autonomously recording seismographs (NARS-Baja array). The NARS-Baja array consists of 19 stations installed in the Baja California peninsula, Sonora and Sinaloa, Mexico. The events reported by the preliminary determinations of epicenters (PDE) catalog within the period of interest have moment magnitudes ( M) ranging between 1.1 and 6.7. We estimated the hypocentral location of these events using P and S wave arrivals recorded by the regional broadband stations of the NARS-Baja and the RESBAN ( Red Sismológica de Banda Ancha) arrays and using a standard location procedure with the HYPOCENTER code ( Lienert and Havskov in Seism Res Lett 66:26-36, ) as a preliminary step. To refine the location of the initial hypocenters, we used the shrinking box source-specific station term method of Lin and Shearer (J Geophys Res 110, B04304, ). We found that most of the seismicity is distributed in the NW-SE direction along the axis of the Gulf of California, following a linear trend that, from north to south, steps southward near the main basins (Wagner, Delfin, Guaymas, Carmen, Farallon, Pescadero and Alarcon) and spreading centers. We compared the epicentral locations reported in the PDE with the locations obtained using regional arrival times, and we found that earthquakes with magnitudes in the range 3.2-5.0 mb differ on the average by as much as 43 km. For the M magnitude range between 5 and 6.7 the discrepancy is less, differing on the average by about 25 km. We found that the relocated epicenters correlate well with the main bathymetric features of the Gulf. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

n inexpensive method using natural earthquake data is utilized for determining the sedimentary thickness in Kachchh. The Institute of Seismological Research (ISR) is operating a network of broadband seismographs and strong motion accelerographs in Gujarat. We used data from 13 broadband seismographs and two strong motion accelerographs in the study. The stations are within 5 to 80 km from the epicenters. In this study the S-to-P converted phase, S, is used. This phase is generated due to large impedance contrast between sediments and basement. This phase is clear in the vertical component. The difference in the travel times of S and S phases and velocities of P and S waves is used for determining the sedimentary layer thickness. The thickness of sediments beneath each of these 15 stations was determined covering an area of 23,500 sq km. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyzed the phenomenology of microtremor H/V curves under inversions in the shear-wave velocity (Vs) profile in the subsoil. Under no Vs inversion the spectral signature of the H/V peaks is found to be ‘eye-shaped’ with the horizontal components higher than the vertical. Conversely, under negative velocity gradients, numerous of differences emerge. I) A H/V ratio below 1 is observed for a wide range of frequencies, due to the decrease of the horizontal components below the vertical one. II) In the presence of persistent H/V < 1, small bumps in the H/V ratio given by local minima in the vertical spectral component may represent the relics of the peaks indicating resonances and stratigraphic discontinuities. As a consequence, in the presence of velocity inversions the H/V > 2 SESAME (2004) criterion fails but a stratigraphic interpretation may still be possible. III) The H/V curves should always be interpreted together with the single component spectra. IV) Microtremor H/V measurements for stratigraphic/microzonation purposes on stiff artificial soils, (asphalt, concrete, cement, pavements) should always be avoided since the latter often produce velocity inversions. This may have consequences in the intermediate to high frequency domain ( > 1 Hz) also in the application of reference site methods, like Hsite/ Hbedrock, to microtremor. Theoretical modeling confirms these experimental findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The attenuation property of Andaman Island has been investigated analyzing coda waves from 57 local earthquakes in the magnitude range of 2.0–4.9, using the single backscattering model. These earthquakes waveforms, recorded on five broadband seismographs sited over the island from north to south during Nov. 2003 to March 2004, have been used to calculate the frequency dependent Coda Q ( Q c ) applying the time domain coda-decay method. The Coda Q, computed at central frequencies from (0.5–12) Hz and five-lapse time windows from 40 to 80 s, progressively increases from 105 f 0.88 in the north Andaman to 135 f 0.79 in the south Andaman with an average of 119 f 0.80. The average Q c values vary from 75 ± 42 at 0.5 Hz to 697 ± 54 at 12 Hz central frequency for 40 s lapse time window, while for 80 s lapse time window its variation is from 117 ± 38 at 0.5 Hz to 1256 ± 115 at 12 Hz. The Q c estimated at different lapse times manifests a significant variation from 122 f 0.75 to 174 f 0.73, corresponding to lapse time window lengths of 40 and 80 s, respectively. The variation of Q c with frequency, lapse time and also with the location of seismograph reflects the marked structural and compositional inhomogeneity with depth along the Andaman Islands. These observations are well correlated with the seismicity pattern and distinct high angle subduction beneath the island. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the last six years, National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad has established a semi-permanent seismological network of 5–8 broadband seismographs and 10–20 accelerographs in the Kachchh seismic zone, Gujarat with a prime objective to monitor the continued aftershock activity of the 2001 Mw 7.7 Bhuj mainshock. The reliable and accurate broadband data for the 8 October Mw 7.6 2005 Kashmir earthquake and its aftershocks from this network as well as Hyderabad Geoscope station enabled us to estimate the group velocity dispersion characteristics and one-dimensional regional shear velocity structure of the Peninsular India. Firstly, we measure Rayleigh-and Love-wave group velocity dispersion curves in the period range of 8 to 35 sec and invert these curves to estimate the crustal and upper mantle structure below the western part of Peninsular India. Our best model suggests a two-layered crust: The upper crust is 13.8 km thick with a shear velocity (Vs) of 3.2 km/s; the corresponding values for the lower crust are 24.9 km and 3.7 km/sec. The shear velocity for the upper mantle is found to be 4.65 km/sec. Based on this structure, we perform a moment tensor (MT) inversion of the bandpass (0.05–0.02 Hz) filtered seismograms of the Kashmir earthquake. The best fit is obtained for a source located at a depth of 30 km, with a seismic moment, Mo, of 1.6 × 1027 dyne-cm, and a focal mechanism with strike 19.5°, dip 42°, and rake 167°. The long-period magnitude (MA ~ Mw) of this earthquake is estimated to be 7.31. An analysis of well-developed sPn and sSn regional crustal phases from the bandpassed (0.02–0.25 Hz) seismograms of this earthquake at four stations in Kachchh suggests a focal depth of 30.8 km. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following the recent reports by Y uan et al. (2005) of recordings of the 2004 Sumatra tsunami on the horizontal components of coastal seismometers in the Indian Ocean basin, we build a much enhanced dataset extending into the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, as far away as Bermuda and Hawaii, and also expanded to five additional events in the years 1995–2006. In order to interpret these records quantitatively, we propose that the instruments are responding to the combination of horizontal displacement, tilt and perturbation in gravity described by G ilbert (1980), and induced by the passage of the progressive tsunami wave over the ocean basin. In this crude approximation, we simply ignore the island or continent structure, and assume that the seismometer functions de facto as an ocean-bottom instrument. The records can then be interpreted in the framework of tsunami normal mode theory,and lead to acceptable estimates of the seismic moment of the parent earthquakes. We further demonstrate the feasibility of deconvolving the response of the ocean floor in order to reconstruct the time series of the tsunami wave height at the surface of the ocean, suggesting that island or coastal continental seismometers could complement the function of tsunameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to investigate the velocity structure of the southern part of the Korean peninsula, seismic refraction profiles were obtained along a 294-km WNW-ESE line and a 335-km NNW-SSE line in 2002 and 2004, respectively. Seismic waves were generated by detonating 500–1000 kg explosives in drill holes at depths of 80–150 m. The seismic signals were recorded by portable seismometers at nominal intervals of 1.5–1.7 km. Separate velocity tomograms were derived from first arrival times using a series expansion method of travel-time inversion. The raypaths indicate several mid-crust interfaces including those at approximate depths of 2–3, 15–17, and 22 km. The Moho discontinuity with refraction velocity of 7.8 to 8.4 km/s has a maximum depth of 37–39 km under the southern central portion of the peninsula. The Moho becomes shallower as the Yellow Sea and the East Sea are approached on the west and east coasts of the peninsula, respectively. The depth of the 7.6 km/s velocity contour varies from 29.4 km to 36.5 km. The discrepancy in depth between the seismological Moho and the interpreted critically refracting interface may result from the presence of a gradual transition between the crust and mantle. The velocity tomograms show particular crustal structures including (1) the existence of an over 70-km wide low-velocity zone centered at 6–7 km depth under the Okchon fold belt and Ryeongnam massif, (2) existence of high-velocity materials under the Gyeongsang basin, and (3) the downward extension of the Yeongdong fault to depths greater than 10 km. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We employed layered model joint hypocentral determination (JHD) with station corrections to improve location identification for the 26 January, 2001 Mw 7.7 Bhuj early and late aftershock sequence. We relocated 999 early aftershocks using the data from a close combined network (National Geophysical Research Institute, India and Center for Earthquake Research Institute, USA) of 8–18 digital seismographs during 12–28 February, 2001. Additionally, 350 late aftershocks were also relocated using the data from 4–10 digital seismographs/accelerographs during August 2002 to December 2004. These precisely relocated aftershocks (error in the epicentral location<30 meter, error in the focal depth estimation < 50 meter) delineate an east-west trending blind thrust (North Wagad Fault, NWF) dipping (~ 45°) southward, about 25 km north of Kachchh main land fault (KMF), as the causative fault for the 2001 Bhuj earthquake. The aftershock zone is confined to a 60-km long and 40-km wide region lying between the KMF to the south and NWF to the north, extending from 2 to 45 km depth. Estimated focal depths suggest that the aftershock zone became deeper with the passage of time. The P- and S-wave station corrections determined from the JHD technique indicate that the larger values (both +ve and -ve) characterize the central aftershock zone, which is surrounded by the zones of smaller values. The station corrections vary from −0.9 to +1.1 sec for the P waves and from −0.7 to +1.4 sec for the S waves. The b-value and p-value of the whole aftershock (2001–2004) sequences of Mw ≥ 3 are estimated to be 0.77 ± 0.02 and 0.99 ± 0.02, respectively. The p-value indicates a smaller value than the global median of 1.1, suggesting a relatively slow decay of aftershocks, whereas, the relatively lower b-value (less than the average b-value of 1.0 for stable continental region earthquakes of India) suggests a relatively higher probability for larger earthquakes in Kachchh in comparison to other stable continental regions of the Indian Peninsula. Further, based on the b-value, mainshock magnitude and maximum aftershock magnitude, the Bhuj aftershock sequence is categorized as the Mogi's type II sequence, indicating the region to be of intermediate level of stresses and heterogeneous rocks. It is inferred that the decrease in p-value and increase in aftershock zone, both spatially as well as depth over the passage of time, suggests that the decay of aftershocks perhaps could be controlled by visco-elastic creep in the lower crust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

—The development of the digital seismic network in the Azores Archipelago during recent years made it possible to obtain the amplitudes (waveform) of recorded motion in a large set of stations. With this new data, maximum amplitudes of the Wood Anderson seismograph are computed, for each station/component, which, together with epicentral distances, allows for the estimation of local magnitude ML. We used data recorded in 8 digital permanent three-component stations, with inter-station’s distances up to 300 km, in the period June 1998 – June 2000, corresponding to a set of 1315 events with magnitude (ML or MD) 2

— The 1998 Papua New Guinea earthquake of Mw 7.0 occurred near the Wewak trench where the North Bismarck plate is subducting beneath the Australian plate. Its mechanism is thrust-type, and one of the nodal planes is almost parallel to the plate interface. To determine which of the two nodal planes of the main shock is the fault plane, we relocated the main shock and aftershocks using a method of modified joint hypocenter determination. We combined and employed two types of data in this study. Firstly, we used data reported by the National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC) of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), which includes three stations at the northeastern edge of Irian Jaya and one station in northern Papua New Guinea, from which the epicentral distances are less than 2 degrees. Secondly, in addition to the above permanent-station data, we used data from temporary aftershock observations near the epicentral area around the Sissano Lagoon carried out by Tsuji et al. (1998). Using three-component seismometers, they carried out observations from August 2 to October 2, 1998 at three sites. Although the network did not record the main shock and immediate aftershocks, the data obtained by temporary observation sites can clearly assist in identifying their absolute locations, since it is possible to apply the joint hypocenter determination (JHD) method. Hypocenters were relocated between the coastline and the Wewak trench, distributed along a nodal plane dipping shallowly to the southwest. Therefore, we can conclude that this nodal plane is the main shock fault and that the 1998 Papua New Guinea earthquake was an interplate earthquake between the North Bismarck and Australian plates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

—The objective of seismic signal deconvolution is to extract from the signal information concerning the rockmass or the signal in the source of the shock. In the case of blind deconvolution, we have to extract information regarding both quantities. Many methods of deconvolution made use of in prospective seismology were found to be of minor utility when applied to shock-induced signals recorded in the mines of the Lubin Copper District. The lack of effectiveness should be attributed to the inadequacy of the model on which the methods are based, with respect to the propagation conditions for that type of signal. Each of the blind deconvolution methods involves a number of assumptions; hence, only if these assumptions are fulfilled, we may expect reliable results.¶Consequently, we had to formulate a different model for the signals recorded in the copper mines of the Lubin District. The model is based on the following assumptions: (1) The signal emitted by the sh ock source is a short-term signal. (2) The signal transmitting system (rockmass) constitutes a parallel connection of elementary systems. (3) The elementary systems are of resonant type. Such a model seems to be justified by the geological structure as well as by the positions of the shock foci and seismometers. The results of time-frequency transformation also support the dominance of resonant-type propagation.¶Making use of the model, a new method for the blind deconvolution of seismic signals has been proposed. The adequacy of the new model, as well as the efficiency of the proposed method, has been confirmed by the results of blind deconvolution. The slight approximation errors obtained with a small number of approximating elements additionally corroborate the adequacy of the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]