Search

Replacement or deterioration of seismic instruments and the evolution of the installation conditions and sites can alter the seismic signal in very subtle ways; therefore, it is notoriously difficult to monitor the signal quality of permanent seismic stations. We present a simple way to characterize and monitor signal quality, using energy ratios between each pair of the three components, as a complement to existing methods. To calculate stable daily energy ratios over a large frequency range (0.01–5 Hz), we use the daily median energy ratio over all 5 min windows within the day. The method is applied to all GEOSCOPE stations, for continuous BH channel data collected since 2001. We show applications to identify past gain problems (stations ROCAM and CRZF), to provide feedback after field interventions at remote sites (Antarctic station DRV), and to shed light on complex instrument problems (stations ECH and KIP). Our results show that component energy ratios have excellent time resolution and that they are visually simple for identification of problems. They can be used both for ongoing continuous monitoring of the signal quality, or as a tool to identify past problems. The Python code to produce the results in this work and the Python code for daily monitoring used by GEOSCOPE are available (see Data and Resources).

In the Upper Rhine Graben, several innovative projects based on enhanced geothermal system (EGS) technology exploit local deep-fractured geothermal reservoirs. The principle underlying this technology consists of increasing the hydraulic performances of the natural fractures using different stimulation methods in order to circulate the natural brine at commercial flow rates. For this purpose, knowledge of the in situ stress state is of central importance to predict the response of the rock mass to different stimulation programs. Here, we propose a characterization of the in situ stress state from the analysis of ultrasonic borehole imager (UBI) data acquired at different key moments of the reservoir development using a specific image correlation technique. This unique dataset has been obtained from the open-hole sections of the two deep wells (GRT-1 and GRT-2, ∼2500 m) at the geothermal site of Rittershoffen, France. We based our analysis on the geometry of breakouts and drilling-induced tension fractures (DITFs). A transitional stress regime between strike-slip and normal faulting consistent with the neighboring site of Soultz-sous-Forêts is evident. The time-lapse dataset enables us to analyze both in time and space the evolution of the structures over 2 years after drilling. The image correlation approach developed for time-lapse UBI images shows that breakouts extend along the borehole with time and widen (i.e., angular opening between the edges of the breakouts) but do not deepen (i.e., increase in the maximal radius of the breakouts). The breakout widening is explained by wellbore thermal equilibration. A significant stress rotation at depth is evident. It is shown to be controlled by a major fault zone and not by the sediment–basement interface. Our analysis does not reveal any significant change in the stress magnitude in the reservoir.

SUMMARY Tomographic-geodynamic model comparisons are a key component in studies of the present-day state and evolution of Earth’s mantle. To account for the limited seismic resolution, ‘tomographic filtering’ of the geodynamically predicted mantle structures is a standard processing step in this context. The filtered model provides valuable information on how heterogeneities are smeared and modified in amplitude given the available seismic data and underlying inversion strategy. An important aspect that has so far not been taken into account are the effects of data uncertainties. We present a new method for ‘tomographic filtering’ in which it is possible to include the effects of random and systematic errors in the seismic measurements and to analyse the associated uncertainties in the tomographic model space. The ‘imaged’ model is constructed by computing the generalized-inverse projection (GIP) of synthetic data calculated in an earth model of choice. An advantage of this approach is that a reparametrization onto the tomographic grid can be avoided, depending on how the synthetic data are calculated. To demonstrate the viability of the method, we compute traveltimes in an existing mantle circulation model (MCM), add specific realizations of random seismic ‘noise’ to the synthetic data and apply the generalized inverse operator of a recent Backus–Gilbert-type global S-wave tomography. GIP models based on different noise realizations show a significant variability of the shape and amplitude of seismic anomalies. This highlights the importance of interpreting tomographic images in a prudent and cautious manner. Systematic errors, such as event mislocation or imperfect crustal corrections, can be investigated by introducing an additional term to the noise component so that the resulting noise distributions are biased. In contrast to Gaussian zero-mean noise, this leads to a bias in model space; that is, the mean of all GIP realizations also is non-zero. Knowledge of the statistical properties of model uncertainties together with tomographic resolution is crucial for obtaining meaningful estimates of Earth’s present-day thermodynamic state. A practicable treatment of error propagation and uncertainty quantification will therefore be increasingly important, especially in view of geodynamic inversions that aim at ‘retrodicting’ past mantle evolution based on tomographic images.

SUMMARYWe investigate the impact of unmodelled 3-D structural heterogeneity on inverted W-phase source parameters. We generate a large data set of synthetic seismograms accounting for the Earths 3-D structure for 250 earthquakes globally distributed. The W-phase algorithm is then used to invert for earthquake CMT parameters, assuming a spherical Earth model. The impact of lateral heterogeneity is assessed by comparing inverted source parameters with those used to compute the 3-D synthetics. Results show that the 3-D structure mainly affects centroid location while the effect on the other source parameters remains small. Centroid mislocations present clear geographical patterns. In particular, W-phase solutions for earthquakes in South America are on average biased 17 km to the east of the actual centroid locations. This effect is significantly reduced using an azimuthally well balanced distribution of seismological stations. Source parameters are generally more impacted by mantle heterogeneity while the scalar moment of shallow earthquakes seems to be mainly impacted by the crustal structure. Shallow earthquakes present a variability of Mrθ and Mrϕ moment tensor elements, resulting both from the small amplitude and a larger uncertainty of the associated Green’s functions.

Numerical simulations are carried out for the dynamic rupture and wave propagation process of the 24th August 2016 ML 6.0 Amatrice, Italy, earthquake, using a boundary domain method (BDM), a hybrid method of boundary integral equation and finite difference methods. Dynamic rupture parameters of two seismogenic asperities are searched by iterative search through the comparison of the near-field ground motions. The preferred models indicate two asperities, aligned at around 4–5 km depth and separated from each other as well as from the initial rupture point. This requires a few supplementary patches connecting them, and that are less energetic than the asperities. The asperities are characterized by a radius of 2–3 km in the south (first to rupture) and of 2–4 km in the north (second to rupture), and the corresponding fracture energies of the asperities are (25.35 ± 0.63) × 1012 J and (38.05 ± 7.91) × 1012 J, respectively. These values are consistent with the scaling relation extrapolated from various analyses of large earthquakes. Although the parameter space of the search is limited due to the numerical performance of the dynamic rupture simulation, the proposed simple characterization of the earthquakes source confirms the scaling relation in fracture energy of the seismogenic asperities, which is essential for constructing mechanical earthquake source models.

SUMMARYThe injection of fluid in the upper crust, notably for the development or exploitation of geothermal reservoirs, is often associated with the onset of induced seismicity. Although this process has been largely studied, it is not clear how the injected fluid influences the rupture size of the induced events. Here we re-investigate the induced earthquakes that occurred during an injection at Soultz-sous-Forêts, France in 1993 and studied the link between the injected fluid and the source properties of the numerous induced earthquakes. We take advantage that deep borehole accelerometers were running in the vicinity of the injection site. We estimate the moment and radius of all recorded events based on a spectral analysis and classify them into 663 repeating sequences. We show that the events globally obey the typical scaling law between radius and moment. However, at the scale of the asperity, fluctuations of the moment are important while the radii remain similar suggesting a variable stress drop or a mechanism that prevents the growth of the rupture. This is confirmed by linking the event source size to the geomechanical history of the reservoir. In areas where aseismic slip on pre-existing faults has been evidenced, we observed only small rupture sizes whereas in part of the reservoir where seismicity is related to the creation of new fractures, a wider distribution and larger rupture sizes are promoted. Implications for detecting the transition between events related to pre-existing faults and the onset of fresh fractures are discussed.

Volcano‐tectonic seismicity has been recorded for decades on various volcanoes and is linked with the magma transport and reservoir pressurization. Yet earthquakes often appear broadly distributed such that magma movement is difficult to infer from its analysis. We explore the seismicity that occurred before eruptions at Piton de la Fournaise in the last 5 years. Using template matching and relocation techniques, we produce a refined image of the summit seismicity, demonstrating that most earthquakes are located on a ring structure. However, only a portion of this structure is activated before each eruption, which provides an indication as to the direction of the future eruptive site. Furthermore, we show that the delay between the pre‐eruptive swarm and the eruption onset is proportional to the distance of the eruptive fissures relative to the summit cone. This reveals that the beginning of the intrusion already bears information regarding the future eruption location., Key Points We use a template matching technique to detect and relocate earthquakes during the 13 last eruptive unrests at Piton de la Fournaise volcanoAlmost all detected events are located on a ring‐shaped structure, corresponding to an area of weakness in the upper edifice of the volcanoThe location and timing of pre‐eruptive seismic swarms on this ring‐shaped structure bring information on the future eruptive site

International audience; Large earthquakes are the product of elastic stress that has accumulated over decades to centuries along segments of active faults. Assuming an elastic crust, one can roughly estimate the location and rate of accumulation of elastic stress. However, this general framework does not account for inelastic, irrecoverable deformation, which results in large‐scale topography. We do not know over which part of the earthquake cycle such deformation occurs. Using InSAR and GNSS measurements, we report on a potential correlation between long‐term, inelastic vertical rate and short‐term, interseismic vertical rate in northern Chile. Approximately 4% to 8% of the geodetically derived interseismic vertical rates translate into permanent deformation, suggesting that topography of the forearc builds up during the interseismic period. This observation provides a quantitative basis for an improved understanding of the interplay between short‐term and long‐term dynamics along convergent plate boundaries.

International audience; On April 25th 2015, the Mw 7.8 Gorkha (Nepal) earthquake ruptured a portion of the Main Himalayan Thrust underlying Kathmandu and surrounding regions. We develop kinematic slip models of the Gorkha earthquake using both a regularized multi-time-window (MTW) approach and an unsmoothed Bayesian formulation, constrained by static and high rate GPS observations, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) offset images, interferometric SAR (InSAR), and teleseismic body wave records. These models indicate that Kathmandu is located near the updip limit of fault slip and approximately 20 km south of the centroid of fault slip. Fault slip propagated unilaterally along-strike in an ESE direction for approximately 140 km with a 60 km cross-strike extent. The deeper portions of the fault are characterized by a larger ratio of high frequency (0.03–0.2 Hz) to low frequency slip than the shallower portions. From both the MTW and Bayesian results, we can resolve depth variations in slip characteristics, with higher slip roughness, higher rupture velocity, longer rise time and higher complexity of subfault source time functions in the deeper extents of the rupture. The depth varying nature of rupture characteristics suggests that the up-dip portions are characterized by relatively continuous rupture, while the down-dip portions may be better characterized by a cascaded rupture. The rupture behavior and the tectonic setting indicate that the earthquake may have ruptured both fully seismically locked and a deeper transitional portions of the collision interface, analogous to what has been seen in major subduction zone earthquakes.

We present our results on the fault geometry of the Alland earthquake sequence in eastern Austria (Eastern Alps) and discuss its implications for the regional stress regime and active tectonics. The series contains 71 known events with local magnitudes 0.1 ≤ M L ≤ 4.2 that occurred in between 2016 and 2017. We locate the earthquakes in a regional 3D velocity model to find absolute locations. These locations are then refined by relocating all events relative to each other using a double-difference approach, based on relative travel times measured from waveform cross-correlation and catalogue data. We also invert for the moment tensor of the M L = 4.2 mainshock by fitting synthetic waveforms to the recorded seismo-grams using a combination of the L1- and L2-norms of the waveform differences. Direct comparison of waveforms of the largest events in the sequence suggests that all of them ruptured with very similar mechanisms. We find that the sequence ruptured a reverse fault, that is dipping with ~30° towards ~north-northeast (NNE) at 6–7 km depth. This is supported by both the hypocentres and the mainshock source mechanism. The fault is most likely located in the buried basement of the Bohemian massif, the “Bohemian Spur”. This (reverse) fault has a nearly perpendicular orientation to the normal-fault structures of the Vienna Basin Transfer Fault System further east at a shallower depth, indicating a lateral stress decoupling that can also act as a vertical stress decoupling in some places. In the west, earthquakes (at a larger depth within the upper crust) show compressive stresses, whereas the Vienna Basin to the east shows extensional (normal-faulting) stress. This provides insight into the regional stress field and its spatial variation, and it helps to better understand earthquakes in the area, including the “1590 Ried am Riederberg” earthquake.

Résif seismological data are collected and validated by centres operated by Résif partners and are called "Knots A". The data are then transmitted to the Résif seismological data centre, also known as "Knot B". This poster reports the results from two of the Résif Knots A: Knot A VOLCANO and Knot A GEOSCOPE. Knot A VOLCANO concentrates seismic data from the three volcanological and seismological observatories of the Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris. These observatories operate analogue short-period, three-component digital short-period, digital medium-band and digital broadband seismological stations. These data are used for monitoring regional volcanic and telluric activity, as well as for tsunami warning. Knot A GEOSCOPE validates and transmits data from the GEOSCOPE Broadband Seismological Station Observatory to Knot B, representing more than 35 years of seismological (since 1982) and accelerometric (since 2012) data. This poster, presented during the Résif 2019 Scientific and Technical Meetings in Biarritz, presents the results at the end of 2019 and the perspectives of these nodes, in the framework of the Résif deployment. Résif is a national research infrastructure dedicated to the observation and understanding of the Earth's internal structure and dynamics. Résif is based on high technology observation networks, composed of seismological, geodetic and gravimetric instruments deployed densely throughout France. The data collected allow the study of ground deformation, surface and deep structures, local and global seismicity and natural hazards, particularly seismic, on the French territory with a high spatio-temporal resolution. Résif is integrated into the European (EPOS - European Plate Observing System) and worldwide instruments that allow to image the Earth's interior in its entirety and to study numerous natural phenomena.; Les données sismologiques Résif sont collectées et validées par des centres opérés par des partenaires Résif et sont appelés « nœuds A ». Les données sont ensuite transmises au centre de données sismologiques Résif, appelé aussi « nœud B ». Ce poster fait état des résultats de deux des noeuds A de Résif : le nœud A VOLCANO et le nœud A GEOSCOPE. Le nœud A VOLCANO concentre les données sismiques des trois observatoires volcanologiques et sismologiques de l'Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris. Ces observatoires opèrent des stations sismologiques courte-période analogique, courte-période numérique trois composantes, moyenne-bande numérique et large-bande numérique. Ces données sont utilisées pour le suivi de l’activité volcanique et tellurique régionale, ainsi que pour l’alerte aux tsunamis. Le nœud A GEOSCOPE valide et transmet au nœud B les données de l'observatoire de stations sismologiques large bande GEOSCOPE, ce qui représente plus de 35 ans de données sismologiques (depuis 1982) et accélérométriques (depuis 2012). Ce poster, présenté lors des Rencontres scientifiques et techniques Résif 2019 à Biarritz, présente le bilan fin 2019 et les perspectives de ces nœuds, dans le cadre du déploiement de Résif. Résif est une infrastructure de recherche nationale dédiée à l’observation et la compréhension de la structure et de la dynamique Terre interne. Résif se base sur des réseaux d’observation de haut niveau technologique, composés d’instruments sismologiques, géodésiques et gravimétriques déployés de manière dense sur tout le territoire français. Les données recueillies permettent d’étudier avec une haute résolution spatio-temporelle la déformation du sol, les structures superficielles et profondes, la sismicité à l’échelle locale et globale et les aléas naturels, et plus particulièrement sismiques, sur le territoire français. Résif s’intègre aux dispositifs européens (EPOS - European Plate Observing System) et mondiaux d’instruments permettant d’imager l’intérieur de la Terre dans sa globalité et d’étudier de nombreux phénomènes naturels.

Observations since 1998 have revealed that repeating earthquakes, and particularly small repeating earthquakes, occur less often than expected given their seismically derived slip and the regional fault slip rate. Here we test the hypothesis that small repeaters occur infrequently because they occur on fault segments or strands with low slip rates. We analyze the recurrence interval-moment scaling of earthquake sequences near Parkfield, California. We find that closely spaced sequences, which likely occur on the same fault strand and respond to the same slip rate, follow a M1/30 scaling consistent with seismic slip rates while widely spaced sequences, which likely occur on different strands, follow a M0.170 scaling consistent with the previous counterintuitive observations. These results suggest that spatially varying slip rates could create the M0.170 recurrence interval scaling, though we cannot exclude other explanations.

This proof-of-concept study presents a parameter-free, linear Backus–Gilbert inversion scheme, tractable for seismic tomography problems. It leads to efficient computations of unbiased tomographic images, accompanied by meaningful resolution and uncertainty infor- mations. Moreover, as there is no need to parametrize the model space in this parameter-free approach, it enables numerically accurate data sensitivity kernels to be effectively exploited in tomographic inversions. This is a major benefit over discrete tomographic methods, for which data sensitivity kernels are often inaccurate, as they are projected on a given model parametrization prior to be exploited in the inversion, and these parametrizations are usually coarse to limit the number of parameters and keep tractable the problems of model estima- tion and/or appraisal. Therefore, this new tomographic scheme fuels great hopes on better constraining multiscale seismic heterogeneities in the Earth’s interior by exploiting accurate data sensitivity kernels, that is, taking full advantage of known wave-propagation physics, and enabling quantitative appraisals of tomographic features. As a remark, since its computational cost grows as a function of the total number of data squared, it may be better suited to han- dle moderate-size data sets, typically encountered in regional-scale tomography. Theoretical developments are illustrated within a finite-frequency physical framework. A set of 27 070 teleseismic S -wave time residuals is inverted, with focus on imaging and appraising shear- wave velocity anomalies lying in the mantle below Southeast Asia, in the 350–1410 km depth range.

In April 2007, Piton de la Fournaise volcano experienced its largest caldera collapse in at least 300 yr. This event consisted of a series of 48 subsidence increments characterized by very-long-period (VLP) seismic signals equivalent to M w 4.4 to 5.4. Source analysis of VLP events suggests a piston-like mechanism with a collapsing crack source corresponding to the contraction of the magma reservoir and a single force representing the collapse of the above rock column. We show that the collapse dynamics is primarily controlled by magma withdrawal from the reservoir, which was likely in a bubbly state at the time of the event. Similar to the 2018 Kilauea collapse, we observe a reduction of the time-interval between successive subsidence increments, which results from the acceleration of magma withdrawal and a progressive weakening of the edifice at the beginning of the sequence.

This poster presents the multidisciplinary project of citizen seismology, called SismoCitoyen, led by Eost, LISEC and SAGE. The project aims to build a real network of observation sites in urban and peri-urban areas, among private volunteers who also participate in a survey conducted by sociologists. Requiring no technical expertise, the equipment installed by Eost makes it possible to increase the mesh size of permanent institutional observation sites and thus improve seismicity detection and characterization, as well as the characterization of the associated seismic risk. They also aim to improve seismological imaging of the subsoil, in particular by passive methods based on seismic noise analysis. This type of experimentation is likely to increase and the modalities for integrating data into the Résif research infrastructure information system are being studied. The seismometer model used allows the host (or his relatives) to consult the recorded data online and in real time. This is where the "social sciences" component of the project comes in, which aims to observe and analyse the effects of citizen involvement in scientific research (via the hosting of a seismometer) on the perception and representations of seismology and micro-seismicity phenomena. LISEC and SAGE are conducting this study via two interviews, one during the installation of the seismometer and the other six to eight months later. The first operational phase of the project took place at the beginning of 2019 with the deployment of 25 stations in the Mulhouse region (Haut-Rhin). The SismoCitoyen project involves the BCSF-RENASS, a national observation service run by Eost, as well as IPGS, LISEC and SAGE. It is financially supported by the CNRS, the University of Strasbourg and the LabEx G-Eau-Thermie profonde., Ce poster présente le projet pluridisciplinaire de sismologie citoyenne, baptisé SismoCitoyen, conduit par l'Eost, le LISEC et le SAGE. Le projet vise à construire un véritable réseau de sites d’observation en milieu urbain et péri-urbain, chez des particuliers volontaires qui participent également à une enquête menée par des sociologues. Ne demandant aucune compétence technique, les équipements installés par l'Eost permettent de densifier le maillage des sites d’observation institutionnels permanents et, ainsi, d’améliorer la détection et la caractérisation de la sismicité, ainsi que la caractérisation du risque sismique associé. Ils visent également à améliorer l’imagerie sismologique du sous-sol, en particulier par des méthodes passives basées sur l’analyse du bruit sismique. Ce type d'expérimentation est appelé à se multiplier et les modalités d'intégration des données dans le système d'information de l'infrastructure de recherche Résif sont à l'étude. Le modèle de sismomètre utilisé permet à celui qui l’héberge (ou ses proches) de consulter en ligne et en temps réel les données enregistrées. C'est là qu'intervient le volet « sciences sociales » du projet, qui vise à observer et analyser les effets d’un engagement citoyen dans la recherche scientifique (via l’hébergement d’un sismomètre) sur la perception et les représentations de la sismologie et des phénomènes de micro-sismicité. Ce sont le LISEC et le SAGE qui conduisent cette étude via deux entretiens, l’un lors de l’installation du sismomètre, l’autre six à huit mois plus tard. La première phase opérationnelle du projet s'est déroulée en début d'année 2019 avec le déploiement de 25 stations dans la région de Mulhouse (Haut-Rhin). Le projet SismoCitoyen implique le BCSF-RENASS, service national d’observation porté par l'Eost, ainsi que l'IPGS, le LISEC et le SAGE. Il est soutenu financièrement par le CNRS, l’Université de Strasbourg et le LabEx G-Eau-Thermie profonde.

International audience; The appraisal of tomographic models, of fundamental importance towards better understanding the Earth's interior, consists in analysing their resolution and covariance. The discrete theory of Backus–Gilbert, solving all at once the linear problems of model estimation and appraisal, aims at evaluating weighted averages of the true model parameters. Contrary to damped least-squares techniques, one key advantage of Backus–Gilbert inversion is that no subjective regularization is needed to remove the non-uniqueness of the model solution. Indeed, it is often possible to identify unique linear combinations of the parameters even when the parameters themselves are not uniquely defined. In other words, the non-uniqueness can be broken by averaging rather than regularizing. Over the past few decades, many authors have considered that, in addition to a high computational cost, it could be a clumsy affair in the presence of data errors to practically implement the Backus–Gilbert approach to large-scale tomographic applications. In this study, we introduce and adapt to seismic tomography the Subtractive Optimally Localized Averages (SOLA) method, an alternative Backus–Gilbert formulation which retains all its advantages, but is more computationally efficient and versatile in the explicit construction of averaging kernels. As a leitmotiv, we focus on global-scale S-wave tomography and show that the SOLA method can successfully be applied to large-scale, linear and discrete tomographic problems.

In November 2010, intense seismic activity including 29 events with a magnitude above 5.0, started in the western part of the Gulf of Aden, where the structure of the oceanic spreading ridge is characterized by a series of N115◦-trending slow-spreading segments set within an EW-trending rift. Using signals recorded by permanent and temporary networks in Djibouti and Yemen, we located 1122 earthquakes, with a magnitude ranging from 2.1 to 5.6 from 2010 November 1 to 2011 March 31. By looking in detail at the space–time distribution of the overall seismicity, and both the frequency and the moment tensor of large earthquakes, we re-examine the chronology of this episode. In addition, we also interpret the origin of the activity using high-resolution bathymetric data, as well as from observations of seafloor cable damage caused by high temperatures and lava flows. The analysis allows us to identify distinct active areas. First, we interpret that this episode is mainly related to a diking event along a specific ridge segment, located at E044◦. In light of previous diking episodes in nearby subaerial rift segments, for which field constraints and both seismic and geodetic data exist, we interpret the space–time evolution of the seismicity of the first few days. Migration of earthquakes suggests initial magma ascent below the segment centre. This is followed by a southeastward dike propagation below the rift immediately followed by a northwestward dike propagation below the rift ending below the northern ridge wall. The cumulative seismic moment associated with this sequence reaches 9.1 × 1017 Nm, and taking into account a very low seismic versus geodetic moment, we estimate a horizontal opening of ∼0.58–2.9 m. The seismic activity that followed occurred through several bursts of earthquakes aligned along the segment axis, which are interpreted as short dike intrusions implying fast replenishment of the crustal magma reservoir feeding the dikes. Over the whole period, the opening is estimated to be ∼1.76–8.8 m across the segment. A striking feature of this episode is that the seismicity remained confined within one individual segment, whereas the adjacent en-echelon segments were totally quiescent, suggesting that the magma supply system of one segment is disconnected from those of the neighbouring segments. Second, we identify activity induced by the first intrusion with epicentres aligned along an N035◦E-trending, ∼30 km long at the northwestern end of the active opening segment. This group encompasses more than seven earthquakes with magnitude larger than 5.0, and with strike-slip focal mechanisms consistent with the faults identified in the bathymetry and the structural pattern of the area. We propose that a transform fault is currently in formation which indicates an early stage of the ridge segmentation, at the locus of the trend change of the spreading ridge, which also corresponds to the boundary between a clear oceanic lithosphere and the zone of transform between continental and oceanic crust.

We investigate the influence of crust on time residual measurements made by cross-correlation in the 10–51 s filtering period range on a global scale, considering two crustal models: CRUST2.0 and CRUST1.0. This study highlights, in a quantitative way, crust-related time corrections. One part of this correction is directly linked to the body wave traveltime through the crust as predicted by the ray theory, whereas a second part is related to interferences with multiple crustal reflections. This second component, called finite-frequency (FF) crustal correction, is frequency-dependent unlike the ray-theory based correction. We show that if this frequency-dependent crust-related correction is not taken into account in cross-correlation measurements, it may lead to a dispersive effect in S-wave delay-times that could ultimately bias tomographic models. On average, this FF correction increases with the filtering period. Comparisons between the two crustal models highlight the significant dispersive effect of the crust, which has complex patterns depending on geological contexts, with an important role of the sediment thickness. Although ray crustal corrections remain important, FF crustal effects may lead to a bias in measurements if not properly taken into account; on average they may reach 0.9–1.6 s for CRUST2.0 and 0.5–1.6 s for CRUST1.0, for period ranging from 10 to 51 s, respectively.

SUMMARYWe infer seismic azimuthal anisotropy from ambient-noise-derived Rayleigh waves in the wider Vienna Basin region. Cross-correlations of the ambient seismic field are computed for 1953 station pairs and periods from 5 to 25 s to measure the directional dependence of interstation Rayleigh-wave group velocities. We perform the analysis for each period on the whole data set, as well as in overlapping 2°-cells to regionalize the measurements, to study expected effects from isotropic structure, and isotropic–anisotropic trade-offs. To extract azimuthal anisotropy that relates to the anisotropic structure of the Earth, we analyse the group velocity residuals after isotropic inversion. The periods discussed in this study (5–20 s) are sensitive to crustal structure, and they allow us to gain insight into two distinct mechanisms that result in fast orientations. At shallow crustal depths, fast orientations in the Eastern Alps are S/N to SSW/NNE, roughly normal to the Alps. This effect is most likely due to the formation of cracks aligned with the present-day stress-field. At greater depths, fast orientations rotate towards NE, almost parallel to the major fault systems that accommodated the lateral extrusion of blocks in the Miocene. This is coherent with the alignment of crystal grains during crustal deformation occurring along the fault systems and the lateral extrusion of the central part of the Eastern Alps.

On 12 November 2017, a M W=7.3 earthquake struck near the Iranian town of Ezgeleh, at the Iran‐Iraq border. This event was located within the Zagros fold and thrust belt which delimits the continental collision between the Arabian and Eurasian Plates. Despite a high seismic risk, the seismogenic behavior of the complex network of active faults is not well documented in this area due to the long recurrence interval of large earthquakes. In this study, we jointly invert interferometric synthetic aperture radar and near‐field strong motions to infer a kinematic slip model of the rupture. The incorporation of these near‐field observations enables a fine resolution of the kinematic rupture process. It reveals an impulsive seismic source with a strong southward rupture directivity, consistent with significant damage south of the epicenter. We also show that the slip direction does not match plate convergence, implying that some of the accumulated strain must be partitioned onto other faults., Key Points The Ezgeleh earthquake ruptured a flat thrust fault in the Zagros fold and thrust beltKinematic slip modeling reveals a highly impulsive source with southward directivity, possibly causing the large damage in the areaThe direction of coseismic slip suggests a strain partitioning between thrust and unmapped strike‐slip faults

International audience

The 2016 Pedernales earthquake (M_W=7.8) ruptured a portion of the Colombia–Ecuador subduction interface where several large historical earthquakes have been documented since the great 1906 earthquake (M=8.6). Considering all significant ruptures that occurred in the region, it has been suggested that the cumulative moment generated co-seismically along this part of the subduction over the last century exceeds the moment deficit accumulated inter-seismically since 1906. Such an excess challenges simple models with earthquakes resetting the elastic strain accumulated inter-seismically in locked asperities. These inferences are however associated with large uncertainties that are generally unknown. The impact of spatial smoothing constraints on co-seismic and inter-seismic models also prevents any robust assessment of the strain budget. We propose a Bayesian kinematic slip model of the 2016 Pedernales earthquake using the most comprehensive dataset to date including InSAR and GPS offsets, tsunami waveforms, and kinematic records from high-rate GPS and strong-motions. In addition, we use inter-seismic geodetic velocities to produce a probabilistic inter-seismic coupling model of the subduction interface. Our stochastic co-seismic and inter-seismic solutions include the ensemble of all plausible models consistent with our prior information and that fit the observations within uncertainties. The analysis of these model ensembles indicates that an excess of co-seismic moment during the 1906–2016 period is likely in Central Ecuador only if we assume that 1942 and 2016 earthquakes are colocated. If this assumption is relaxed, we show that this conclusion no longer holds given uncertainties in co- and inter-seismic processes. The comparison of 1942 and 2016 teleseismic records reveals large uncertainties in the location of the 1942 event, hampering our ability to draw strong conclusions on the unbalanced moment budget in the region. Our results also show a heterogeneous coupling of the subduction interface that coincides with two slip asperities in our co-seismic model for the 2016 Pedernales earthquake and with the location of historical ruptures in 1958, 1979 and 1998. The spatial variability in coupling and complexity in earthquake history suggest strong heterogeneities in frictional properties of the subduction megathrust.

International audience; Inverse problems occur in a wide range of scientific applications, such as in the fields of signal processing, medical imaging, or geophysics. This work aims to present to the field practitioners, in an accessible and concise way, several established and newer cutting-edge computational methods used in the field of inverse problems—and when and how these techniques should be employed.

Existing models for the distribution of subsurface fault slip associated with the 1992 Landers, CA, earthquake (M_w = 7.3) show significant dissimilarities. In particular, they exhibit different amounts of slip at shallow depths (

The genus Oryza is a model system for the study of molecular evolution over time scales ranging from a few thousand to 15 million years. Using 13 reference genomes spanning the Oryza species tree, we show that despite few large-scale chromosomal rearrangements rapid species diversification is mirrored by lineage-specific emergence and turnover of many novel elements, including transposons, and potential new coding and noncoding genes. Our study resolves controversial areas of the Oryza phylogeny, showing a complex history of introgression among different chromosomes in the young 'AA' subclade containing the two domesticated species. This study highlights the prevalence of functionally coupled disease resistance genes and identifies many new haplotypes of potential use for future crop protection. Finally, this study marks a milestone in modern rice research with the release of a complete long-read assembly of IR 8 'Miracle Rice', which relieved famine and drove the Green Revolution in Asia 50 years ago.

International audience; The 2015 Gorkha earthquake sequence provides an outstanding opportunity to better characterize the geometry of the Main Himalayan Thrust (MHT). To overcome limitations due to unaccounted lateral heterogeneities, we perform Centroid Moment Tensor inversions in a 3-D Earth model for the main shock and largest aftershocks. In parallel, we recompute S-toP and P-to-S receiver functions from the Hi-CLIMB data set. Inverted centroid locations fall within a low-velocity zone at 10–15 km depth and corresponding to the subhorizontal portion of the MHT that ruptured during the Gorkha earthquake. North of the main shock hypocenter, receiver functions indicate a north dipping feature that likely corresponds to the midcrustal ramp connecting the flat portion to the deep part of the MHT. Our analysis of the main shock indicates that long-period energy emanated updip of high-frequency radiation sources previously inferred. This frequency-dependent rupture process might be explained by different factors such as fault geometry and the presence of fluids.

International audience; Material failure is accompanied by important heat exchange, with extremely high temperature – thousands of degrees – reached at crack tips. Such temperature may subsequently alter the mechanical properties of stressed solids, and finally facilitate their rupture. Thermal runaway weakening processes could indeed explain stick-slip motions and even be responsible for deep earthquakes. Therefore, to better understand catastrophic rupture events, it appears crucial to establish an accurate energy budget of fracture propagation from a clear measure of the various energy dissipation sources. In this work, combining analytical calculations and numerical simulations, we directly relate the temperature field around a moving crack tip to the part α of mechanical energy converted into heat. Monitoring the slow crack growth in paper sheets with an infrared camera, we measure a significant fraction α = 12% ± 4%. Besides, we show that (self-generated) heat accumulation could weaken our samples with microfibers combustion, and lead to a fast crack/dynamic failure/ regime.

International audience; In September 2014, a dense temporary seismic network (EstOF) including 288 single-component geophones was deployed during 1 month in the Outre-Forêt region of the Upper Rhine Graben (France), where two deep geothermal projects (Soultz-sous-Forêts and Rittershoffen) are currently in operation. We apply ambient seismic noise correlation to estimate the empirical Green’s function of the medium between the ~41,200 station pairs in the network. The noise correlation functions obtained are comparable to those from previous studies based on the sparse long-term networks settled in the area mostly to monitor the induced seismic activity. However, the dense spatial coverage of the EstOF network improves our ability toidentify the main phases of the Green’s function. Both the fundamental mode and the first overtone of the Rayleigh waves are identified between most station pairs. P waves are also evidenced. We analyze the statistical distribution of the Rayleigh wave group velocity between station pairs as a function of the period (between 0.8 and 5 s), the station pair orientation, the distance over wavelength ratio and the signal-to-noise ratio. From these observations, we build a high-resolution three-dimensional S wave velocity model of the upper crust (down to 3 km deep) around the regional deep geothermal reservoirs. This model is consistent with local geological structures but also evidences nonlithological variations, particularly at depth in thebasement. These variations are interpreted as large-scale temperature anomalies related to deep hydrothermal circulation.

International audience

International audience; We present a new 3-D shear-velocity model for the top 30 km of the crust in the wider Vienna Basin region based on surface waves extracted from ambient-noise cross-correlations. We use continuous seismic records of 63 broad-band stations of the AlpArray project to retrieve interstation Green's functions from ambient-noise cross-correlations in the period range from 5 to 25 s. From these Green's functions, we measure Rayleigh group traveltimes, utilizing all four components of the cross-correlation tensor, which are associated with Rayleigh waves (ZZ, RR, RZ and ZR), to exploit multiple measurements per station pair. A set of selection criteria is applied to ensure that we use high-quality recordings of fundamental Rayleigh modes. We regionalize the interstation group velocities in a 5 km × 5 km grid with an average path density of ∼20 paths per cell. From the resulting group-velocity maps, we extract local 1-D dispersion curves for each cell and invert all cells independently to retrieve the crustal shear-velocity structure of the study area. The resulting model provides a previously unachieved lateral resolution of seismic velocities in the region of ∼15 km. As major features, we image the Vienna Basin and Little Hungarian Plain as low-velocity anomalies, and the Bohemian Massif with high velocities. The edges of these features are marked with prominent velocity contrasts correlated with faults, such as the Alpine Front and Vienna Basin transfer fault system. The observed structures correlate well with surface geology, gravitational anomalies and the few known crystalline basement depths from boreholes. For depths larger than those reached by boreholes, the new model allows new insight into the complex structure of the Vienna Basin and surrounding areas, including deep low-velocity zones, which we image with previously unachieved detail. This model may be used in the future to interpret the deeper structures and tectonic evolution of the wider Vienna Basin region, evaluate natural resources, model wave propagation and improve earthquake locations, among others.

International audience

Geophysical tomographic studies traditionally exploit linear, damped least-squares inversion methods. We demonstrate that the resulting models can be locally biased toward lower or higher amplitudes in regions of poor data illumination, potentially causing physical misinterpretations. For example, we show that global model S40RTS is locally biased toward higher amplitudes below isolated receivers where ray paths are quasi vertical, such as on Hawaii. This leads to questions on the apparent low-velocity structure interpreted as the Hawaii hotspot. We prove that a linear Backus–Gilbert inversion scheme can bring the Earth's interior into focus through unbiased tomographic lenses, as its model estimates are constrained to be averages over the true model. It also efficiently computes the full generalized inverse required to infer both model resolution and its covariance, enabling quantitative interpretations of tomographic models.

Knot A GEOSCOPE validates and transmits to node B of the RESIF information system the data from the GEOSCOPE broadband seismological station observatory, which represents: 35 years of data (1.8 TB): seismological (since 1982) and accelerometric (since 2012), temperature and pressure, and 31 real-time stations, over 400 operational channels sampled at 100Hz, 20Hz and 1Hz.This poster presents the results and prospects of this node at the end of 2017, as part of the RESIF deployment. The French Seismological and Geodetic Network RESIF is a national research infrastructure dedicated to the observation and understanding of the structure and dynamics of the Internal Earth. RESIF is based on high-tech observation networks, composed of seismological, geodetic and gravimetric instruments deployed in a dense manner throughout France. The data collected make it possible to study with high spatial and temporal resolution the deformation of the ground, surface and deep structures, seismicity on a local and global scale and natural hazards, and more particularly seismic events, on French territory. RESIF is integrated into European (EPOS - European Plate Observing System) and global systems of instruments for imaging the Earth's interior as a whole and studying many natural phenomena. The GEOSCOPE Observatory, created in 1982, consists of a network of 33 seismological stations in 18 countries, whose instrumentation and maintenance are carried out in collaboration between the IPGP and the EOST in Strasbourg. The IPGP data centre is responsible for data management and distribution. The data are also distributed by the national RESIF data centre and by IRIS-DMC. The GEOSCOPE Observatory aims to provide broadband seismological data from its 33 stations to the French and international scientific community. GEOSCOPE is therefore an important component of the global seismological network, which allows analyses of the earth's structure, seismic noise, and earthquake process (see the quick information provided by GEOSCOPE on global earthquakes of magnitude greater than 5.5-6).; Le Nœud A GEOSCOPE valide et transmet au nœud B du système d'information RESIF les données de l'observatoire de stations sismologiques large bande GEOSCOPE, ce qui représente : 35 ans de données (1,8 To) : sismologiques (depuis 1982) et accéléromètriques (depuis 2012), température et pression, et 31 stations en temps réel, plus de 400 canaux opérationnels échantillonnés à 100Hz, 20Hz et 1Hz.Ce poster présente le bilan et les perspectives de ce noeud A fin 2017, dans le cadre du déploiement de RESIF. Le Réseau sismologique et géodésique français RESIF est une infrastructure de recherche nationale dédiée à l’observation et la compréhension de la structure et de la dynamique Terre interne. RESIF se base sur des réseaux d’observation de haut niveau technologique, composés d’instruments sismologiques, géodésiques et gravimétriques déployés de manière dense sur tout le territoire français. Les données recueillies permettent d’étudier avec une haute résolution spatio-temporelle la déformation du sol, les structures superficielles et profondes, la sismicité à l’échelle locale et globale et les aléas naturels, et plus particulièrement sismiques, sur le territoire français. RESIF s’intègre aux dispositifs européens (EPOS - European Plate Observing System) et mondiaux d’instruments permettant d’imager l’intérieur de la Terre dans sa globalité et d’étudier de nombreux phénomènes naturels. L'Observatoire GEOSCOPE, créé en 1982, est constitué d'un réseau de 33 stations sismologiques réparties dans 18 pays, dont l'instrumentation et la maintenance sont réalisées au sein d'une collaboration entre l'IPGP et l'EOST à Strasbourg. Le centre de données de l'IPGP assure la gestion des données et leur distribution. Les données sont également distribuées par le centre national de données RESIF et par IRIS-DMC. L'Observatoire GEOSCOPE a pour but de fournir les données sismologiques large-bande de ses 33 stations à la communauté scientifique française et internationale. GEOSCOPE est donc une composante importante du réseau sismologique mondial, qui permet des analyses de la structure terrestre, du bruit sismique, et du processus des tremblements de Terre (voir les informations rapides fournies par GEOSCOPE sur les séismes mondiaux de magnitude supérieure à 5.5-6).

The conjugate gradient method is a widely used algorithm for the numerical solution of a system of linear equations. It is particularly attractive because it allows one to take advantage of sparse matrices and produces (in case of infinite precision arithmetic) the exact solution after a finite number of iterations. It is thus well suited for many types of inverse problems. On the other hand, the method requires the computation of the gradient. Here difficulty can arise, since the functional of interest to the given inverse problem may not be differentiable. In this paper, we review two approaches to deal with this situation: iteratively reweighted least squares and convolution smoothing. We apply the methods to a more generalized, two parameter penalty functional. We show advantages of the proposed algorithms using examples from a geotomographical application and for synthetically constructed multi-scale reconstruction and regularization parameter estimation., arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1408.6795

International audience

The recent seismicity catalogue of metropolitan France Sismicite Instrumentale de l’Hexagone (SI-Hex) covers the period 1962–2009. It is the outcome of a multipartner project conducted between 2010 and 2013. In this catalogue, moment magnitudes (M w) are mainly determined from short-period velocimetric records, the same records as those used by the Laboratoire de Detection Geophysique (LDG) for issuing local magnitudes (M L) since 1962. Two distinct procedures are used, whether M L-LDG is larger or smaller than 4. For M L-LDG >4, M w is computed by fitting the coda-wave amplitude on the raw records. Station corrections and regional properties of coda-wave attenuation are taken into account in the computations. For M L-LDG ≤4, M w is converted from M L-LDG through linear regression rules. In the smallest magnitude range M L-LDG

International audience; Ever since the Mw7.4 Izmit earthquake in 1999, evaluation of seismic hazard associated with the last unbroken segments of the North Anatolian fault is capital. A strong controversy remains over whether Marmara fault segments are locked or are releasing strain aseismically. Using a Bayesian approach, we propose a preliminary probabilistic interseismic model constrained by published GPS data sets. The posterior mean model show that Ganos and Cinarcik segments are locked while creep is detected in the central portion of Marmara fault. Our analysis, however, reveals that creeping segments are associated with large model uncertainties, which mainly results from the sparsity of current geodetic observations. We then discuss how the GPS network can be improved to attain more reliable assessment of interseismic slip rates. With this purpose, we implement a network optimization procedure to identify the most favorable distribution of stations measuring strain accumulation in the Marmara Sea.

The recent M w = 7.8 Kaikoura (New Zealand) earthquake involved a remarkably complex rupture propagating in an intricate network of faults at the transition between the Alpine fault in the South Island and the Kermadec-Tonga subduction zone. We investigate the main features of this complicated rupture process using long-period seismological observations. Apparent Rayleigh-wave moment-rate functions reveal a clear northeastward directivity with an unusually weak rupture initiation during 60 s followed by a major 20 s burst of moment rate. To further explore the rupture process, we perform a Bayesian exploration of multiple point-source parameters in a 3-D Earth model. The results show that the rupture initiated as a small strike-slip rupture and propagated to the northeast, triggering large slip on both strike-slip and thrust faults. The Kaikoura earthquake is thus a rare instance in which slip on intraplate faults trigger extensive interplate thrust faulting. This clearly outlines the importance of accounting for secondary faults when assessing seismic and tsunami hazard in subduction zones.

Landscape dynamics are determined by interactions amongst geomorphic processes. These interactions allow the effects of tectonic, climatic and seismic perturbations to propagate across topographic domains, and permit the impacts of geomorphic process events to radiate from their point of origin. Visual remote sensing and in situ observations do not fully resolve the spatiotemporal patterns of surface processes in a landscape. As a result, the mechanisms and scales of geomorphic connectivity are poorly understood. Because many surface processes emit seismic signals, seismology can determine their type, location and timing with a resolution that reveals the operation of integral landscapes. Using seismic records, we show how hillslopes and channels in an Alpine catchment are interconnected to produce evolving, sediment-laden flows. This is done for a convective storm, which triggered a sequence of hillslope processes and debris flows. We observe the evolution of these process events and explore the operation of two-way links between mass wasting and channel processes that are fundamental to the dynamics of most erosional landscapes. We also track the characteristics and propagation of flows along the debris flow channel, relating changes of observed energy to the deposition/mobilization of sediments, and using the spectral content of debris flow seismic signals to qualitatively infer sediment characteristics and channel abrasion potential. This seismological approach can help to test theoretical concepts of landscape dynamics, and yield understanding of the nature and efficiency of links between individual geomorphic processes that is required to accurately model landscape dynamics under changing tectonic or climatic conditions, and to anticipate the natural hazard risk associated with specific meteorological events.

The inversion of earthquake focal mechanisms is one of the few tools available for determining principal stress directions at seismogenic depths. Various methods have been proposed for performing such inversions. For three of the most commonly used methods, including one that has been proposed by Jacques Angelier, we discuss the physical assumptions and the error determination and then we propose an extension for one of the methods. All four methods are then applied for evaluating the stress field in the Upper Rhine graben. They are applied to seismic data recorded with a temporary monitoring network that was deployed 12 hours after the magnitude Mw = 4.4 Sierentz earthquake, which occurred on July 15, 1980. While differences in principal stress directions can be as much as 28° depending on the method used for the principal stress direction determination (orientation of the minimum principal stress has been found to range from N051°E with a 27° plunge to N090° E with a 20° plunge), the 90% confidence level associated with each method varies from 11° to 27°. Moreover, these various methods yield fairly diverse values for the R factor that characterizes relative differences between principal stress magnitudes (from R = 0.7 with a 0.2 90% confidence level to R = 0.3 with a 0.2 90% confidence level). Furthermore all three methods leave some focal mechanisms unexplained. These are then declared to be the result of heterogeneity and are not considered for the inversion. It is concluded that earthquake focal mechanisms inversions lack resolution for stress field evaluation at depth if no proper attention is given to the event independence hypothesis. When proper attention is given to this hypothesis, a resolution of the order of 15° may be achieved. The minimum principal stress orientation derived with these various focal mechanisms inversions differs by 4 to 36° from the orientation determined from borehole breakouts observed in Basel, in a 5 km deep well (N054°E ± 14°), located some 20 km from Sierentz. The solution that fits best borehole breakout observations is that which satisfies the minimum number (three) of prerequisite physical assumptions.

International audience; Several characteristic waves detected by seismographs in Antarctic stations have been recognized as originating from the physical interaction between the solid earth and the atmosphere-ocean-cryosphere system surrounding the Antarctic and may be used as a proxy for characterizing ocean wave climate. A Chaparral-type infrasound sensor was installed at Syowa Station (SYO; 39.6E, 69.0S), East Antarctica, in April 2008 during the International Polar Year (IPY2007-2008). Matching data are also available for this time period from the existing broadband seismic recorder located close by. Continuous infrasound data for 2008-2009 include background signals (microbaroms) with a broad peak in the wave period between the values of 4 and 10 s. Signals with the same period are recorded by the broadband seismograph at SYO (microseisms). This period band is identified as double-frequency microseisms/baroms (DFM). The DFM have relatively lower amplitudes during winter. We suggest that this is due to the sea-ice extent around the coast causing a decreased ocean loading effect. In contrast, the single frequency microseisms/baroms with a peak in period between 12 and 30 s are observed under storm conditions, particularly in winter. On the infrasound data, stationary signals are identified with harmonic overtones at a few Hertz to lowermost human audible band, which we suggest is due to local effects such as sea-ice cracking and vibration. Microseism measurements are a useful proxy for characterizing ocean wave climate, complementing other oceanographic and geophysical data. At SYO, continuous monitoring by both broadband seismograph and infrasound contributes to the Federation of Digital Seismographic Networks, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty in the high southern latitudes and the Pan-Antarctic Observations System under the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research.

International audience; Acoustic signal localization is a complex problem with a wide range of industrial and academic applications. Herein, we propose a localization method based on energy attenuation and inverted source amplitude comparison (termed estimated source energy homogeneity, or ESEH). This inversion is tested on both synthetic (numerical) data using a Lamb wave propagation model, and experimental 2D plate data (recorded with 4 accelerometers sensitive up to 26 kHz). We compare the performance of this technique with classic source localization algorithms: arrival time localization, time reversal localization, and localization based on energy amplitude. Our technique is highly versatile, and out-performs the conventional techniques in terms of error minimization and cost (both computational and financial).

The nearby Mw 7.5 and Mw 7.6 events in a deep earthquake doublet under Peru have diverse stress drops and radiation efficiency., Earthquakes in deeply subducted oceanic lithosphere can involve either brittle or dissipative ruptures. On 24 November 2015, two deep (606 and 622 km) magnitude 7.5 and 7.6 earthquakes occurred 316 s and 55 km apart. The first event (E1) was a brittle rupture with a sequence of comparable-size subevents extending unilaterally ~50 km southward with a rupture speed of ~4.5 km/s. This earthquake triggered several aftershocks to the north along with the other major event (E2), which had 40% larger seismic moment and the same duration (~20 s), but much smaller rupture area and lower rupture speed than E1, indicating a more dissipative rupture. A minor energy release ~12 s after E1 near the E2 hypocenter, possibly initiated by the S wave from E1, and a clear aftershock ~165 s after E1 also near the E2 hypocenter, suggest that E2 was likely dynamically triggered. Differences in deep earthquake rupture behavior are commonly attributed to variations in thermal state between subduction zones. However, the marked difference in rupture behavior of the nearby Peru doublet events suggests that local variations of stress state and material properties significantly contribute to diverse behavior of deep earthquakes.

International audience; We apply a template matching method to detect and locate preeruptive earthquakes at Piton de la Fournaise volcano in 2014 and 2015. This approach enabled the detection of many events and unveiled persistent seismicity features through multiple eruptions. Shallow earthquakes define a ring-shaped structure beneath the main crater. The repetitive occurrence of events along this structure suggests that it corresponds to a preexisting zone of weakness within the edifice. We also show evidence of deep magma transfer in 2015. More than 5000 deep earthquakes define an upward migration immediately followed by the occurrence of shallow events leading to an eruption 20 days later. This suggests the creation of a hydraulic connection between the lower part of the volcanic system and a magma reservoir located near sea level. We can envisage than such replenishments of the shallow reservoir occurred in the past but were undetected because of limited deep earthquake detections.

Using a Bouguer anomaly map and a dense seismic data set, we have performed two studies in order to improve our knowledge of the deep structure of Taiwan. First, we model the Bouguer anomaly along a profile crossing the island using simple forward modelling. The modelling is 2D, with the hypothesis of cylindrical symmetry. Second we present a joint analysis of gravity anomaly and seismic arrival time data recorded in Taiwan. An initial velocity model has been obtained by local earthquake tomography (LET) of the seismological data. The LET velocity model was used to construct an initial 3D gravity model, using a linear velocity–density relationship (Birch's law). The synthetic Bouguer anomaly calculated for this model has the same shape and wavelength as the observed anomaly. However some characteristics of the anomaly map are not retrieved. To derive a crustal velocity/density model which accounts for both types of observations, we performed a sequential inversion of seismological and gravity data. The variance reduction of the arrival time data for the final sequential model was comparable to the variance reduction obtained by simple LET. Moreover, the sequential model explained about 80% of the observed gravity anomaly. New 3D model of Taiwan lithosphere is presented.

We propose that a controlling parameter of static stress drop during an earthquake is related to the scaling properties of the fault-surface topography. Using high resolution laser distance meters, we have accurately measured the roughness scaling properties of two fault surfaces in different geological settings (the French Alps and Nevada). The data show that fault-surface topography is scale dependent and may be accurately described by a self-affine geometry with a slight anisotropy characterized by two extreme roughness exponents ( H R ), H ||=0.6 in the direction of slip and H ⊥=0.8 perpendicular to slip. Disregarding plastic processes like rock fragmentation and focusing on elastic deformation of the topography, which is the dominant mode at large scales, the stress drop is proportional to the deformation, which is a spatial derivative of the slip. The evolution of stress-drop fluctuations on the fault plane can be derived directly from the self-affine property of the fault surface, with the length scale ( λ ) as std Δσ ( λ )∝ λ H R -1. Assuming no characteristic length scale in fault roughness and a rupture cascade model, we show that as the rupture grows, the average stress drop, and its variability should decrease with increasing source dimension. That is for the average stress drop Δσ ( r )∝ r H R -1, where r is the radius of a circular rupture. This result is a direct consequence of the elastic squeeze of fault asperities that induces the largest spatial fluctuations of the shear strength before and after the earthquake at local (small) scales with peculiar spatial correlations.

International audience; We explore the use of seismic noise produced by rivers to monitor the bed load transport in the case of a low-discharge braided river in the French Alps: the "torrent de St Pierre". For this purpose, we deployed two dedicated seismic networks during summers 2007 and 2008, for which the characteristics of the recorded continuous signal are similar despite changes in the sensor locations. For dry weather conditions, only melting of nearby glaciers controls the supply of water to the stream. In these conditions, the river hydrology and the seismic energy in the 2-80 Hz frequency band both follow a diurnal fluctuation similar to the thermal amplitude. In contrast during rainfall episodes, the temperature variation fails to explain the hydrodynamic changes. Dense cloud covers reduce glacier melting and the recorded seismic energy denotes bursts of high-frequency seismic noise well correlated with water level data. Comparisons between the recorded seismic signals and the collected hydrological and sediment load data indicate that a frequency band of 3-9 Hz best explains the water level changes and thus the seismic waves coming from the flow turbulence. These analyses also reveal the presence of a seismic noise threshold that might be linked to the water shear stress exerted by the flowing water. Using the seismic energy in this frequency band as a proxy of the fluvial shear stress, the seismic-hydrologic relationship may be sensitive to variations in bed load transport. The spectral content of the seismic energy shows patterns consistent with the mobilization of sediment particles. From the interpretations of the seismic wave attenuation of river sources, we finally propose that stations at a distance from the stream less than 50 m are able to record most sediment particles. Farther stations are still useful during extreme events when largest grain sizes are mobilized. More generally this study demonstrates the feasibility of using the river seismic signal to survey bed load transport in various river types from small braided mountain rivers like the "torrent de St Pierre" to the large entrenched Himalayan rivers.

We propose two techniques for fracture aperture reconstruction. The first one is a correlation technique that estimates the normal aperture or the tangential shift across a discontinuity whose sides present geometrical similarities. The only required material is a pair of appropriately controlled images of each side. Here, the images are maps of the corresponding side topography, obtained from laser profilometry. Assuming a purely normal opening, it is possible, from two corresponding sides of a given discontinuity in a core log, to infer the precise geometry of the in situ aperture. The second technique allows to retrieve the three-dimensional geometry of a sealed discontinuity from non-independent topography measurements of both sides. Both techniques are applied to discontinuities extracted from a core drilled down to 20 m in a fractured marl formation at Draix (French Alps). The probability density functions of the aperture of the sealed and open discontinuities are shown to be Gaussian. At the sample scale, the sealed fracture aperture is self-affine, while the open one shows a cross-over from a self-affine regime at very small scales to an uncorrelated regime at largest scales. After extrapolating those scaling laws at the scale of the whole formation, we discuss when the aperture roughness affects the hydraulic properties of the Draix fractured bedrock. The overall estimated permeability is significant (10−9 − 10−8 m2), consistently with some previous indirect inferences. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

International audience; Unlike other large rivers flowing out of Tibet, the Yellow River escapes from the plateau towards the NE crossing no less than five NW-SE striking, actively growing ranges and intervening basins. Thick Plio-Quaternary deposits and fluvial terraces testify to a phase of aggra- dation and sediment infill up to the average surface elevation (3200 - 3250 m a.s.l.) of the Gonghe, Guide and Qinghai Lake basins. A set of seven main terraces across the Gonghe Basin suggests progressive down-cutting of the Yellow River carving the 500 m deep Longyang gorge at the basin exit. 10Be and 26Al concentrations in quartz of surface and sub-surface samples of four terraces constrain the timing of incision by determining the burial age of the deposit and the exposure age of its surface. Modelling the depth dependence of the 10Be concentration and the 26Al/10Be ratio allows us to constrain the onset of the ongoing phase of incision to 120-250 ka. These ages suggest long-term incision rates between 2-6 mm/a. Together with the present morphology of the Yellow River terraces across the Gonghe basin and the Longyang gorge, our results imply rapid river catchment evolution and interaction between river dynamics, tectonic and climate in northeastern Tibet.

International audience; Using an experimental setup which allows to follow optically the propagation of an interfacial crack front in a heterogeneous medium, we show that the fracture front dynamics is governed by local and irregular avalanches with large velocity fluctuations. Events defined as high velocity bursts are ranked in catalogs with analogous characteristics to seismicity catalogs: time of occurence, epicenter location and energy parameter (moment). Despite differences in the fracturing mode (opening for the experiments and shear rupture for earthquakes), in the acquisition mode and in the range of time scales, the distributions of moment and epicenter jumps in the experimental catalogs obey the same scaling laws with exponents similar to the corresponding distributions for earthquakes. The record-breaking event analysis also shows very strong similarities between experimental and real seismicity catalogs. The results suggest that the dynamics of crack propagation is controlled by the elastic interactions between microstructures within the material.