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At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2024

Seismic Tomography 2024

Seismic tomography is the most abundant source of information about the internal structure of the Earth at scales ranging from a few meters to thousands of kilometers. It constrains the properties of active volcanoes, earthquake fault zones, deep reservoirs and storage sites, glaciers and ice sheets, or the entire globe. It contributes to outstanding societal problems related to natural hazards, resource exploration, underground storage, and many more. The recent advances in seismic tomography are being translated to nondestructive testing, medical ultrasound, and helioseismology. Nearly 50 yr after its first successful applications, this article offers a snapshot of modern seismic tomography. Focused on major challenges and particularly promising research directions, it is intended to guide both Earth science professionals and early-career scientists. The individual contributions by the coauthors provide diverse perspectives on topics that may at first seem disconnected but are closely tied together by a few coherent threads: multiparameter inversion for properties related to dynamic processes, data quality, and geographic coverage, uncertainty quantification that is useful for geologic interpretation, new formulations of tomographic inverse problems that address concrete geologic questions more directly, and the presentation and quantitative comparison of tomographic models. Finally, it remains to be seen which of these problems will be considered solved, solved to some extent, or practically unsolvable over the next decade.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1994

Lower mantle thermal structure deduced from seismic tomography, mineral physics and numerical modelling

The long-wavelength thermal anomalies in the lower mantle have been mapped out using several seismic tomographic models in conjunction with thermodynamic parameters derived from high-pressure mineral physics experiments. These parameters are the depth variations of thermal expansivity and of the proportionality factor between changes in density and seismic velocity. The giant plume-like structures in the lower mantle under the Pacific Ocean and Africa have outer fringes with thermal anomalies around 300-400 K, but very high temperatures are found in the center of the plumes near the base of the core-mantle boundary. These extreme values can exceed +1500 K and may reflect large hot thermal anomalies in the lower mantle, which are supported by recent measurements of high melting temperatures of perovskite and iron. Extremely cold anomalies, around -1500 K, are found for anomalies in the deep mantle around the Pacific rim and under South America. Numerical simulations show that large negative thermal anomalies in the mid-lower mantle have modest magnitudes of around -500 K. correlation pattern exists between the present-day locations of cold masses in the lower mantle and the sites of past subduction since the Cretaceous. Results from correlation analysis show that the slab mass-flux in the lower mantle did not conform to a steady-state nature but exhibited time-dependent behavior.

Cadek, O.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Aerospace technology can be applied to exploration 'back on earth'

Applications of aerospace technology to petroleum exploration are described. Attention is given to seismic reflection techniques, sea-floor mapping, remote geochemical sensing, improved drilling methods and down-hole acoustic concepts, such as down-hole seismic tomography. The seismic reflection techniques include monitoring of swept-frequency explosive or solid-propellant seismic sources, as well as aerial seismic surveys. Telemetry and processing of seismic data may also be performed through use of aerospace technology. Sea-floor sonor imaging and a computer-aided system of geologic analogies for petroleum exploration are also considered.

Jaffe, L. D.↗
DOE OSTI2023

A Novel Approach to Map Permeability Using Passive Seismic Emission Tomography

Newly acquired magnetotelluric data and passive seismic data collected with tightly spaced geophone arrays are combined with historic drilling, active seismic, and potential fields data to generate 3-D permeability maps. A cooperative inversion methodology has been developed using active seismic, magnetotelluric, and gravity data in order to produce more robust velocity models for passive seismic data processing without requiring expensive 3-D active seismic surveys. The cooperative inversion estimates velocities from other geophysical data where no prior seismic velocity information is available at two geothermal sites in Nevada: San Emidio and Crescent Valley.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Improved Earthquake Source Parameters with 3D Wavespeed Models in California and Nevada

Seismic tomography harnesses earthquake data to explore the inaccessible structure of the Earth. Adjoint waveform tomography (AWT), a method of seismic tomography, updates the tomographic model by optimizing the fit between observed earthquake data and synthetic waveforms. The synthetic data are calculated by solving the wave equation through a given 3D model. An important requirement to calculating synthetics is the source information (location, centroid time, depth, and moment tensor). Errors in source information affect the quality of the synthetics produced, which in turn can limit how structure can be inferred in the AWT workflow. Here, to test the effect of updating source information, we used MTTime (Chiang, 2020), a time-domain full-waveform moment tensor inversion code, to calculate the moment tensors and depths of 118 earthquakes that occurred in California and Nevada over a 20-yr period. We calculated 3D Green’s functions using a 3D seismic wavespeed model of California and Nevada (Doody et al., 2023b). We show that the inverted solutions provide better waveform fits than the Global Centroid Moment Tensor catalog and increase usable, well-correlated data by up to 7%. Therefore, we argue that recalculating source parameters should be considered in AWT workflows, particularly for smaller magnitude events (⁠M w > 5.0).

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Multi-Scale Seismic Measurements for Site Characterization and CO2 Monitoring in an Enhanced Oil Recovery/Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Sequestration Project, Farnsworth Field, Texas

To address the challenges of climate change, significantly more geologic carbon sequestration projects are beginning. The characterization of the subsurface and the migration of the plume of supercritical carbon dioxide are two elements of carbon sequestration that can be addressed through the use of the available seismic methods in the oil and gas industry. In an enhanced oil recovery site in Farnsworth, TX, we employed three separate seismic techniques. The three-dimensional (3D) surface seismic survey required significant planning, design, and processing, but produces both a better understanding of the subsurface structure and a three-dimensional velocity model, which is essential for the second technique, a timelapse vertical seismic profile, and the third technique, cross-well seismic tomography. The timelapse 3D Vertical Seismic Profile (3D VSP) revealed both significant changes in the reservoir between the second and third surveys and geo-bodies that may represent the extent of the underground carbon dioxide. The asymmetry of the primary geo-body may indicate the preferential migration of the carbon dioxide. The third technique, cross-well seismic tomography, suggested a strong correlation between the well logs and the tomographic velocities, but did not observe changes in the injection interval.

Energy & Fuels↗
DOE OSTI2022

Report on the LLNL Global Seismic Waveform Tomography Modeling Project

Earth models have important applications for seismic event monitoring including the location and characterization of potential underground nuclear tests. Seismic waves generated by earthquakes and man-made events are altered by variations in Earth’s subsurface properties; and these distortions effect the arrival times of energy packets (phases) and obscure the characteristics of the original energy source (event mechanism). Three-dimensional models of Earth’s seismic properties can help explain and predict the distortions to the seismic wavefield and reveal the properties of a source that generated the waves, including the event location using the model-predicted timing of the phases and source mechanism using the modelpredicted waveform characteristics.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Joint Inversion of Surface Electrical Resistivity Tomography and Seismic Refraction Data between the 200 Areas

Geologic stratigraphy on the Hanford Site influences groundwater and contaminant migration through the aquifer system and the vadose zone. The current geologic framework model (GFM) relies heavily on a sparse distribution of borehole data in some locations to map geologic contacts and hydrologic properties in the subsurface. Non-invasive geophysical methods such as electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), transient electromagnetic surveying, and seismic imaging are being used at Hanford to map subsurface structure in areas with limited well observations. This is to develop and mature the capability of geophysical methods to aid in GFM refinement, to identify regions of subsurface complexity, and for optimal well siting. A joint inversion of co-located seismic refraction and ERT data was carried out for data collected on a ~2.3-km profile between the 200 Areas on the Hanford Site. While ERT and seismic refraction images have sensitivity to overlapping physical properties (porosity, moisture content, lithology), the resolution and physics used to acquire each of these datasets are different and therefore information can be different or mutually complementary. Performing a joint inversion provides a reasonable option for a coherent, coupled interpretation for mutually complementary datasets. Between the 200 Areas, there are few boreholes to interpret the geologic framework model, and these data sets were obtained to provide a first line of evidence toward identifying stratigraphic structure. The seismic refraction and ERT data were independently inverted during fiscal year 2022 and broadly showed a two-layer structure with a trough-like feature that is ~1 km wide and upwards of 150 m deep. The depth of the trough feature was greater in the ERT image compared to the seismic image, which indicated a maximum depth of approximately 110 m. The objective of the joint inversion described in this report was to invert the seismic refraction and ERT data together while constraining the ERT image to be structurally similar to the seismic refraction image. The approach was applied using the geophysical inverse modeling program E4D, which has the capability to invert first-arrival times from seismic refraction data and ERT resistances using a “cross-gradient” constraint. The application of cross-gradient constraints with different weights produces ERT models that show a high degree of similarity within the upper 100 m (above ~120 m elevation). None of the ERT models show an improved structural similarity to the seismic result; therefore, it is recommended that further attempts to jointly interpret these models focus on petrophysics and image resolution. Petrophysical measurements of core samples would improve knowledge of what drives the ERT response in this region and, along with downhole geophysical measurements, could be used to “ground truth” the surface-based geophysical results. Image resolution studies would provide insight into which regions of the inverted images are reliable and which regions are poorly constrained.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Comparing Adjoint Waveform Tomography Models of California Using Different Starting Models

Abstract Adjoint waveform tomography (AWT) sits at the cutting edge of seismic tomography on local, regional, and global scales. However, the choice in starting model may have a significant impact on the final inversion results. In this paper, we present 3 AWT models of California that are based on different starting models. We chose three models that were inverted at different scales: SPiRaL, a global travel‐time tomography model (Simmons et al., 2021, 10.1093/gji/ggab277 ), CSEM_NA, a regional adjoint tomography model of North America and the North Atlantic (Krischer et al., 2018, 10.1029/2017JB015289 ), and WUS256, a regional adjoint tomography model of the western US (Rodgers et al., 2022, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JB024549 ). We then inverted three AWT models using the same source and receiver set. We ran each model over three period bands: 30–100 s, 25–100 s, and 20–80 s. Once the iterations were finalized, we used five methods of testing model similarity in both the model and data space. We conclude that the choice of starting model has a minimal impact on long wavelength models if an appropriate multi‐scale inversion approach is used.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Predicting Seafloor Seismic Noise from Sea Surface Wave Heights and Vice Versa

Seismic hazard monitoring and global seismic tomography efforts are improved by recording seismic signals close to sources and at a variety of azimuths surrounding the source. While seismic networks have been deployed at many locations on land, seafloor stations are still sparse. Inclusion of ocean-based data would greatly improve the global coverage of seismic networks. However, the use of seafloor seismic data to complement land-based detection and characterization of events is complicated by the fact that ambient noise on the seafloor is in general much higher than noise levels on land. This noise is driven primarily by sea surface waves and tides. In this project, I define an empirical relationship between wave height and seafloor seismic displacement, and tie this relationship to the microseism noise theory of Longuet-Higgins and Ursell (1948). I find that while there appears to be a linear relationship between wave height and seismic displacement, wave height values can only be used with low confidence to predict seismic displacement and vice versa, and furthermore, factors other than wave height are significant in determining the level of seismic noise at a particular site.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1991

Tomography, the geoid and plate motions

The dynamics of the earth's mantle and its relationship to mantle structure as revealed by seismic tomography, the geoid, and plate motions are discussed in a critical review of U.S. research from the period 1987-1990. Sections are devoted to plates and mantle convection; seismic anomalies, flow, and the geoid; subducted slabs and the 670-km discontinuity; the physical properties of the mantle; plumes; and computational and experimental modeling efforts. Also included is a comprehensive bibliography for the period.

Gable, Carl W.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Volatiles in the Earth: All shallow and all recycled

A case can be made that accretion of the Earth was a high-temperature process and that the primordial Earth was dry. A radial zone-refining process during accretion may have excluded low-melting point and volatile material, including large-ion lithophile elements toward the surface, leaving a refractory and zoned interior. Water, sediments and altered hydrous oceanic crust are introduced back into the interior by subduction, a process that may be more efficient today than in the past. Seismic tomography strongly suggests that a large part of the uppermantle is above the solidus, and this implies wet melting. The mantle beneath Archean cratons has very fast seismic velocities and appears to be strong to 150 km or greater. This is consistent with very dry mantle. It is argued that recycling of substantial quantities of water occurs in the shallow mantle but only minor amounts recycle to depths greater than 200 km. Recycling also oxidizes that mantle; ocean island ('hotspot') basalts are intermediate in oxidation state to island-arc and midocean ridge basalts (MORB). This suggests a deep uncontaminated reservoir for MORB. Plate tectonics on a dry Earth is discussed in order to focus attention on inconsistencies in current geochemical models of terrestrial evolution and recycling.

Anderson, Don L.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Fast Seismic Anomalies Under Continents Explained by the Delaminated Lower Continental Crust—Implications From High Pressure‐Temperature Elasticity of Jadeite

Seismic tomography has shown that the shear wave velocities (Vs) under continents, especially under cratons, are extremely fast at 100–200 km depth, which is difficult to explain by low temperatures or high Mg#. Alternatively, delaminated eclogitic lower continental crust has been proposed to account for these fast seismic anomalies. However, the thermoelastic properties of jadeite which constitutes up to 60–80 mol% of clinopyroxene in the potentially delaminated lower continental crust are not well constrained. In this study, we measured the single-crystal elasticity of jadeite by Brillouin spectroscopy under simultaneous high pressure and temperature conditions for the first time. We found that the temperature dependence of Vs of jadeite is extremely small if not negligible. The seismic velocities of the potentially delaminated lower continental crusts were subsequently modeled and found to match the widely observed fast seismic anomalies under cratons between 100 and 200 km depth.

Geology↗
DOE OSTI2022

Thermal equation of state for zoisite: Implications for the transportation of water into the upper mantle and the high-velocity anomaly in the Farallon plate

Seismic tomography studies have revealed a high-velocity anomaly at depths between 100 km and 300 km in the Farallon plate. However, the reasons for the high-velocity anomaly continue to be debated. An analysis of the mineral proportions of eclogites exhumed from the Farallon plate shows that the average amount of zoisite in eclogite is ∼16.0 vol%. Therefore, the presence of zoisite eclogite needs to be considered to explain the high-velocity anomaly of the Farallon plate. However, the thermal equation of state and stability of zoisite have not been fully investigated under high pressure−temperature (P-T) conditions. We investigated the high-pressure and high-temperature behavior of natural zoisite utilizing synchrotron single crystal-X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results indicate that zoisite is metastable up to 24.8 GPa and 700 K. We obtained the ambient unit-cell volume V0 = 901.26(3) Å3 by synchrotron single crystal-XRD measurement. We also fitted the pressure-volume-temperature data to a high-temperature Birch-Murnaghan equation of state and obtained the zero-pressure bulk modulus K0 = 134.7(8) GPa, the temperature derivative of the bulk modulus (∂K/∂T)P = −0.011(4) GPa/K, and the thermal expansion coefficients α0V = 1.9(7) × 10−5 K−1 and α1V = 3(2) × 10−8 K−2 when the pressure derivative of bulk modulus (K′0) is fixed at 4. By incorporating the results from previous studies, we calculated the density and bulk sound velocity profiles of zoisite eclogite along the Farallon plate geotherm. Finally, we infer that zoisite could carry water to depths of ∼300 km within cold subducting slabs and that the bulk sound velocity of typical zoisite eclogite with ∼61.0 vol% omphacite, ∼23.0 vol% garnet, and ∼16.0 vol% zoisite could cause the high-velocity anomalies at depths of 100−300 km in the Farallon plate.

Geology↗