Avadh Ram

On frequency magnitude and energy of significant Indian earthquakes

SummaryFrequency, magnitude and energy of Indian earthquakes with magnitude greater than 5 has been studied. The Indian regions can be divided into three main seismically active regions, viz. 1. Delhi and Himalayan region, 2. Assam region and 3. Koyana region which includes southwest India. The relations between frequency-magnitude and energy-magnitude of earthquakes are shown in Fig. 3 and 4 respectively. Further a relationship, logN=p+q logE type has been established for frequency and energy of Indian earthquakes and the values of constantsp andq have been determined for all the three seismic regions. The results thus obtained are good and satisfactory.

Focal-mechanism solutions of earthquakes and tectonics of the Hindukush region

Abstract Seventeen focal-mechanism solutions have been obtained for earthquakes occurring in the Hindukush region using P-wave first motion directions observed from short as well as long period records. These solutions have indicated a thrust type of faulting. Some of the solutions show small components of strike slip motions. The trend of nodal planes in these solutions was found to vary between northeast and southeast directions. The dip of the compressional axes rarely exceeds 25°. Orientation of tensional axes was found to be almost vertical in all cases. These findings together with the spatial distribution of earthquakes in the Hindukush region suggested that earthquakes were caused by down-dip extension within a sinking slab.

Analysis of earthquakes in the distance range 40–70° and inferred lower mantle structure

Abstract About fifty earthquakes in the distance range 40–70° and azimuthal range 45–120° from the Celebes, Philippines, Mariana and Kurile Island regions, and recorded at Gauribidanur seismic array in southern India, were used in the present study. Measurements on slowness and apparent azimuths were made on the first 30 s of the short period P-wave trains using an adaptive processing technique. Analysis of this data set has revealed no strong evidence for any triplications in the travel-time curve over the ranges in question. The P-wave velocity increases continuously with an almost uniform gradient below 1000 km depth range and is in very close agreement with the JB model. Almost all the observed slowness values of the events were anomalously low and consistent suggesting that they are caused by some azimuthal dependent structure near the array.

A study of the vertical magnetic anomaly caused by magnetite deposits in Sua area of Palamau district, Bihar (India)

SummaryA magnetic survey carried out in Sua area of the Palamau district, Bihar (India) has shown very interesting anomalies. The survey has been conducted specially to obtain the extension of the magnetite deposits which are being quarried at Sua. The interpretation of magnetic anomalies have clearly brought out the following facts: a) the magnetite is extending both sides of the quarry to a considerable distance, b) the nature of the anomaly indicates that the magnetite occurs in the form of veins. It has also been possible to find out the thickness of the veins and the depth at which they occur.

Simulation of the Hydrocarbon Structures using the P-SV Wave Solution

Numerical solution of the scalar and elastic wave equations has greatly aided geophysicists in modeling seismic wave fields in the complicated geologic structures containing hydrocarbons and hence increases the geologic interpretation. Finite-difference method offers a versatile approach to compute synthetic seismograms numerically for given subsurface complex geological structures. To avoid the spatial derivative of the elastic parameters and density, elastodynamic equation (first-order hyperbolic equation) has been solved using the Lax-Wendroff scheme. A numerical finite-difference modeling program has been developed for the P-SV wave using the above solution. A line source with a time delay of 0.015s and dominant frequency of 120 Hz has been utilized in the simulation. In order to avoid the large values of the displacement vector in the source region,Alterman andKarals method (1968) has been utilized. Horizontal and vertical component synthetic seismograms have been computed for two different geological models with and without oil and gas bearing zones. It has been concluded from the response that a finite-difference technique not only yields the relative arrival times but also accounts for the variation in amplitude and phase according to the elastic impedance contrast across the interfaces. It should come as no surprise to learn that in spite of the limitation of this numerical method, the scheme has provided a valid response for the thin layer, high acoustic impedance contrast and the pinch out.

NATURE OF P-WAVE SIGNALS FROM HINDUKUSH EARTHQUAKES

Several causes for complexity of P-wave signals from earthquakes in the Hindukush focal region and recorded at Gauribidanur seismic array in southern India, have been investigated. Visual inspection of the records of these earthquakes revealed that most of the events occurring at shallow depths had complex signatures as compared to the deeper events. A positive correlation of complexity with magnitude is found. Spectral ratio measurements have demonstrated that complex signals are richer in low frequency energy. A number of theoretical seismograms for short period P-waves were computed and the analysis reveals that within certain constraints, complexity increases with focal fault area and decreases with focal depth. The structure of the fault rock in the source region, the source functions itself, and the ray-scattering in the crust-upper mantle near the source are the main responsibilities for the complexity of the Hindukush earthquake records at GBA since the transmission of the ray-tubes for all events studied is practically identical, with the exception of the very first near source part.

On the seismic structure of Indian upper-mantle regions

Several velocity models on upper mantle regions of the world have been postulated during the last two decades. There has been a broad agreement amongst seismologists that upper mantle has got two transition zones, though the models differ in detail. These zones have been found to occur around ‘400 km’ and ‘650 km’ depth ranges with varying thicknesses of the zones. A limited number of such studies have been made on the upper mantle structure of the Indian subcontinent. High positive velocity gradients were reported to exist around the above depth range. Evidence for lateral heterogeneities has also been found. We address some problems like refinement of Indian upper mantle velocity models specially after considering the effect of scattering and attenuation on the short periodP-waves. The study of proper positioning of the cusps of the travel-time branches and their extension is essential as well. In our opinion, analysis of such problems would help in the better understanding of the nature of propagation of seismic waves and mechanism of earthquakes. Complexity of seismic signatures observed is another major problem and may also be taken into consideration.

Seismic ray direction anomalies and relative residuals of earthquakes recorded at Gauribidanur array

Slowness and azimuthal anomalies provide valuable information about lateral inhomogeneities within the crust and mantle of the earth. Over 300 earthquakes (distance range 14°–36° and azimuth 0°–360°) recorded at Gauribidanur seismic array (GBA) in southern India, were analysed using adaptive processing techniques. Slowness anomalies upto 1·3 sec/deg and azimuthal anomalies upto 8° have been observed in the present analysis. Slowness anomaly patterns for Java trench, Mid-Indian oceanic ridge earthquakes are more consistent as compared to the events originating in the Himalayan and Hindukush regions. A significant feature of the azimuthal anomaly pattern was the distinct absence of any positive anomalies from earthquakes occurring in mid-oceanic ridge. These anomalies have also been analysed as a function of epicentral distance and are mainly attributed to the transition zones occurring between 400–700 km depth ranges in the Indian upper mantle regions. Relative residuals between the stations of GBA have very little dependence on azimuth and distance. An anomalous structure beneath the array in the direction of the Java trench region (azimuth 116–126°) has been postulated on the basis of large systematic slowness vectors observed.

Body-wave Wave-form Modelling and Source Parameters for the Indochina Border Earthquakes

Wave-form modelling of body waves has been done to study the seismic source parameters of three earthquakes which occurred on October 21, 1964 (Mb=5.9), September 26, 1966 (Mb=5.8) and March 14, 1967 (Mb=5.8). These events occurred in the Indochina border region where a low-angle thrust fault accommodates motion between the underthrusting Indian plate and overlying Himalaya. The focal depths of all these earthquakes are between 12–37 km. The total range in dip for the three events is 5°–20°. TheT axes are NE-SW directed whereas the strikes of the northward dipping nodal planes are generally parallel to the local structural trend. The total source durations have been found to vary between 5–6 seconds. The average values of seismic moment, fault radius and dislocation are 1.0–11.0×1025 dyne-cm, 7.7–8.4km and 9.4–47.4 cm, respectively whereas stress drop, apparent stress and strain energy are found to be 16–76 bars, 8.2–37.9 bars and 0.1–1.7×1021 ergs, respectively. These earthquakes possibly resulted due to the tension caused by the bending of the lithospheric plate into a region of former subduction which is now a zone of thrusting and crustal shortening.

Computation of synthetic seismograms for plane layered earth models including absorption and dispersion phenomena

A computer program package has been written in FORTRAN-IV language and tested successfully on an ICL 1904S computer. This program enables one to compute synthetic seismograms for layered earth models. The provision for studying the effect of absorption and dispersion of seismic waves has been made with Subroutines. The present program utilizes eight Subroutines and requires about 35 K core memory. A set of examples are illustrated for absorption and dispersion models. An exponential decay of amplitude has been used for the absorption model. This method is based on the plane wave propagation in a flat-layered earth system. Normal incident P-waves are used to eliminate the effect of other phases. Change in shape of reflected waves is observed in absorption model due to damping of energy of higher frequencies. Lack of resolution is found between closely spaced reflections at higher frequencies. The effect of dispersion on seismic waves decreases the time of primary reflections as well as amplitudes of the seismic waves.