Daniel Kouba

Mapping the lithosphere–asthenosphere boundary through changes in surface-wave anisotropy

Abstract The alignment of olivine crystals is considered as the dominant source of seismic anisotropy in the subcrustal lithosphere and asthenosphere. Different components of large-scale anisotropy can be traced in depth distributions of the radial and azimuthal anisotropy of surface waves. We propose a global model of the lithosphere–asthenosphere boundary (LAB) as a transition between a ‘frozen-in’ anisotropy in the lithosphere to anisotropy in the sublithospheric mantle related to the present-day flow. Due to different orientations of velocity maxima in the anisotropic subcrustal lithosphere and the asthenosphere, the velocity contrast related to the LAB can increase in particular directions. Because of their long wavelengths and horizontal propagation, surface waves suffer from poor lateral resolution. However, surface waves with various wavelengths allow us to map gross features of the LAB with a good vertical resolution. We estimate depths to the LAB to be between 200 and 250 km for the Precambrian shields and platforms, around 100 km for the Phanerozoic continental regions and 40–70 km beneath oceans from the world-wide depth distribution of the radial and azimuthal anisotropy of surface waves.

Seismic anisotropy of the lithosphere around the Trans-European Suture Zone (TESZ) based on teleseismic body-wave data of the TOR experiment

Abstract A passive teleseismic experiment (TOR), traversing the northern part of the Trans-European Suture Zone (TESZ) in Germany, Denmark and Sweden, recorded data for tomography of the upper mantle with a lateral resolution of few tens of kilometers as well as for a detailed study of seismic anisotropy. A joint inversion of teleseismic P-residual spheres and shear-wave splitting parameters allows us to retrieve the 3D orientation of dipping anisotropic structures in different domains of the sub-crustal lithosphere. We distinguish three major domains of different large-scale fabric divided by first-order sutures cutting the whole lithosphere thickness. The Baltic Shield north of the Sorgenfrei–Tornquist Zone (STZ) is characterised by lithosphere thickness around 175 km and the anisotropy is modelled by olivine aggregate of hexagonal symmetry with the high-velocity (ac) foliation plane striking NW–SE and dipping to NE. Southward of the STZ, beneath the Norwegian–Danish Basin, the lithosphere thins abruptly to about 75 km. In this domain, between the STZ and the so-called Caledonian Deformation Front (CDF), the anisotropic structures strike NE–SW and the high-velocity (ac) foliation dips to NW. To the south of the CDF, beneath northern Germany, we observe a heterogeneous lithosphere with variable thickness and anisotropic structures with high velocity dipping predominantly to SW. Most of the anisotropy observed at TOR stations can be explained by a preferred olivine orientation frozen in the sub-crustal lithosphere. Beneath northern Germany, a part of the shear-wave splitting is probably caused by a present-day flow in the asthenosphere.

Temporary Array Data for Studying Seismic Anisotropy of Variscan Massifs – The Armorican Massif, French Massif Central And Bohemian Massif

We present the first results of a comparison of deep lithosphere structure of three Variscan massifs - the Armorican Massif, French Massif Central and Bohemian Massif, as revealed by recent tomographic studies of seismic anisotropy. The data originate from several field measurements made in temporary arrays of stations equipped with both short-period and broadband seismometers with digital recording. The study is based on teleseismic body waves and a joint inversion of anisotropic data (P-residual spheres, the fast shear-wave polarizations and split times) and demonstrates that the three Variscan massifs appear to consist of at least two parts with different orientation of large-scale fabric derived from seismic anisotropy. The boundaries of anisotropic lithospheric domains are related to prominent tectonic features recognised on the surface as sutures, shear zones or transfer fault zones, as well as grabens, thus indicating that some of them extend deep through the entire lithosphere.

APPLICATION OF DIGITAL FILTERS TO CHECK QUALITY OF THE AUTOMATICALLY SCALED IONOGRAMS

Abstract The ionospheric observatory Pruhonice serves to monitor the state of ionosphere using ground-based vertical sounding instrument - the Digisonde DPS-4D. Measured ionograms are automatically evaluated (scaled) and basic characteristics are derived. The ionograms and the scaled parameters are sent to the international databases. Especially during disturbed conditions the automatic scaling could give unreliable results. This paper presents simple method how to detect accidental errors in automatic scaling based on the parameters derived from ionograms and on an application of the finite impulse response filters.

Pilot Ionosonde Network for Identification of Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances

Travelling Ionospheric Disturbances (TIDs) are the ionospheric signatures of atmospheric gravity waves (AGWs). Their identification and tracking is important because the TIDs affect all services that rely on predictable ionospheric radio wave propagation. Although various techniques have been proposed to measure TID characteristics, their real-time implementation still has several difficulties. In this contribution, we present a new technique, based on the analysis of oblique Digisonde-to-Digisonde (D2D) “skymap” observations, to directly identify TIDs and specify the TID wave parameters based on the measurement of angle-of-arrival, Doppler frequency, and time-of-flight of ionospherically reflected high-frequency (HF) radio pulses. The technique has been implemented for the first time for the Net-TIDE project with data streaming from the network of European Digisonde DPS4D observatories. The performance is demonstrated during a period of moderate auroral activity, assessing its consistency with independent measurements such as data from auroral magnetometers and electron density perturbations from Digisondes and GNSS stations. Given that the different types of measurements used for this assessment were not made at exactly the same time and location, and that there was insufficient coverage in the area between the AGW sources and the measurement locations, we can only consider our interpretation as plausible and indicative for the reliability of the extracted TID characteristics. In the framework of the new TechTIDE project (European Commission H2020), a retrospective analysis of the Net-TIDE results in comparison with those extracted from GNSS TEC-based methodologies is currently being attempted, and the results will be the objective of a follow up paper.

On the dynamics of large‐scale traveling ionospheric disturbances over Europe on 20 November 2003

Ionospheric disturbances, often associated with geomagnetic storms, may cause threats to radio systems used for communication and navigation. One example is the super storm on 20th November 2003, when plenty of strong and unusual perturbations were reported. This paper reveals additional information on the dynamics in the high latitude ionosphere over Europe during this storm. Here, analyses of wavelike Travelling Ionospheric Distrubances (TIDs) over Europe are presented, based on estimates of the Total Electron Content (TEC) derived from ground-based Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) measurements. These TIDs are ionospheric signatures of thermospheric surges initiated by space weather events. The source region of these TIDs is characterized by enhanced spatial gradients, TEC depression, strong uplift of the F2-layer, the vicinity of the eastward auroral electrojet and strong aurora E-layers. Joule heating is identified as the most probable driver for the TIDs observed over Europe during 20th November 2003. The sudden heating of the thermosphere leads to strong changes in the pressure and thermospheric wind circulation system, which in turn generates thermospheric wind surges observed as TID signatures in the TEC. Either the dissipation of the eastward auroral electrojet or particle precipitation are considered as the source mechanism for the Joule heating.In the course of the storm, the TEC observations show a southward shift of the source region of the TIDs. These meridional dislocation effects are obviously related to a strong compression of the plasmasphere. The presented results demonstrate the complex interaction processes in the thermosphere-ionosphere-magnetosphere system during this extreme storm.

Comparison of Digital Filters and GNSS for checking of automatically scaled ionograms

The paper deals with comparison of two different methods for checking of automatically scaled ionograms. The first method is based on application of moving average filters on ionospheric characteristics. The second method uses complementary system for measurement of the ionospheric Total Electron Content (TEC). We show that both methods are comparable. However, the moving average filters based method gives slightly better results.