Scattering and absorption imaging of a highly fractured fluid-filled seismogenetic volume in a region of slow deformation
Regions of slow strain often produce swarm-like sequences, characterized by the lack of a clear mainshock-aftershock pattern. The comprehension of their underlying physical mechanisms is challenging and still debated. We used seismic recordings from the last Pollino swarm (2010–2014) and nearby to separate and map seismic scattering (from P peak-delays) and absorption (from late-time coda-wave attenuation) at different frequencies in the Pollino range and surroundings. High-scattering and high-absorption anomalies are markers of a fluid-filled fracture volume extending from SE to NW (1.5–6 Hz) across the range. With increasing frequency, these anomalies approximately cover the area where t…
Understanding seismic path biases and magmatic activity at Mount St Helens volcano before its 2004 eruption
SUMMARY In volcanoes, topography, shallow heterogeneity and even shallow morphology can substantially modify seismic coda signals. Coda waves are an essential tool to monitor eruption dynamics and model volcanic structures jointly and independently from velocity anomalies: it is thus fundamental to test their spatial sensitivity to seismic path effects. Here, we apply the Multiple Lapse Time Window Analysis (MLTWA) to measure the relative importance of scattering attenuation vs absorption at Mount St Helens volcano before its 2004 eruption. The results show the characteristic dominance of scattering attenuation in volcanoes at lower frequencies (3–6 Hz), while absorption is the primary atte…
Brief Communication – ALARM: an innovative protocol of educating on seismic risk perception, and its assessment
Abstract. The effectiveness of risk mitigation also depends on how well-prepared and informed society is about the risk itself. The younger generation plays a key role in the scientific awareness of society, representing both the future of society and a conduit to reach and educate their families. We developed a didactic experience, based on Serious Games, dedicated to seismic risk that was tested and, then, implemented during the whole COVID-19 pandemic. Before the start and at the end of any of these activities, an evaluation phase was carried out to assess the learning experience and the effectiveness of the science communication technique.
3-D attenuation image of fluid storage and tectonic interactions across the Pollino fault network
SUMMARYThe Pollino range is a region of slow deformation where earthquakes generally nucleate on low-angle normal faults. Recent studies have mapped fault structures and identified fluid-related dynamics responsible for historical and recent seismicity in the area. Here, we apply the coda-normalization method at multiple frequencies and scales to image the 3-D P-wave attenuation (QP) properties of its slowly deforming fault network. The wide-scale average attenuation properties of the Pollino range are typical for a stable continental block, with a dependence of QP on frequency of $Q_\mathrm{ P}^{-1}=(0.0011\pm 0.0008) f^{(0.36\pm 0.32)}$. Using only waveforms comprised in the area of seism…
New insights into seismic absorption imaging
Abstract In recent years, attenuation has been used as a marker for source and dynamic Earth processes due to its higher sensitivity to small variations of lithospheric properties compared to seismic velocity. From seismic hazard analysis to oil and gas exploration and rock physics, many fields need a better reconstruction of energy absorption, a constituent of seismic attenuation generally considered a reliable marker of fluid saturation in space. Here, we propose absorption tomography (AT), a technique grounded on the principles of scattering tomography and Multiple Lapse Time Window Analysis. We benchmark its efficiency to image absorption in space by comparing its results with those obt…
Crustal Structure of the Seismogenic Volume of the 2010–2014 Pollino (Italy) Seismic Sequence From 3D P- and S-Wave Tomographic Images
A tomographic analysis of Mt. Pollino area (Italy) has been performed using earthquakes recorded in the area during an intense seismic sequence that occurred between 2010 and 2014. 870 local earthquakes with magnitude ranging from 1.8 to 5.0 were selected considering the number of recording stations, the signal quality, and the hypocenter distribution. P- and S-wave arrival times were manually picked and used to compute 3D velocity models through tomographic seismic inversion. The resulting 3D distributions of VP and VS are characterized by high resolution in the central part of the investigated area and from surface to about 10 km below sea level. The aim of the work is to obtain high-qual…