Seismic Attenuation and Crustal Structure Analysis
Summary
Seismic attenuation refers to the progressive loss of energy as seismic waves travel through the Earth. It reflects the intrinsic absorption and scattering properties of crustal materials, thereby offering insights into temperature, fluid content and heterogeneity within the crust. Analysing the attenuation of distinct wave types, notably high-frequency Lg and Sn phases, allows researchers to map lateral variations in the quality factor (Q) across different tectonic settings. Integrating spectral analysis, two-station amplitude-ratio methods and full waveform modelling, contemporary studies reveal correlations between low Q values and features such as partial melts, sedimentary basins and fluid-rich zones, while high Q values typically characterise cold, stable shields and old cratons. These investigations advance our understanding of crustal architecture, inform seismic hazard assessments and contribute to resource exploration by delineating fluid pathways, melt distributions and thermal anomalies at regional to continental scales.
Research from Nature Portfolio
Recent studies have employed Lg-wave attenuation to resolve fine-scale crustal heterogeneities in collision zones. One investigation along a transect in the Kumaon Himalaya applied back-projection of Lg spectra to derive lateral Q0 variations, revealing extremely low values in fluid-rich thrust zones and elevated values beneath foreland basins, indicative of contrasting sediment thickness and potential partial melt. Another work in eastern North America utilised broadband QLg tomography over multiple frequencies to image the relationship between attenuation and geological provinces. The results highlighted uniform high Q in the ancient shield and pronounced low Q in sediment-filled basins and volcanic terrains, underscoring the influence of crustal composition and heat flow on waveguide efficiency.
Seismic Attenuation and Crustal Structure Analysis publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in seismic attenuation and crustal structure analysis across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Seismic attenuation: Reduction in seismic wave amplitude due to absorption and scattering within Earth materials.
Quality factor (Q): Dimensionless measure of attenuation; low Q indicates strong attenuation, high Q indicates weak attenuation.
Lg wave: High-frequency shear-wave phase trapped in the crust, sensitive to crustal structure.
Sn wave: Shear-wave phase propagating along the Mohorovičić discontinuity, sampling upper mantle properties.
Tomography: Imaging technique that inverts seismic data to reconstruct subsurface property distributions.
Scattering attenuation: Energy loss by redirection of seismic waves at heterogeneities.
Intrinsic attenuation: Energy loss by irreversible conversion to heat through anelastic processes.
References
- Delineation of partial melts and crustal heterogeneities within the crust beneath Kumaon Himalaya, India from Lg wave attenuation. Scientific Reports (2023).
- Lateral Variation of Crustal Lg Attenuation in Eastern North America. Scientific Reports (2018).
- Two-station Lg wave attenuation tomography in Eastern Asia. Geophysical Journal International (2024).
- 2-D Sn wave attenuation tomography beneath the Eastern Himalaya. Geophysical Journal International (2024).
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