Feasibility of the Use of 3D Models to Improve Regional Locations in W. China, Central Asia, and Parts of the Middle East
Abstract
We have assembled a data set of nearly 1000 events across Eurasia and N. Africa whose locations and origin times are known with high accuracy. These events which occur in 23 event clusters, the groomed P and Pn arrival time data observed at regional distances, and about 1000 empirical phase path anomalies create a Ground Truth (CT) data base to be used to assess the quality of 3-D models and their applicability to regional locations. We assessed several seismic models of the crust and upper mantle, concentrating on the 1-D model AK135 and the 3-D $v_s$ model CUB2.0, in two ways: (1) the fit of model predicated travel times to the empirical path anomalies and (2) the ability to locate the CT events. The 3-D Vp model converted from CUB2.0 Vs model using the thermoelastic properties of an assumed mantle composition fits regional P and Pn travel times remarkably well. Our findings underscore the importance of GT data bases in assessing 3-D models, and show that global 3-D Vs models provide a sound basis on which to build improvements in regional location capabilities.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 09, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA405941
Entities
People
- Anatoli L. Levshin
- Eric A. Bergman
- Eric R. Engdahl
- Michael H. Ritzwoller
- Nikolai M. Shapiro
Organizations
- University of Colorado Boulder