Shear Wave Splitting Introduction to Shear Wave Splitting Outline
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Introduction to Shear Wave Splitting Introduction to Shear Wave Splitting http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shear_wave_splitting Outline Concept Definitions History Applications Common Misunderstandings Conclusions What is Shear Wave Splitting? When a polarized shear- wave enters an anisotropic medium, it splits into two quasi shear-waves (fast and slow). Shear Wave Splitting (Seismic birefringence) http://garnero.asu.edu/research_images/anis/garnero_splitting.gif History Measurements of P-wave azimuthal velocity variations - Hess, 1964. S-wave anisotropy identified in upper mantle - Ando, 1980 Azimuthally-aligned shear wave splitting- Crampin, 1981 Definitions Microcrack Azimuthally Aligned Polarization Diagrams Microcracks Crack density Azimuthally Aligned the angles that the arrivals or waves make with a reference point are all equal. The waves are approximately parallel: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azimuth Polarization Diagrams (Hodograms) Displays a 2-D projection of the trajectory of a point moving in space. a cross plot of two components of motion over a time window. http://www.crewes.org/ResearchLinks/ExplorerPrograms/Hodogram/Hodogram.html Applications Possible earthquake prediction for earthquakes M 1.7 to M 7.7 CO2 Injection mapping in fractured carbonate reservoirs Common Misunderstandings Polarizations of split shear waves are orthogonal Crack anisotropy always decreases with depth as fluid filled cracks are closed by lithostatic pressure. Signal-to-noise ratios of shear-wave splitting above small earthquakes can be improved by stacking. Conclusion Stress aligned fluid-saturated microcracks are the predominant cause of the nearly universal observations of azimuthally aligned shear wave splitting both in the earth’s crust and in the upper mantle. Questions? .