Search

Summary: In this study, we show results from ambient noise tomography around the KTB (Kontinentales Tiefbohrprogramm der Bundesrepublik Deutschland), a continental deep drilling site located at the western edge of the Bohemian Massif, within the Variscan belt of Europe. At the KTB site, crustal rocks have been drilled down to 9 km depth. Before the drilling activity started, several active seismic surveys had been performed to explore its surroundings during the 1980s and early 1990s, in the frame of an extensive exploration of the area aimed at unravelling the characteristics of the continental lower crust that is exposed at surface in this location. Despite the exploration campaigns held at and around the KTB drilling site, there are important targets that are worth further investigation; these are related in particular to the obduction of lower crustal units to the surface, and to the mechanism of orogenic processes in general. Here we present a new 3-D shear wave velocity model of the area from cross-correlations of ambient seismic noise. The model is obtained by a unique data set composed of 2 yr of continuous data recorded at nine 3-component temporary stations (installed from July 2012 to July 2014) located on top and around the drilling site, and together with the data from 19 permanent stations throughout the region. This paper is focusing on the upper crustal layers, and we show velocity variations at short scales that correlate well with known geological structures in the region of the KTB site, at the surface and at depth. These are used to discuss features that are less well-resolved at present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the beginning of the 1990s, absolute gravity has been observed at several locations in Norway with FG5-type instruments to investigate the temporal gravity changes due to glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA). Previous work suggests that some of the estimated secular gravity trends may be affected by remaining unmodelled geophysical effects, such as the effect of local hydrology. In this work, we compute hydrological gravity effects from global hydrological models for the far zone and a combination of regional run-off models and modelling of residual hydrological effects for the near zone. The method developed in this paper is first tested at the geodetic observatory in Wettzell, Germany, where both high-resolution superconducting gravimeter data as well as a regional hydrological model are available. Next, the method is transferred to two Norwegian gravity sites (NMBU and TRYC), with long time-series of frequent absolute gravity observations using FG5-226. At these sites, we investigate the impact of the hydrological gravity correction on data variability as well as estimated secular gravity trends. We find that the data variability is reduced by up to 40 per cent when applying the modelled hydrological gravity effect at TRYC. The reduction is less at NMBU where the amplitude of the hydrological signal and in consequence also the signal-to-noise ratio are smaller. We also note that it is challenging to determine the near zone residual hydrological effects without carefully taking into account the hydrogeological setting of the area for modelling such effects. When utilizing the long corrected absolute gravity series to determine the gravity trends, we find that the estimated trends are not significantly different from the uncorrected observations. However, the uncertainty of the estimated trends is reduced significantly for a limited corrected gravity series. We further suggest repeatability analysis of the absolute gravimeter. From the long time-series at NMBU we find a significant step coinciding with hardware replacement. We find that the fit between observed and modelled secular trends improves when introducing the step. Further analysis of gravity rates at other stations is needed to verify the existence of a real instrumental offset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current crustal stress field is of key importance to understand geodynamic processes and to assess stability aspects during subsurface usage. To provide a 3-D continuous description of the stress state, linear elastic forward geomechanical-numerical models are used. These models solve the equilibrium of forces between gravitational volume forces and surfaces forces imposed mainly by plate tectonics. The latter are responsible for the horizontal stress anisotropy and impose the inverse problem to estimate horizontal displacement boundary conditions that provide a fit best to horizontal stress magnitude data within the model volume. However, horizontal stress magnitude data have high uncertainties and they are sparse, clustered and not necessarily representative for a larger rock volume. Even when Bayesian statistics are incorporated and additional stress information such as borehole failure observations or formation integrity test are used to further constrain the solution space, this approach may result in a low accuracy of the model results, that is the result is not correct. Here, we present an alternative approach that removes the dependence of the solution space based on stress magnitude data to avoid potential low accuracy. Initially, a solution space that contains all stress states that are physically reasonable is defined. Stress magnitude data and the additional stress information are then used in a Bayesian framework to evaluate which solutions are more likely than others. We first show and validate our approach with a generic truth model and then apply it to a case study of the Molasse foreland basin of the Alps in Southern Germany. The results show that the model's ability to predict a reliable stress state is increasing while the number of likely solutions may also increase, and that outlier of stress magnitude data can be identified. This alternative approach results in a substantial increase in computational speed as we perform most of the calculations analytically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In near-surface surveys, shallow-seismic and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) full-waveform inversions (FWIs) have received increasing attention because of their ability to reconstruct high-resolution subsurface models. However, they have different sensitivities to the same targets and thus may yield conflicting geophysical parameter models. To solve this issue, we have developed an indirect joint petrophysical inversion (JPI) integrating shallow-seismic and multi-offset GPR data. These data are used to reconstruct porosity and saturation whereby we use only strong sensitivities between petrophysical and geophysical parameters. To promote its field application, we proposed an input strategy to avoid measuring rock matrix parameters and make indirect JPI more robust. We apply indirect JPI to the field data acquired in Rheinstetten, Germany and find that it reveals the mechanical, electrical and petrophysical properties more reliably than individual inversions. The reconstructed models are assessed by direct-push technology, borehole sample measurements and migrated GPR image. Indirect JPI can fit seismic and GPR observed data simultaneously and provide consistent multiparameter models, which are hard to achieve by FWIs and individual petrophysical inversions. We also find that the method is robust when there are uncertainties in petrophysical a priori information. Overall, the field example proves the great potential of using indirect JPI to solve real-world problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anomalies of the Earth's total magnetic field reveal important information about crustal structures. For the first time, a homogenous map of anomalies of the Earth's total magnetic field for the whole of Germany is available. The map is based on 50 shipborne, airborne and ground surveys, which were conducted between 1960 and 1990 and complemented by 17 new surveys after German reunification. The map, with a grid spacing of 100 m, consistently images the entire anomaly pattern in Germany at an altitude of 1000 m a.s.l. related to the DGRF 1980, epoch 1980.0. Because of these reference parameters and consideration of new data, the resolution of this map is higher than any previously published map. The homogenized and complete data set enables the distinction of different magnetic anomalies and - by observing their vector character - the identification of magnetic sources from different stages of the geological history. Since the map images the superposition of magnetic source anomalies from different depths and therefore combines long- and short-wavelength spectrums within one data set, it offers new insights into crustal structures. Not only regional tectonic units, such as the Variscan terranes in south and central Germany, or the extent of old Scandinavian crust under North Germany, as a relict of the collision between Baltica and Avalonia are imaged, but also details of local structures such as the volcanic areas of the Vogelsberg and the Eifel region. Therefore, the new data set can be used for work on modern topics in geosciences that cover both fundamental and applied research - for example, the structural and petrophysical characterization of the crust, its rheology and geodynamic evolution, or even hydrocarbon exploration. The gridded data is available as an electronic supplement to this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tesseral coefficients C21 and S21 derived from Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) observations allow to compute the mass term of the polar-motion excitation function. This independent estimation can improve the geophysical models and, in addition, determine the unmodelled phenomena. In this paper, we intend to validate the polar motion excitation derived from GRACE's last release (GRACE Release 4) computed by different institutes: GeoForschungsZentrum (GFZ), Postdam, Germany; Center for Space Research (CSR), Austin, USA; Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Pasadena, USA, and the Groupe de Recherche en Géodésie Spatiale (GRGS), Toulouse, France. For this purpose, we compare these excitations functions first to the mass term obtained from observed Earth's rotation variations free of the motion term and, second, to the mass term estimated from geophysical fluids models. We confirm the large improvement of the CSR solution, and we show that the GRGS estimate is also well correlated with the geodetic observations. Significant discrepancies exist between the solutions of each centre. The source of these differences is probably related to the data processing strategy. We also consider residuals computed after removing the geophysical models or the gravimetric solutions from the geodetic mass term. We show that the residual excitation based on models is smoother than the gravimetric data, which are still noisy. Still, they are comparable for the χ2 component. It appears that χ2 residual signals using GFZ and JPL data have less variability. Finally, for assessing the impact of the geophysical fluids models choice on our results, we checked two different oceanic excitation series. We show the significant differences in the residuals correlations, especially for the χ1 more sensitive to the oceanic signals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper, complementing the recent 1-D Pn time-term analysis of , presents tomographic inversions of regional Pn traveltimes to image lateral variations of seismic velocity and anisotropy within the uppermost mantle beneath Germany. As such our study fills a gap of previous regional 2-D anisotropic Pn studies for France and Italy by expanding anisotropic Pn tomography to a continental scale covering much of Europe. In a novel way, the resolving power of the used Pn tomography system is investigated through a series of checkerboard tests combined with tradeoff analyses between resolution and covariance of the models. Methodologically important and commonly interesting problems of seismic tomography are addressed with the data set, such as model parametrization for a given source-receiver configuration, effects of time terms on the model parameters, and ambiguity between lateral velocity perturbations and anisotropy. The reliability and significance of various inversion models (1-D, 2-D, isotropic, anisotropic) is investigated in detail using statistical F tests. The latter indicate that, while both 2-D isotropic and anisotropic models provide better fits of the Pn data than a standard homogeneous, isotropic upper mantle, the most significant improvement arises from a large-scale 1-D anisotropy ellipsoid with the fast Pn-velocity axis in 25°NE direction. This result correlates well with a number of trends related to upper mantle and plate dynamics, for example, major plate motion. Besides this anisotropic dominant traveltime pattern, we observe a number of lateral velocity anomalies. Lower than average velocities were detected in the southwestern Rhenish massif (but not in the area of the Eifel plume), similar to findings for the adjacent region in France. In addition, lower velocities are seen in parts of the Alps and in a region along the upper Main river, south of the Rhön. However, the most striking Pn anomalies are associated with prominent high velocity anomalies in the Ingolstadt region and an area centred between the Harz and the Vogelsberg, where perturbations of up to +5 per cent are found. As a possible mechanism for these features we consider underplating within ancient plume activity. In addition, results for the time-term station delays are consistent with findings of crustal structure in other studies with different methodologies and data, and indicate, for example, crustal updoming of the Moho in the southern Rhine graben around the Kaiserstuhl area, but crustal thickening towards the Alps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rotational seismology opens a new avenue to study the deep interior of the Earth. Using data from the Wettzell Observatorium, Germany, where a ring laser gyroscope and a 3-component translational broadband seismometer are co-located, we report the presence of clear S, ScS and SdS signals on both rotational and translational seismograms. Using S wave arrivals, we propose a new methodology to extract information on velocity changes in the Earth mantle and we show that, by combining both translational and rotational data, we are able to solve the well known velocity-depth ambiguity inherent to classical inverse problems. The methodology is validated using ray theory and 2.5-D finite-difference synthetics. We provide a proof-of-concept showing that future studies of the Earth's deep interior can be improved by combining translational and rotational records. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many geophysical inverse problems are known to be ill-posed and, thus, requiring some kind of regularization in order to provide a unique and stable solution. A possible approach to overcome the inversion ill-posedness consists in constraining the position of the model interfaces. For a grid-based parameterization, such a structurally constrained inversion can be implemented by adopting the usual smooth regularization scheme in which the local weight of the regularization is reduced where an interface is expected. By doing so, sharp contrasts are promoted at interface locations while standard smoothness constraints keep affecting the other regions of the model. In this work, we present a structurally constrained approach and test it on the inversion of frequency-domain electromagnetic induction (FD-EMI) data using a regularization approach based on the Minimum Gradient Support stabilizer, which is capable to promote sharp transitions everywhere in the model, i.e., also in areas where no structural a priori information is available. Using 1D and 2D synthetic data examples, we compare the proposed approach to a structurally constrained smooth inversion as well as to more standard (i.e., not structurally constrained) smooth and sharp inversions. Our results demonstrate that the proposed approach helps in finding a better and more reliable reconstruction of the subsurface electrical conductivity distribution, including its structural characteristics. Furthermore, we demonstrate that it allows to promote sharp parameter variations in areas where no structural information are available. Lastly, we apply our structurally constrained scheme to FD-EMI field data collected at a field site in Eastern Germany to image the thickness of peat deposits along two selected profiles. In this field example, we use collocated constant offset ground-penetrating radar (GPR) data to derive structural a priori information to constrain the inversion of the FD-EMI data. The results of this case study demonstrate the effectiveness and flexibility of the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies of controlled hydraulic stimulation experiments with active and passive seismic monitoring conducted in Underground Research Laboratories (URLs) benefit from specific knowledge of hydraulic parameters, close by microseismic monitoring revealing structural details of the rock mass, and detailed evolution of seismicity in response to injection operations. Microseismic monitoring is commonly used to characterize a stimulated reservoir volume, for example, in terms of damage evolution of the rock mass. Since seismic attenuation is affected by damage of the rock volume, active seismic sources covering sizes from the centimetre to decimetre scale may help us to investigate space–time varying attenuation properties in a reservoir. This may allow us to monitor damage evolution of the stimulated rock volume in more detail, also since active seismic sources produce stronger signals leading to a broader frequency range that can be analysed compared to passive seismic signals. Within the STIMTEC project in the URL Reiche Zeche (URL-RZ) in Freiberg (Germany), more than 300 active Ultrasonic Transmission (UT) measurements were performed before and after hydraulic stimulations in two boreholes in the targeted rock volume, an anisotropic metamorphic gneiss. The signal-frequency content ranges between 1 and 60 kHz. Assuming scattering attenuation to dominate over intrinsic attenuation, we here apply the single isotropic scattering model. S -coda waves of 88 spatially representative UT measurements are used to estimate the coda quality factor (Q C). We obtain stable Q C estimates for centre frequencies of octave-width frequency bands between 3 and 21 kHz. We group neighbouring UT measurements to stabilize the observations and form eight UT groups in total, covering different depth intervals in three boreholes and four different time periods to investigate scattering attenuation changes in a spatiotemporal manner. Our final mean Q C (⁠|$\overline {{Q}_C} $|⁠) estimates show characteristic frequency-dependence as observed at the field scale in geological reservoirs. We find temporal variations of Q C are strongly connected to hydraulic stimulation, and these variations are more significant than those resolved from velocity changes. |$\overline {{Q}_C} $| estimates at frequencies above 15 kHz indicate healing of injection-induced small-scale fractures during a two-months post-stimulation phase. Larger fractures, mostly sampled by lower frequencies (<15 kHz), seem to be more persistent with time (over 15 months). We observe spatial differences of |$\overline {{Q}_C} $| values near the mine galleries (driftway and vein drift) and relate these observations to different extents and characteristics of the galleries' excavation damage zones. Our results further support previous assumptions based on borehole televiewer logs and mapped structures of an existing fault with larger damage zone that crosses the stimulated rock volume NW-SE between the galleries. We conclude that the coda analysis of active UT measurements complements established imaging methods used during experiments in URLs. In particular, coda analysis is a powerful tool for the detection of damage zones and for monitoring local fracture networks with immediate application for imaging georeservoirs considered for exploitation or underground storage of gases and liquids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we investigate methodological development and application of viscoelastic full waveform inversion to a multicomponent source and receiver data set at the near-surface scale. The target is located in Germany and lies in an ancient war trench from the War of the Spanish Succession that was buried at approximately 1 m depth. We present the pre-processing of the data, including a matching filter correction to compensate for different source and receiver coupling conditions during the acquisition, as well as a dedicated multistep workflow for the reconstruction of both P -wave and S -wave velocities. Our implementation is based on viscoelastic modelling using a spectral element discretization to accurately account for the wave propagation complexity in this shallow region. We illustrate the inversion stability by starting from different initial models, either based on dispersion curve analysis or homogeneous models consistent with first arrivals. We recover similar results in both cases. We also illustrate the importance of accounting for the attenuation by comparing elastic and viscoelastic results. The 3-D results make it possible to recover and locate the trench precisely in terms of interpretation. They also exhibit another trench structure, in a direction forming an angle at 45° with the direction of the targeted trench. This new structure had been previously interpreted as an artifact in former 2-D inversion results. The archaeological interpretation of this new structure is still a matter of discussion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tilting of the ground due to loading by the variable atmosphere is known to corrupt very long period horizontal seismic records (below 10 mHz) even at the quietest stations. At BFO (Black Forest Observatory, SW-Germany), the opportunity arose to study these disturbances on a variety of simultaneously operated state-of-the-art broad-band sensors. A series of time windows with clear atmospherically caused effects was selected and attempts were made to model these 'signals' in a deterministic way. This was done by simultaneously least-squares fitting the locally recorded barometric pressure and its Hilbert transform to the ground accelerations in a bandpass between 100 and 3600 s periods. Variance reductions of up to 97 per cent were obtained. We show our results by combining the 'specific pressure induced accelerations' for the two horizontal components of the same sensor as vectors on a horizontal plane, one for direct pressure and one for its Hilbert transform. It turned out that at BFO the direct pressure effects are large, strongly position dependent and largely independent of atmospheric events for instruments installed on piers, while three post-hole sensors are only slightly affected. The infamous 'cavity effects' are invoked to be responsible for these large effects on the pier sensors. On the other hand, in the majority of cases all sensors showed very similar magnitudes and directions for the vectors obtained for the regression with the Hilbert transform, but highly variable from event to event especially in direction. Therefore, this direction most certainly has to do with the gradient of the pressure field moving over the station which causes a larger scale deformation of the crust. The observations are very consistent with these two fundamental mechanisms of how fluctuations of atmospheric surface pressure causes tilt noise. The results provide a sound basis for further improvements of the models for these mechanisms. The methods used here can already help to reduce atmospherically induced noise in long-period horizontal seismic records. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present palaeo- and rock magnetic results from a well-dated, 21 m-thick, Late Pleistocene continental sedimentary section located in southern Germany. Rock magnetic measurements reveal a complex magnetic mineralogy dominated by low coercivity minerals likely related to single domain biogenic magnetite and biogenic or early diagenetic greigite. In the lower part of the section also detrital haematite is present. The stable remanence shows predominantly normal polarity with two marked deviations at ∼1280-1200 cm and at 886 cm profile depth. Whereas the lower excursion is well established by several samples and documented also by detrital haematite, the upper one is only represented by a single sample and revealed by magnetite and greigite. Using the radiocarbon-based age model for the section, the lower excursion yields an age of 42.8–41.3 ka cal BP and is interpreted to represent the Laschamps geomagnetic excursion. The increased abundance of greigite in the upper part of the section, especially in the sample responsible for the upper anomalous direction, renders the interpretation of an actual excursion problematic due to the reducing environment necessary for the greigite formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrical anisotropy of formations has been long recognized by field and laboratory evidence. However, most interpretations of long-offset transient electromagnetic (LOTEM) data are based on the assumption of an electrical isotropic earth. Neglecting electrical anisotropy of formations may cause severe misleading interpretations in regions with strong electrical anisotropy. During a large scale LOTEM survey in a former mining area in Eastern Germany, data was acquired over black shale formations. These black shales are expected to produce a pronounced bulk anisotropy. Here, we investigate the effects of electrical anisotropy on LOTEM responses through numerical simulation using a finite-volume time-domain (FVTD) algorithm. On the basis of isotropic models obtained from LOTEM field data, various anisotropic models are developed and analysed. Numerical results demonstrate that the presence of electrical anisotropy has a significant influence on LOTEM responses. Based on the numerical modelling results, an isolated deep conductive anomaly presented in the 2-D isotropic LOTEM electric field data inversion result is identified as a possible artifact introduced by using an isotropic inversion scheme. Trial-and-error forward modelling of the LOTEM electric field data using an anisotropic conductivity model can explain the data and results in a reasonable quantitative data fit. The derived anisotropic 2-D model is consistent with the prior geological information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local small-scale heterogeneities, like geological inhomogeneities, surface topographies and cavities are known to affect seismic wavefield gradients. This effect is in fact measurable with current instruments. For example, the agreement between data and synthetics computed in a tomographic model is often not as good for rotation as it is for displacement. Here, we use the theory of homogenization to explain why small-scale heterogeneities strongly affect wavefield gradients, but not the wavefield itself. We show that at any receiver measuring wavefield gradient, small-scale heterogeneities cause the wavefield gradient to couple with strain through a coupling tensor J. Furthermore, we show that this J is (1) independent of source, (2) independent of time, but (3) only dependent on the receiver location. Consequently, we can invert for J based on an effective model for which synthetics fit displacement data reasonably well. Once inverted, J can be used to correct rotations at that receiver for other sources. Results of the correction are shown for synthetic rotational receivers and for the ring laser located in Wettzell, Germany. We find that compared to synthetics, the synthetics corrected through J are a better fit to the rotation data. Although results here are derived for rotations, they can be extended to receivers measuring any wavefield gradient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The broad-band surface wave magnitude equation assigns magnitudes based on source–receiver distance and peak surface wave amplitude. It is standard practice to use the vertical component of peak ground velocity to determine magnitude, such that only contributions from the vertical motion of Rayleigh waves are present in the surface wave train. With the advent of rotational ground motion observations from instruments such as ring laser gyroscopes, it is possible to measure rotational ground motions about three orthogonal axes. For surface waves, observations of rotations about the vertical axis are theoretically only sensitive to the transverse nature of Love waves, unaffected by either component of Rayleigh waves. We use this concept to separate and study the amplitude information of surface waves independently. With a large database of recorded seismic waveforms for colocated translations and rotations, collected in Wettzell, Germany, we empirically define magnitude scale attenuation constants as a method for quantifying amplitude decay. Through this differential analysis, we determine a necessity for separate surface wave magnitude equations through measurements of translations and rotations. Synthetic seismograms were concurrently produced using an open-source spectral-element wave propagation code, for comparisons against observations. Although synthetically derived amplitude decays agree for translations, they do not accurately predict the decay found for rotations. Synthetics also overpredict amplitudes for both rotations and translations. Results from observations imply that rotation amplitudes decay faster over distance with respect to velocity amplitudes, and that the current surface wave magnitude equation is insufficient for predicting observed translation and rotation amplitudes. We attribute variations in amplitude decay characteristics to the different effects of attenuation on Love and Rayleigh waves, with potential influence from local velocity structure and scattering effects. The lack of agreement in synthetics is attributed to the insufficiency of synthetic attenuation and velocity structure to replicate the effects seen in observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence of deep low-frequency (DLF) microearthquakes beneath volcanoes is commonly attributed to mass transport in the volcanic plumbing system and used to infer feeding channels from and into magma reservoirs. The key question is how magmas migrate from depth to the shallow crust and whether magma reservoirs are currently being recharged. For the first time since the improvement of the local seismic networks in the East Eifel region (Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany), we detect and locate recurrent DLF earthquakes in the lower crust and upper mantle beneath the Laacher See Volcano (LSV), using a joint data set of permanent sensors and a temporary deployment. So far, eight DLF earthquake sequences were observed in four distinct clusters between 10 and 40 km depth. These clusters of weak events (ML < 2) align along an approximately 80° southeast dipping line south of the LSV. Moment tensor solutions of these events have large shear components, and the irregular dispersion and long coda of body waves indicate interaction processes between shear cracks and fluids. We find a rotation of P -axes orientation for shallow tectonic earthquakes compared to DLF events, indicating that the stress field in the depth interval of DLF events might favour a vertical migration of magma or magmatic fluids. The caldera of the LSV was formed by the last major eruption of the East Eifel Volcanic Field only 12.9 kyr ago, fed by a shallow magma chamber at 5–8 km depth and erupting a total magma volume of 6.7 km3. The observed DLF earthquake activity and continuous volcanic gas emissions around the LSV indicate an active magmatic system, possibly connected with an upper mantle melt zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, frequency-dependent seismic scattering and intrinsic attenuation parameters for the crustal structure beneath the W-Bohemia/Vogtland swarm earthquake region close to the border of Czech Republic and Germany are estimated. Synthetic seismogram envelopes are modelled using elastic and acoustic radiative transfer theory. Scattering and absorption parameters are determined by fitting these synthetic envelopes to observed seismogram envelopes from 14 shallow local events from the October 2008W-Bohemia/Vogtland earthquake swarm. The two different simulation approaches yield similar results for the estimated crustal parameters and show a comparable frequency dependence of both transport mean free path and intrinsic absorption path length. Both methods suggest that intrinsic attenuation is dominant over scattering attenuation in the W-Bohemia/Vogtland region for the investigated epicentral distance range and frequency bands from 3 to 24 Hz. Elastic simulations of seismogram envelopes suggest that forward scattering is required to explain the data, however, the degree of forward scattering is not resolvable. Errors in the parameter estimation are smaller in the elastic case compared to results from the acoustic simulations. The frequency decay of the transport mean free path suggests a random medium described by a nearly exponential autocorrelation function. The fluctuation strength and correlation length of the random medium cannot be estimated independently, but only a combination of the parameters related to the transport mean free path of the medium can be computed. Furthermore, our elastic simulations show, that using our numerical method, it is not possible to resolve the value of the mean free path of the random medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The area of the 9.1-km-deep Continental Deep Drillhole (KTB) in Germany is used as a case study for a geothermal reservoir situated in folded and faulted metamorphic crystalline crust. The presented approach is based on the analysis of 3-D seismic reflection data combined with borehole data and hydrothermal numerical modelling. The KTB location exemplarily contains all elements that make seismic prospecting in crystalline environment often more difficult than in sedimentary units, basically complicated tectonics and fracturing and low-coherent strata. In a first step major rock units including two known nearly parallel fault zones are identified down to a depth of 12 km. These units form the basis of a gridded 3-D numerical model for investigating temperature and fluid flow. Conductive and advective heat transport takes place mainly in a metamorphic block composed of gneisses and metabasites that show considerable differences in thermal conductivity and heat production. Therefore, in a second step, the structure of this unit is investigated by seismic waveform modelling. The third step of interpretation consists of applying wavenumber filtering and log-Gabor-filtering for locating fractures. Since fracture networks are the major fluid pathways in the crystalline, we associate the fracture density distribution with distributions of relative porosity and permeability that can be calibrated by logging data and forward modelling of the temperature field. The resulting permeability distribution shows values between 10-16 and 10-19 m2 and does not correlate with particular rock units. Once thermohydraulic rock properties are attributed to the numerical model, the differential equations for heat and fluid transport in porous media are solved numerically based on a finite difference approach. The hydraulic potential caused by topography and a heat flux of 54 mW m-2 were applied as boundary conditions at the top and bottom of the model. Fluid flow is generally slow and mainly occurring within the two fault zones. Thus, our model confirms the previous finding that diffusive heat transport is the dominant process at the KTB site. Fitting the observed temperature-depth profile requires a correction for palaeoclimate of about 4 K at 1 km depth. Modelled and observed temperature data fit well within 0.2 °C bounds. Whereas thermal conditions are suitable for geothermal energy production, hydraulic conditions are unfavourable without engineered stimulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents P- and S-wave velocity variations for the upper mantle in southern Scandinavia and northern Germany based on teleseismic traveltime tomography. Tectonically, this region includes the entire northern part of the prominent Tornquist Zone which follows along the transition from old Precambrian shield units to the east to younger Phanerozoic deep sedimentary basins to the southwest. We combine data from several separate temporary arrays/profiles (276 stations) deployed over a period of about 15 yr and permanent networks (31 stations) covering the areas of Denmark, northern Germany, southern Sweden and southern Norway. By performing an integrated P- and S-traveltime analysis, we obtain the first high-resolution combined 3-D VP and VS models, including variations in the VP/VS ratio, for the whole of this region of study. Relative station mean traveltime residuals vary within ±1 s for P wave and ±2 s for S wave, with early arrivals in shield areas of southern Sweden and later arrivals in the Danish and North German Basins, as well as in most of southern Norway. In good accordance with previous, mainly P-velocity models, a marked upper-mantle velocity boundary (UMVB) is accurately delineated between shield areas (with high seismic mantle velocity) and basins (with lower velocity). It continues northwards into southern Norway near the Oslo Graben area and further north across the Southern Scandes Mountains. This main boundary, extending to a depth of at least 300 km, is even more pronounced in our new S-velocity model, with velocity contrasts of up to ±2-3 per cent. It is also clearly reflected in the VP/VS ratio. Differences in this ratio of up to about ±2 per cent are observed across the boundary, with generally low values in shield areas to the east and relatively higher values in basin areas to the southwest and in most of southern Norway. Differences in the VP/VS ratio are believed to be a rather robust indicator of upper-mantle compositional differences. For the depth interval of about 100-300 km, thick, depleted, relatively cold shield lithosphere is indicated in southern Sweden, contrasting with more fertile, warm mantle asthenosphere beneath most of the basins in Denmark and northern Germany. Both compositional and temperature differences seem to play a significant role in explaining the UMVB between southern Norway and southern Sweden. In addition to the main regional upper-mantle velocity contrasts, a number of more local anomaly features are also outlined and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regarding the exploitation of natural resources, storage of waste or subsurface construction, there is an increasing need to obtain comprehensive knowledge about the subsurface and its temporal changes. We investigate the possibility of a passive monitoring using ambient seismic noise, which is cheap and continuous compared to active seismics. We work with data acquired with a seismic network in Ketzin (Germany) where 67 271 tons of CO2 were injected from 2008 June until 2013 August into a saline aquifer at a depth of about 650 m. Monitoring the expansion of the CO2 plume is essential for the characterization of the reservoir as well as the detection of potential leakage. By cross-correlating about 4 yr of passive seismic data in a frequency range of 0.05-4.5 Hz we found periodic velocity variations with a period of approximately 1 yr that cannot be caused by the CO2 injection. The prominent direction of the noise wavefield indicates a wind farm as the dominant source providing the temporally stable noise field. This spacial stability excludes variations of the noise source distribution as a cause of spurious velocity variations. Based on an amplitude decrease associated with time windows towards later parts of the coda, we show that the variations must be generated in the shallow subsurface. A comparison to groundwater level data reveals a direct correlation between depth of the groundwater level and the seismic velocity. The influence of ground frost on the seismic velocities is documented by a sharp increase of velocity when the maximum daily temperature stays below 0°C. Although the observed periodic changes and the changes due to ground frost affect only the shallow subsurface, they mask potential signals of material changes from the reservoir depths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Upper mantle anisotropy beneath Germany is investigated through the measurements and analysis of shear-wave splitting using SKS phases. We analysed teleseismic events recorded by 24 broadband stations of the German Regional Seismic Network (GRSN) and three broadband stations of the Gräfenberg-Array (GRF). These permanent German networks cover an area extending from the Alps in the south up to the Northern German basin towards north. In comparison to several former studies that are based either on short observation periods or that are restricted to limited areas of Germany, we resort to 22 yr of the GRSN (1991–2012) and 34 yr of GRF data archive (1979–2012). Due to the huge amount of data, we applied a fully automatic procedure to determine SKS splitting parameters from archived recordings and also applied strong quality constraints to obtain reliable solutions. From our analysis, two main features are obvious: For the stations in the middle and southern part of Germany we found homogeneous E–W to ENE–WSW fast-axis directions. In contrast, stations in NE-Germany exhibit a NW–SE oriented fast axis. Both findings can be correlated to major tectonic features in Central Europe. The E–W to ENE–WSW orientations in the middle and southern part of Germany are nearly parallel to the strike of the Variscan mountain belts, whereas the NW–SE direction in NE-Germany corresponds to the orientation of the nearby Tornquist-Teisseyre suture zone. For the southern part of Germany, there are indications for an alignment of the fast axis parallel to the curvature of the nearby Alps. Apart from the more large-scale features there are two stations (BFO and CLZ) which seem to have an imprint related to the regional geodynamic setting, namely the rifting in the Southern Rhine Graben and the formation of the Harz Mountains, respectively. We conclude that the observed regional variations of splitting parameter over Germany advocate for a mostly lithospheric route of the anisotropy. Furthermore, variations of the splitting parameters with respect to the azimuths of the incoming waves, as observed at some stations, point to vertical varying anisotropy. For some stations (BFO, RUE) the inversions for two anisotropic layers revealed directions of the fast axes that are similar to the strike directions of the surrounding tectonic units. For other stations, the confidence regions are too large for a tectonic interpretation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Time-dependent probabilistic seismic hazard assessment requires a stochastic description of earthquake occurrences. While short-term seismicity models are well-constrained by observations, the recurrences of characteristic on-fault earthquakes are only derived from theoretical considerations, uncertain palaeo-events or proxy data. Despite the involved uncertainties and complexity, simple statistical models for a quasi-period recurrence of on-fault events are implemented in seismic hazard assessments. To test the applicability of statistical models, such as the Brownian relaxation oscillator or the stress release model, we perform a systematic comparison with deterministic simulations based on rate- and state-dependent friction, high-resolution representations of fault systems and quasi-dynamic rupture propagation. For the specific fault network of the Lower Rhine Embayment, Germany, we run both stochastic and deterministic model simulations based on the same fault geometries and stress interactions. Our results indicate that the stochastic simulators are able to reproduce the first-order characteristics of the major earthquakes on isolated faults as well as for coupled faults with moderate stress interactions. However, we find that all tested statistical models fail to reproduce the characteristics of strongly coupled faults, because multisegment rupturing resulting from a spatiotemporally correlated stress field is underestimated in the stochastic simulators. Our results suggest that stochastic models have to be extended by multirupture probability distributions to provide more reliable results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY A 3-km-long wide-angle seismic survey across the Salzach Valley in the Eastern Alps, Austria, provides a detailed characterization of its structure. Reflection-and-refraction traveltime tomography with adaptive gridding was applied to obtain a minimum-structure model. More detailed images of the valley fill were derived by acoustic full waveform inversion. A multiscale frequency-domain method was applied to data in the 4-26 Hz range to improve the resolution from several hundred metres to less than fifty metres. The starting frequency is unusually low for the size of the survey, and it provides additional control of the long-wavelengths of the background model, which mitigates the non-linearities of the inversion. The final image is controlled by independent constraints from resistivity data and shallow wells. It shows a confined upper aquifer that overlies a 150-m-thick unsaturated zone. No strong evidence was found for consolidated sediments at the bottom of the basin. This, and the large maximum depth to bedrock of 480 m, suggests that the valley fill was repeatedly removed during strong glacial periods, exposing the bedrock to deep erosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY Passive seismic interferometry is a new promising methodology for seismic exploration. Interferometry allows information about the subsurface structure to be extracted from ambient seismic noise. In this study, we apply the cross-correlation technique to approximately 25 hr of recordings of ambient seismic noise at the Ketzin experimental CO2 storage site, Germany. Common source gathers were generated from the ambient noise for all available receivers along two seismic lines by cross-correlation of noise records. This methodology isolates the interstation Green's functions that can be directly compared to active source gathers. We show that the retrieved response includes surface waves, refracted waves and reflected waves. We use the dispersive behaviour of the retrieved surface waves to infer geological properties in the shallow subsurface and perform passive seismic imaging of the subsurface structure by processing the retrieved reflected waves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY Geological storage of CO2 is one means of mitigating the effects of continued burning of fossil fuels for power generation. An important component in the storage concept is the monitoring of the CO2 distribution at depth. Seismic methods can play a significant role in this monitoring, in particular cross-well methods are of interest due to their high resolution. For these purposes, a series of cross-well seismic surveys were acquired within the framework of the CO2SINK project at Ketzin, Germany, at various stages of an injection test. We study here the potential of applying cross-well seismic waveform tomography to monitor the CO2 injection process. First, we test the method on synthetic data having a similar geometry to that of the real data. After successful application on the synthetic data, we test the method on the real data acquired at the Ketzin Site. Traveltime tomography images of the real data show no observable differences between the surveys. However, seismic waveform tomography difference images show significant differences. A number of these differences are artefacts that can probably be attributed to inconsistent receiver coupling between the different surveys. However, near the injection horizon, below the caprock, a velocity decrease is present that is consistent with that expected from the injection process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY The North German Conductivity Anomaly was detected already in the early years of electromagnetic deep sounding. It refers to the reversal of induction arrows (as a graphical representation of the tipper transfer function, the ratio of vertical to horizontal magnetic field variations) at the northern and southern margins of the North German Basin. In spite of the many experiments carried out so far, its origin has remained ambiguous; explanations encompass a deep-crustal or even mantle source as well as the simple response to deepening of sedimentary sequences in the centre of the basin. Here, we report on modelling of new long-period magnetotelluric data collected along two profiles in NE Germany and S Sweden, with one transect crossing the Sorgenfrei-Tornquist Zone as the main boundary between Precambrian Baltica and the Palaeozoic belts of central Europe. With the exception of a few sites probably influenced by 3-D salt domes, the data allow a 2-D analysis. Resolution is reduced for large depths due to a well-conducting, saline aquifer, extending across the entire basin. The main result is that the reversal of induction arrows can largely be explained by the resistivity contrast between crystalline basement and sedimentary basin fill. Beneath Rügen island, a southward dipping conductor is interpreted to reflect an alum shale layer in Middle Cambrian-Lower Ordovician sediments. Beneath the southern basin, a moderately conductive upper mantle is modelled (although not very well resolved) which may reflect the thinning of the lithosphere as implied by seismic tomography. As the main anomalously inductive effect is primarily explained by the basin edges and numerous other anomalies exist inside the basin, we suggest not using the term 'North German Conductivity Anomaly' any longer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An approach for the evaluation of local hydrological modelling is presented: the deployment of temporal terrestrial gravity measurements and gravimetric 3-D modelling in addition to hydrological point observations. Of particular interest is to what extent such information can be used to improve the understanding of hydrological process dynamics and to evaluate hydrological models. Because temporal gravity data contain integral information about hydrological mass changes they can be considered as a valuable augmentation to traditional hydrological observations. On the other hand, hydrological effects need to be eliminated from high-quality gravity time-series because they interfere with small geodynamic signals. In areas with hilly topography and/or inhomogeneous subsoil, a simple reduction based on hydrological point measurements is usually not sufficient. For such situations, the underlying hydrological processes in the soil and the disaggregated bedrock need to be considered in their spatial and temporal dynamics to allow the development of a more sophisticated reduction. Regarding these issues interdisciplinary research has been carried out in the surroundings of the Geodynamic Observatory Moxa, Germany. At Moxa, hydrologically induced gravity variations of several 10 nm s−2 are observed by the stationarily operating superconducting gravimeter and by spatially distributed and repeated high-precision measurements with transportable relative instruments. In addition, hydrological parameters are monitored which serve as input for a local hydrological catchment model for the area of about 2 km2 around the observatory. From this model, spatial hydrological variations are gained in hourly time steps and included as density changes of the subsoil in a well-constrained gravimetric 3-D model to derive temporal modelled gravity variations. The gravity variations obtained from this combined modelling correspond very well to the observed hydrological gravity changes for both, short period and seasonal signals. From the modelling the amplitude of the impact on gravity of hydrological changes occurring in different distances to the gravimeter location can be inferred. Possible modifications on the local hydrological model are discussed to further improve the quality of the model. Furthermore, a successful reduction of local hydrological effects in the superconducting gravimeter data is developed. After this reduction global seasonal fluctuations are unmasked which are in correspondence to GRACE observations and to global hydrological models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have recorded for 13 d, geomagnetic variations simultaneously on the Earth's surface and in a borehole at 832 m depth straight below, with a sampling rate of 1 Hz. In addition, geoelectric variations were observed at the same site near Bad Königshofen in Frankonia, Germany. The penetrated moderately conductive Triassic sediments lie above highly resistive Permian deposits. A presumably crystalline basement begins at 1500–1900 m depth. The purpose of the experiment is to determine the skin effect of geomagnetic variations and to derive from it the equivalent to the magnetotelluric (MT) surface impedance, using the vertical gradient (VG) method of electromagnetic (EM) sounding. In this way, we were able to reproduce all four elements of the MT impedance tensor, except for an unexplained but consistent downward shift of VG phases against MT phases by roughly 15° for the two off-diagonal elements. Hence, our tensor evaluation goes beyond the common practice, to express the skin effect by a single VG transfer function in response to a layered structure. The otherwise good agreement of VG and MT results implies that at our test site, the MT impedance tensor is largely distortion-free and that, for example, its pronounced anisotropy should be regarded as a genuine characteristic of the EM response for a laterally non-uniform or possibly anisotropic deep structure. The drilling site lies within the range of a widespread induction anomaly. We have observed the resulting variations of the vertical magnetic component at the surface and in the borehole and found them to be identical. The thus established absence of a skin effect for the vertical component allows us to treat the sedimentary layer down to the depth of the borehole instrument as a thin sheet, and the pertinent thin-sheet approximation for EM induction forms the basis of our analysis. We have derived the required estimate of conductance from the skin effect of horizontal components, noting that this estimate has to be real valued and the same for all frequencies. We were unable, however, to verify the resulting value of 76 S with independent geoelectric direct current (DC) measurements in the borehole and at the Earth's surface. A model study shows that the thin-sheet conductance, which is relevant for the skin effect, may be substantially higher than the depth-integrated conductivity from DC data. Robust estimates of transfer functions were derived for 20 frequencies from 5.625 to 0.007 cpm, which corresponds to periods from 10 to 10000 s. Squared skin effect coherencies are above 0.9 for periods longer than 20 s and thereby comparable to MT coherencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Waldkirch earthquake on 2004 December 5 at 1:52 UTC with ML= 5.4 was the strongest earthquake in Baden-Württemberg since 1978. It was followed by a large number of aftershocks. We were operational in field only 14 hr after the main shock for recording aftershocks. The aim of that field campaign was to test the performance of our newly developed system and to compare the results obtained by one small aperture seismic array to a standard aftershock network. More than 700 microearthquakes were recorded within a period of about 39 hr, the largest with magnitude ML= 3.0. Events with negative as well as positive polarities were identified as a result of alternating radiation patterns of the focal mechanisms. The analysis of the events was carried out with a statistical approach because of the high amount of events. Similarity matrices sorted by time reveal no significant event clustering, whereas matrices, rearranged by dendrograms according to the cross-correlation coefficients indicate that a part of the aftershocks are spatially clustered. An investigation of the chronological occurrence of these spatially clustered events shows a continuous seismic activity for the duration of measurement. The mean depth of the seismogenic zone could be determined to 11.1 km using tS– tP time differences. A relative location of aftershocks provides evidence for a WNW–ESE oriented fault plane direction and confirms the orientation of a nodal plane of the main shock. This Subhercynian direction is a predominant structure in the Black Forest and can be observed on many faults and mineral dykes. Our results coincide well with observations from the permanent and a temporarily installed network, which was operational 2 d after the main shock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the applicability of the passive seismic interferometry technique to near-surface geological studies, seismic noise recordings from a small scale 2-D array of seismic stations were performed in the test site of Nauen (Germany). Rayleigh wave Green's functions were estimated for different frequencies. A tomographic inversion of the traveltimes estimated for each frequency from the Green's functions is then performed, allowing the laterally varying 3-D surface wave velocity structure below the array to be retrieved at engineering–geotechnical scales. Furthermore, a 2-D S-wave velocity cross-section is obtained by combining 1-D velocity structures derived from the inversion of the dispersion curves extracted at several points along a profile where other geophysical analyses were performed. It is shown that the cross-section from passive seismic interferometry provides a clear image of the local structural heterogeneities that are in excellent agreement with georadar and geoelectrical results. Such findings indicate that the interferometry analysis of seismic noise is potentially of great interest for deriving the shallow 3-D velocity structure in urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the first results of a high-resolution teleseismic traveltime tomography and seismic anisotropy study of the lithosphere–asthenosphere system beneath the western Bohemian Massif. The initial high-resolution tomography down to a depth of 250 km did not image any columnar low-velocity anomaly which could be interpreted as a mantle plume anticipated beneath the Eger Rift, similar to recent findings of small plumes beneath the French Massif Central and the Eifel in Germany. Alternatively, we interpret the broad low-velocity anomaly beneath the Eger Rift by an upwelling of the lithosphere–asthenosphere transition. We also map lateral variations of seismic anisotropy of the mantle lithosphere from spatial variations of P-wave delay times and the shear wave splitting. Three major domains characterised by different orientations of seismic anisotropy correspond to the major tectonic units—Saxothuringian, Moldanubian and the Teplá-Barrandian—and their fabrics fit to those found in our previous studies of mantle anisotropy on large European scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

VSP data collected in the KTB (Germany) borehole to a depth of 8.5 km in 1999 show a surprising spectral modulation of the downgoing wavefield. After filtering the data with the singular value decomposition technique it was found that below about 6.2 km there are two depth intervals where the modulation can be explained in terms of a basic wavelet plus two weighted and delayed copies of that wavelet, with the delay for each wavelet remaining almost constant in each interval. The boundary between the two intervals is at about 7.25 km depth and above and below this depth the delay for the second wavelet is almost the same, while the delay for the third wavelet is significantly different. Neither the modulation nor its depth variation are source related and cannot be explained in terms of multiple reflections in a subhorizontal low-velocity layer. On the other hand, finite difference synthetic data show that subvertical layering (which is prevalent in the borehole area) provides a mechanism that can explain the observations. This mechanism has analogies with the generation of the standard refracted (i.e. head) waves. When a plane wave front propagates perpendicular to the boundaries of a vertical low-velocity layer surrounded by two vertical high-velocity layers, refracted wave fronts are generated in the low-velocity layer, which in turn generate secondary wave fronts in the high-velocity layers. These wave fronts trail the primary wave fronts by a constant delay whose magnitude has a simple dependence on the thickness of the low-velocity layer and the velocities involved. This process creates multipath arrivals that in geological settings with steeply inclined and faulted layers may appear and disappear rather abruptly, which may contribute to a scattered appearance of the wavefield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been noted by theoretical seismologists for decades that—in addition to translations and strains—the rotational part of ground motions should also be recorded. It is expected that collocated measurements of translations and rotations may (1) allow transformation of translational seismograms to the complete ground motion of an observation point; (2) help to further constrain rupture processes and (3) provide additional hazard-relevant information to earthquake engineers. The lack of instrumental sensitivity used to be the main obstacle to observing rotational motions. Recently, ring laser technology has provided the means to develop instruments that allow in principle the observation of rotational motions in a wide frequency band and epicentral distance range. Here we investigate whether this technology—originally designed for geodesy—is capable of providing accurate and useful observations for seismology. We report observations of rotations around a vertical axis of several earthquakes obtained by a ring laser installed in SE-Germany and compare them to collocated broad-band translations. Assuming plane transverse wave propagation, acceleration and rotation rate should be in phase and their amplitude ratio proportional to horizontal phase velocity. Here we show that most of the observations can be explained under these assumptions and that the collocated observations allow the estimation of wavefield properties (e.g. phase velocities, propagation directions), otherwise only accessible through seismic array measurements, polarization analysis, or additional strain measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The German archaeomagnetic data set was supplemented with 35 new directions from German sites mainly dating from the past 3000 yr. Together with archaeomagnetic data from the neighbouring countries of Germany a database of 166 reliable archaeomagnetic directions has been compiled for the reference area, which is defined by a 500-km-radius circle around Göttingen. The retrieved directions come from well-dated archaeological structures and about 40 per cent of the dating relay on natural science methods such as radiocarbon, thermoluminescence, dendrochronology dating or historical documents. From this data set a secular variation (SV) reference curve has been calculated using a bivariate algorithm, which fits a natural cubic spline based on roughness penalty to declination, inclination and time, simultaneously. The error tube surrounding this curve was obtained from Bayesian modelling of the experimental errors, which can also take stratigraphic information into account. The obtained SV reference curve for the past 2500 yr is similar to that from France, but also significant differences are seen. Comparison of the curves does not show a simple westward drift of the SV pattern. The German reference curve allows archaeomagnetic dating in the reference area and extends this dating technique to sites situated in middle Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A catalogue has been compiled of existing published and unpublished archaeomagnetic directional data from sites in Germany. The data comprise 125 results dated mainly in the past two millennia. The stability of the natural remanent magnetization was proven for most structures with at least a Thellier viscosity test, although for the majority of the data the direction is based on the characteristic remanent magnetization obtained from demagnetization experiments. Rock magnetic experiments carried out on the samples from many of the sites reveal that the dominant magnetic carrier is magnetite, often oxidized or with impurities. For many sites the archaeological age estimate is supported by physical dating methods. While the Roman epoch (0–400 AD) and the period from medieval to modern times (800–1700 AD) are reasonably well covered with data, the time interval in between and the first millennium BC are only poorly covered. The geographical distribution of data throughout Germany shows a concentration along the Rhine valley during Roman times, with in general a better coverage to the north. Nevertheless this data set clearly shows the secular variation during the past three millennia, and it extends the European archaeomagnetic data set considerably. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have used both single-station and array methods to determine shallow shear velocity site profiles in the vicinity of the city of Cologne, Germany from ambient vibration records. Based on fk-analysis we assume that fundamental-mode Rayleigh waves dominate the analysed wavefield in the frequency range of 0.7-2.2 Hz. According to this view a close relation exists between H/V spectral ratios and the ellipticity of the contributing Rayleigh waves. The inversion of the shape of H/V spectral ratios then provides quantitative information concerning the local shear wave velocity structure. However, based on tests with synthetic data believed to represent a typical situation in the Lower Rhine Embayment, dispersion curves were found to provide stronger constraints on the absolute values of the velocity-depth model than the ellipticities. The shape of the ellipticities was found to be subject to a strong trade-off between the layer thickness and the average layer velocity. We have made use of this observation by combining the inversion schemes for dispersion curves and ellipticities such that the velocity-depth dependence is essentially constrained by the dispersion curves while the layer thickness is constrained by the ellipticities. In order to test this method in practice, we have used array recordings of ambient vibrations from three sites where the subsurface geology is fairly well known and geotechnical information is at least partially available. In order to keep the parameter space as simple as possible we attempted to fit only a single layer over a half-space model. However, owing to earlier studies from the region, we assume a power-law depth dependence for sediment velocities. For all three sites investigated, the inversion resulted in models for which the shear wave velocity within the sediment layer both in absolute value at the surface and in depth dependence are found to be remarkably similar to the results obtained by Budny from downhole measurements.... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 9.1 km deep KTB (Kontinentale Tiefbohrung, Germany) drilling hole is one of the best investigated deep-drilling sites in the world. Among other parameters, in situ measurements revealed continuous profiles of principal stresses, pore fluid pressure and fracture geometry in the vicinity of the borehole. The present study combines these parameters with hydraulic and seismicity data obtained during fluid-injection experiments conducted at the KTB to derive a conceptual model for fluid-injection-induced seismicity at the KTB. This model rests on the well constrained assumptions that (1) the crust is highly fractured with a permeable fracture network between 9 km depth and the Earth's surface and (2) the crust is in near-failure equilibrium, whereby a large number of fracture planes are under near-critical condition. During the injection experiment, the elevated pore fluid pressure remained well below the least principal stress and thus was too small to cause hydraulic opening of existing fractures. Consequently, the geometry of the fracture network was assumed to have not changed during fluid injection with induced seismicity occurring solely as a result of lowering of the effective normal stress, consistent with observed source mechanisms. The key parameter in the present model is the fracture permeability, which exhibits large spatial and directional variations. These variations are proposed to primarily control fluid migration paths and associated propagation of elevated fluid pressure during fluid injection. In contrast with common models based on isotropic fluid diffusion or spatially averaged permeability, highly permeable branches of the fracture network strongly affect the propagation of fluid pressure and prohibit the concept of a smooth 'pressure front'. We find evidence that major fluid flow exists at comparatively low fluid pressure (below the critical pressure required to cause seismic failure) without being detected seismically. This might also... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a regression analysis of drill cuttings data to characterize cataclastic shear-zones of the German continental deep drilling project or KTB deep drill hole. Petrophysical and geochemical data; Amount of cataclastic rocks; Content of crystal water; Magnetic susceptibility with positive coefficients; Content of chromium with a negative coefficient.

Analyzes the electrical conductivity of the crust based on a magnetotelluric (MT) study of the German Continental Deep Drilling Site. Two major structures in the Earth's crust; Values of anisotropy derived from the MT measurements.

Examines the geomagnetic paleosecular variation in sediments from three maar lakes in West Eifel, Germany. Discussion on the age control by valve chronology; Analysis of mean inclination for post-depositional remanent magnetization; Evaluation on the directional geomagnetic field behavior.

Examines the refraction seismic experiment GRANU95 in the Saxothuringian belt, southeastern Germany. Seismic data of the GRANU95 project with crustal structure profiles of the Saxonian Granulites; Correlation of crustal velocities with reflective zones in the three seismic reflection lines; Observation of high velocities in the lower-crustal layer.