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SUMMARY We provide new results from a controlled-source seismic experiment on the deepest part of the Val Sesia crust–mantle section of the Ivrea–Verbano zone (IVZ) in the Italian Alps. The IVZ is a tilted, almost complete section through the continental crust and exposes gabbros and peridotites in the structurally deepest level, coinciding with high-resolution gravity anomalies imaging the Ivrea geophysical body. The seismic experiment SEIZE (SEismic imaging of the Ivrea ZonE) was conducted along two crossing profiles: an NNE-SSW profile of ∼11 km length and an E-W profile of ∼16 km length. 432 vibration points were recorded with 110 receivers resulting in 24 392 traveltime picks. Inversion methods using Markov chain Monte Carlo techniques have been used to derive an isotropic 3-D P-wave velocity model based on first break traveltimes (refracted phases) from controlled source seismic data. Resulting seismic P-wave velocities (Vp ) range from 4.5 to 7.5 km s−1, with an expected general trend of increasing velocities with depth. A sharp velocity change from low Vp in the West to high Vp in the East marks the Insubric Zone (ISZ), the Europe–Adria plate boundary. The most prominent feature of the 3-D tomography model is a high-velocity body (Vp increases from 6 to 7.5 km s−1) that broadens downwards. Its pointy shape peaks the surface East of Balmuccia at a location coincident with the exposed Balmuccia peridotite. Considering rock physics, high-resolution gravity and other geophysical data, we interpret this high-velocity body as dominantly composed of peridotite. The dimension of this seismically imaged peridotite material is far bigger than interpreted from geological cross-sections and requires a revision of previous models. The interpretation of ultramafic bodies in the IVZ as fragments of mantle peridotites interfingered in the crust during pre-Permian accretion is not supported by the new data. Instead, we revive a model that the contact between the Balmuccia peridotite and the Permian mafic magmas might represent a fossil continental crust–mantle transition zone.

Maintenance of infrastructure is costly and difficult to implement systematically when it spreads over wide areas, such as road or pipeline networks. In the monitoring of road ways, conventional methods to control the road integrity rely on discrete measurements in space and time. There is a large demand for innovative technologies that are able to assess the structural integrity as a whole and in regular intervals or even continuously. Distributed fiber-optic sensing opens the opportunity to measure numerous physical quantities such as temperature and strain with high spatial and temporal resolution over tens of kilometers. In addition, it is easily deployable at reasonable cost.In order to address the issue of asphalt aging due to exposure to heavy traffic loads, we installed a fiber-optic cable into a reworked road interval and recorded fiber-optic data in a controlled experiment with numerous test vehicles of different sizes and weights. The recorded data suggests that elastic properties of the asphalt can be retrieved from the bypassing traffic. Vehicles can be characterized by the number of axes and load on the asphalt composite. In the next phase, we will monitor the aging of the test field to deduce how varying matrial properties can be better identified for geotechnical and geoscience applications.

The subsurface dissolution of soluble rocks can affect areas over a long period of time and pose a severe hazard. We show the benefits of a combined approach using P-wave and SH-wave reflection seismics, electrical resistivity tomography, transient electromagnetics, and gravimetry for a better understanding of the dissolution process. The study area, “Esperstedter Ried” in northern Thuringia, Germany, located south of the Kyffhäuser hills, is a large inland salt marsh that developed due to dissolution of soluble rocks at approximately 300 m depth. We were able to locate buried dissolution structures and zones, faults and fractures, and potential fluid pathways, aquifers, and aquitards based on seismic and electromagnetic surveys. Further improvement of the model was accomplished by analyzing gravimetry data that indicates dissolution-induced mass movement, as shown by local minima of the Bouguer anomaly for the Esperstedter Ried. Forward modeling of the gravimetry data, in combination with the seismic results, delivered a cross section through the inland salt marsh from north to south. We conclude that tectonic movements during the Tertiary, which led to the uplift of the Kyffhäuser hills and the formation of faults parallel and perpendicular to the low mountain range, were the initial trigger for subsurface dissolution. The faults and the fractured Triassic and lower Tertiary deposits serve as fluid pathways for groundwater to leach the deep Permian Zechstein deposits, since dissolution and erosional processes are more intense near faults. The artesian-confined saltwater rises towards the surface along the faults and fracture networks, and it formed the inland salt marsh over time. In the past, dissolution of the Zechstein formations formed several, now buried, sagging and collapse structures, and, since the entire region is affected by recent sinkhole development, dissolution is still ongoing. From the results of this study, we suggest that the combined geophysical investigation of areas prone to subsurface dissolution can improve the knowledge of control factors, hazardous areas, and thus local dissolution processes.

The application of distributed acoustic sensing in borehole measurements allows for the use of fibre optic cables to measure strain. This is more efficient in terms of time and costs compared with the deploying of conventional borehole seismometers. Nevertheless, one known drawback for temporary deployment is represented by the freely hanging wireline cable slapping and ringing inside the casing, which introduces additional coherent coupling noise to the data. The present study proposes an explanation for the mechanism of noise generation and draws an analogy with similar wave propagation processes and phenomena, such as ghost waves in marine seismics. This observation allows to derive a ringing noise filter function, to study its behaviour and to consider known effects of the gauge length filter. After examining existing methods aimed at eliminating ringing noise and results of their application, we propose a two‐step approach: (1) developing a denoising method based on a matching pursuit decomposition with Gabor atoms and (2) subtracting the noise model for imaging improvement. The matching pursuit method focuses on decomposing the original input signal into a weighted sum of Gabor functions. Analysing Gabor atoms properties for frequency, amplitude and position in time provides the opportunity to distinguish parts of the original signal denoting noise caused by the vibrating cable. The matching pursuit decomposition applied to the distributed acoustic sensing‐vertical seismic profiling data at the geothermal test site Groß Schönebeck provides a versatile processing instrument for noise suppression., German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy

The Groß Schönebeck site in the North German Basin serves as research platform for studying the geothermal potential of deeply buried Permian reservoir rocks and the technical feasibility to extract their geothermal heat. The structural setting of the site was investigated in more detail by studying a newly acquired 3D-seismic survey to improve the structural picture that was based on several old 2D seismic lines so far. The new data allows a revision of the geological interpretation of the site, enabling the set-up of a new reservoir model and providing base information for a possible further site development of the Permian and Permo-Carboniferous targets. The 3D seismic of Groß Schönebeck allows for the first time a consistent geological interpretation and model parameterization of the well-studied geothermal site. Main reflector horizons and the corresponding stratigraphic units were mapped and the structural pattern of the subsurface presented in the 8 km x 8 km x 4 km large seismic volume. While some fracture and fault patterns are visible in the upper Zechstein and post-Permian units, formerly hypothesized large offset faults are not present in the Rotliegend reservoir itself. However, a well-established graben-like structure at the top of the Zechstein succession is most likely related to broken anhydritic Zechstein stringers. Most reflectors above the salt show a rather undisturbed pattern. The main reservoir sandstone of the Dethlingen Formation (Rotliegend) was mapped and characterized. The base of the underlying Permo-Carboniferous volcanic rock sequence and hence its thickness could not be depicted reliably from the geophysical data. Based on the new seismic data and the available reconnaissance drilling, logging, and laboratory data of the Groß Schönebeck research site, the thickness and distribution of the sedimentary Rotliegend (with emphasis of the sandy reservoir section) and of the volcanic rock sequence was modelled and parameterized with petrophysical properties (i.e., total and effective porosity, fluid permeability, bulk density, thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, and specific heat capacity), providing a more realistic reservoir description. The data and interpretation constitute the basis for a better understanding of the dominating processes at the site and for future measures. Further site development could include a deepening of one well to give evidence on the volcanic rock sequence and consider deviated wells into favourable zones and the design of a fracture-dominated utilization approach.

The Ivrea-Verbano Zone (IVZ) located in the Italian Alps is known as one of most complete archetypes of continental crust–upper mantle section on Earth (e.g. Pistone et al., 2017). Because of its accessibility at the surface it can be used as natural laboratory to improve the understanding of the crust–mantle transition zone. Several geophysical observables indicate the presence of mantle rocks (high density, high seismic velocity) in the shallow sub-surface (~ 1 km), commonly known as the “Bird’s Head” or Ivrea body (Berckhemer, 1968; Diehl et al., 2009; Scarponi et al., 2021). The project SEIZE images and characterizes the shallow upper crust at the Balmuccia site (Italy) providing depth, extent and shape of the outcropping Ivrea body as well as its rock properties. Our tomographic study covers the crust down to about 3 km depth, while seismic reflection imaging is possible down to 6 km depth or deeper. With SEIZE we contribute to the comprehensive ICDP Drilling program in the Ivrea-Verbano ZonE (DIVE, www.dive2ivrea.org).To tackle this task, a controlled source (vibroseis) seismic experiment was carried out in the region around Balmuccia in October 2020. The seismic survey comprised two crossing profiles with a total length of 28 km which ran along (NNE-SSW) and across (W-E) the Balmuccia peridotite. In total, 432 vibro points were acquired with a nominal distance of ~60 m which were recorded using a fix-spread (110 receivers, ~250 m spacing) and a roll-along setup (330 receivers, ~20 m spacing).To obtain a structural image of the shallow upper crust various seismic techniques are applied: The fix-spread data set is used to recover the velocity structure down to 3 km depth. By using a 3D Markov chain Monte Carlo travel time tomography a shallow, distinct high velocity body is imaged in 3D near Balmuccia, at the proposed drill site. Reflection seismic processing is applied to the roll-along data set. However, the difficult terrain setting (deep mountain valleys) results in complex wave propagation that is challenging for conventional processing methods (e.g. static and dynamic corrections, CDP stacking). Therefore, pre-stack migration techniques are applied enabling the imaging of steeply dipping structures.

A period of intense seismicity started more than a year prior to the 2021 Fagradalsfjall eruption in Iceland. During the same period, repeated cycles of surface uplift and subsidence were observed in the Svartsengi and Krýsuvík high-temperature (HT) fields, about 8-10 km west and east of the eruption site in Fagradalsfjall, respectively. Such an uplift has never been observed during 40 years of surface deformation monitoring of the exploited Svartsengi HT field. However, cycles of uplift followed by subsidence have been observed earlier at the unexploited Krýsuvík HT field.Shortly after the start of the unrest, a group of scientists from GFZ-Potsdam and ÍSOR installed additional seismometers, used an optical telecommunication cable to monitor the seismicity and performed gravity measurements in the unrest area.The data was used for multidisciplinary modelling of the pre-eruption processes (see Flóvenz et al, 2022. Cyclical geothermal unrest as a precursor to Iceland's 2021 Fagradalsfjall eruption. Nature Geoscience (in revision)). It included a poroelastic model that explains the repeated uplift and subsidence cycles at the Svartsengi HT field, by cyclic fluid intrusions into a permeable aquifer at 4 km depth at the observed brittle-ductile transition (BDT). The model gives a total injected volume of 0.11±0.05 km3. Constraining the intruded material jointly by the deformation and gravity data results in a density of 850±350 kg/m3. A high-resolution seismic catalogue of 39,500 events using the optical cable recordings was created, and the poroelastic model explains very well the observed spatiotemporal seismicity.The geodetic, gravity, and seismic data are explained by ingression of magmatic CO2 into the aquifer. To explain the behaviour of cyclic fluid injections, a physical feeder-channel model is proposed.The poroelastic model and the feeder-channel model are combined into a conceptual model that is consistent with the geochemical signature of the erupted magma. It explains the pre-eruption processes and gives estimates of the amount of magma involved.The conceptual model incorporates a magmatic reservoir at 15-20 km depth, fed by slowly upwelling currents of mantle derived magma. Volatiles released from inflowing enriched magma into the sub-Moho reservoir migrated upwards. The volatiles were possibly trapped for weeks or months at the BDT at ~7 km depth beneath Fagradalsfjall, generating overpressure, but not high enough to lift the overburden (~220 MPa) and cause surface deformation. After reaching a certain limiting overpressure, or when a certain volume had accumulated, the magmatic volatiles were diverted upwards, just below the BDT towards the hydrostatic pressurized aquifer (~ 40 MPa) at 4 km depth at the bottom of the convective HT fields. They passed through the BDT and increased the pressure sufficiently (>110 MPa) to cause the uplift.The lessons learned enlighten the most important factors to help detect precursory volcanic processes on the Reykjanes Peninsula; including detailed monitoring of seismicity, surface deformation, gravity changes and gas content in geothermal fluids. Furthermore, geophysical exploration of the deeper crust by seismic and resistivity measurements are crucial to map possible melt and possible pathways towards the surface.

Subsurface imaging of the critical zone, where are regolith is produced from bedrock, plays a significant role in understanding the geological and biological interaction at depths. The depth where we can find the intact bedrock is also often referred to as the weathering front. In the scheme of the EarthShape project, we assess one of the hypotheses which link the advance of weathering front to different climate conditions. We present the seismic investigation result from Santa Gracia National Reserve, Chile, one of the main EarthShape sites, which is in a transitional area between the arid to the semi-arid climatic zone. We investigate the weathering profile of this area by acquiring a 500 m long near-surface seismic profile using weight drop sources and 3-component geophones. With the acquired data, we perform two different seismic imaging methods: 1) Body wave tomography, and 2) Multichannel Analysis of Surface Wave (MASW) with Bayesian inversion. Both methods allow us to image the P- and S-wave velocity of the subsurface down to 80 and 60 meters depth, respectively. In addition to the absolute velocity models, we also produce the vertical velocity gradient model, which also provides us with extra tools in interpreting the weathering structure. The resulting models were then validated by existing borehole data located in the middle of the profile. Using the 87 meters deep borehole information, we identified three major layers in the weathering profiles: saprolite, weathered bedrock, and bedrock. The layers were identified by the different seismic velocities, which represent different stages of weathering in the subsurface. Across the profile, the identified weathering front can be traced down to 30 meters depth and is relatively parallel to the surface topography. The interpreted weathering layers also correlate with existing geochemical analysis of the borehole coring and even another perspective in the multi-disciplinary interpretation of the weathering zone. Accordingly, seismic imaging of the critical zone using different methods allows us to improve the critical zone interpretation, either as a combined or independent approach in regions without borehole data available.

Understanding and constraining the source of geodetic deformation in volcanic areas is an important component of hazard assessment. Here, we analyse deformation and seismicity for one year before the March 2021 Fagradalsfjall eruption in Iceland. We generate a high-resolution catalogue of 39,500 earthquakes using optical cable recordings and develop a poroelastic model to describe three pre-eruptional uplift and subsidence cycles at the Svartsengi geothermal field, 8 km west of the eruption site. We find the observed deformation is best explained by cyclic intrusions into a permeable aquifer by a fluid injected at 4 km depth below the geothermal field, with a total volume of 0.11 ± 0.05 km3 and a density of 850 ± 350 kg m–3. We therefore suggest that ingression of magmatic CO2 can explain the geodetic, gravity and seismic data, although some contribution of magma cannot be excluded.

SUMMARY Low permeability, high retention capacity and self-sealing ability are advantageous characteristics that are attributed to argillaceous rocks. In contrast, other properties of clay, such as internal heterogeneities, strong attenuation and anisotropic behaviour, pose major challenges for underground exploration techniques. Although with regard to the underground storage of nuclear waste, the seismic exploration in the underground itself is of great importance to fill the gap between surface and borehole investigations. Furthermore, to prevent destruction of the host rock during exploration this demands low to non-invasive techniques. To approach these issues, a seismic survey was carried out in the Mont Terri Underground Rock Laboratory (Switzerland) using a gallery-based acquisition with an operating range up to several decametres. The seismic campaign included three-component borehole sensors and two different seismic source types (pneumatic impact and magnetostrictive vibroseis source). An executed source comparison analysed the characteristics of the different source types, for example frequency or amplitude behaviour of the generated wavefield, to assess their performance under similar conditions at the meso scale and to reveal their strengths and weaknesses in clay. Based on these findings, we performed traveltime and reflection analyses that demonstrate their potential to characterize clay formations and to map internal structures. The highest seismic velocities are found in the carbonate-rich sandy facies (vPmax = 4000 m s−1, vSmax = 2050 m s−1), slower velocities are found in the sandy facies (vPmax = 3720 m s−1, vSmax = 1840 m s−1) and the slowest velocities are found in the shaly facies (vPmax = 3220 m s−1, vSmax = 1480 m s−1). The seismic velocity anisotropy is larger within the shaly facies (AvP = 23 per cent, AvS = 32 per cent) compared to the sandy facies (AvP = 9 per cent, AvS = 12 per cent) and it is more pronounced for S-waves than P-waves. Thus, non-invasive meso-scale seismic techniques are suited to characterize the Opalinus Clay in great detail.

Geothermal exploration will help move towards a low-carbon economy and provide a basis for green and sustainable growth. The development of new practical, reliable methods for geophysical characterization of a reservoir has the potential to facilitate a broader application of deep geothermal energy. At the Groß Schönebeck in situ laboratory, a unique vertical seismic profiling (VSP) dataset was recorded in two 4.3 km deep geothermal boreholes using fibre-optic cables in early 2017. The experiment set-up consisted of 61 vibrator points organized in a spiral pattern around the well site to ensure a proper offset and azimuth distribution in the target reservoir section. Data were processed using a standard workflow for VSP. As a result, a detailed three-dimensional 0.75km×1km×4.5 km image around the existing boreholes was created using the Kirchhoff migration algorithm with restricted aperture. The imaging resolved small-scale features in the reservoir essential for the future exploration of the geothermal research site. Borehole data with vertical resolution up to 16 m revealed the existing depth variations of the Elbe reservoir sandstone horizon at 4.08–4.10 km depth and indications of an unconformity in the area where we expect volcanic rocks. In addition, in the borehole data a complex interlaying with numerous pinch-outs in the Upper Rotliegend reservoir section (3.8 to 4 km depth) was discovered. Thereby, we demonstrate that wireline fibre-optic data can significantly contribute to exploration by providing an efficient and reliable method for deep geothermal reservoir imaging.

Geothermal exploration will help moving towards a low-carbon economy and provide a basis for green and sustainable growth. The development of new practical, reliable methods for geophysical characterisation of a reservoir has the potential to facilitate a broader application of deep geothermal energy. At the Groß Schönebeck in-situ laboratory, a unique vertical seismic profiling (VSP) dataset was recorded in two 4.3 km deep geothermal boreholes using fibre optic cables in early 2017. The experiment set-up consisted of 61 vibrator points organised in a spiral pattern around the well site to ensure a proper azimuth distribution in the target reservoir section. Data were processed using a standard workflow for VSP. As a result, a detailed 3-dimensional 0.75 × 1 × 4.5 km size image around the existing boreholes was created using the Kirchhoff migration algorithm with restricted aperture. The imaging resolved small-scale features in the reservoir essential for the future exploration of the geothermal research site. Borehole data with vertical resolution up to 16 m revealed the existing depth variations of the Elbe basis sandstone horizon at 4.08–4.10 km depth and indications of an unconformity in the area where we expect volcanic rocks. In addition, in the borehole data a complex interlaying with numerous pinch outs in the Upper Rotliegend reservoir section (3.8 to 4 km depth) was discovered. Thereby, we demonstrate that wireline fibre optic data can significantly contribute to exploration by providing an efficient and reliable method for deep geothermal reservoir imaging.

One year of deformation and seismicity prior to a volcanic eruption in March 2021 at an oblique plate boundary in Iceland created a unique opportunity to study the interaction between upwelling magma and geothermal processes. We apply poroelastic modelling to explain satellite geodetic data showing three uplift and subsidence cycles at the Svartsengi geothermal field and use gravity data to constrain the density of intruded material. We use recordings on optical cable to generate a high-resolution earthquake catalogue and developed new waveform stacking and migration methods to detect and locate 39,500 earthquakes. The resulting model explains the geodetic, gravity, and seismic data by magmatic derived gas intruded into a horizontal sealed aquifer at 4 km depth in the roots of the geothermal field at the top of up-doming brittle-ductile boundary. The total injected volume is estimated 9.5·107m3 with optimal density of 840 kg/m3. Our results suggest upward migration of three packages of volcanic gas along the brittle-ductile boundary from a subcrustal magmatic source 8–10 km east of the geothermal field, with important implications for the dynamics leading to the eruption.

Understanding physical processes prior to and during volcanic eruptions has improved significantly in recent years. However, uncertainties about subsurface structures distorting observed signals and undetected processes within the volcano prevent volcanologists to infer subtle triggering mechanisms of volcanic phenomena. Here, we demonstrate that distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) with optical fibres allows us to identify volcanic events remotely and image hidden near-surface volcanic structural features. We detect and characterize strain signals associated with explosions and locate their origin using a 2D-template matching between picked and theoretical wave arrival times. We find evidence for non-linear grain interactions in a scoria layer of spatially variable thickness. We demonstrate that wavefield separation allows us to incrementally investigate the ground response to various excitation mechanisms. We identify very small volcanic events, which we relate to fluid migration and degassing. Those results provide the basis for improved volcano monitoring and hazard assessment using DAS.

We present an analysis and qualitative comparison between acoustic data recorded on a distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) instrument (Silixa iDAS, version 2) and a three-component geophone chain colocated in a 400 m deep ICDP borehole in the magmatically active Vogtland area, Germany. A tight buffer single-mode fiber optic cable with a structured surface was installed and cemented behind casing down to total depth of the well. Additionally, a vertical array of 10 Hz geophones is suspended within the borehole.At the surface, further geophones were installed to shape a permanent three-dimensional seismic array. For this experiment the DAS system sampled strain-rate data at 10 m gauge length and 1 m spacing, yielding a high-resolution image of the wave field. Both seismic systems recorded data for 24 hours at 1 kHz sampling rate.Within these 24 hours of recording, we shot a vertical seismic profile (VSP) with a 300 kg heavy and 2.4 m tall drop weight source moving up to a distance of 400 m away from the wellhead. Furthermore, passive seismic events at local and regional distances were recorded.We compare the signal quality between the DAS system and the calibrated three-component geophones using the active and passive signals, to determine the sensitivity, signal-to-noise ratios and frequency response. Further we investigate the noise characteristics of both systems in this natural and remote environment, and evaluate the feasibility of borehole DAS behind casing for micro-earthquake monitoring. We give an outlook how dense DAS data can be utilized for VSP experiments with the aim to develop methods for fault detection and characterisation for application in DAS data recorded at the surface.

The Theistareykir geothermal field is located at the intersection between the active Northern Rift Zone and the active Tjörnes Fracture Zone in NE Iceland, and its study is of vital importance for further development of local and regional geothermal resources. Since autumn 2017, a seismic network consisting of 21 stations was deployed to monitor the high temperature Theistareykir geothermal field (Iceland). This seismic network belongs to a set of multiparameter networks installed to better understand the underlying structure and behavior of the geothermal reservoir under exploitation.In this framework, we use the continuous ambient noise seismic records between October 2017 and October 2019 to compute a 3D shear wave velocity model of the geothermal field and to detect possible stress changes due to the injection and production activities. We compute the phase auto- and cross-correlations of the vertical component recordings, measure the Rayleigh wave group velocity dispersion curves, and obtain 2D group velocity maps between 1 and 5 s. The 2D group-velocity maps are used to construct regionalized dispersion curves which are then inverted using a Neighborhood Algorithm to retrieve the 3D Vs model of Theistareykir. We observe various underground structures and identify the locations of possible magmatic or hydrothermal bodies in light of available and newly acquired geological and geophysical data. In addition, we analyze the short and long term temporal evolution of the phase auto-correlations using coda wave interferometry and discuss their relationship to the geothermal field operations. We notice a slightly stronger velocity reduction around the production site in comparison to the surrounding regions.

Since clay formations are heterogeneous and anisotropic, their seismic characterization at the meso scale is challenging. To tackle this problem, experiments using different seismic sources were undertaken in the Mont Terri Underground Rock Laboratory (URL). The first experiment was carried out using impact and vibroseis sources which were particularly designed for seismic exploration in the underground. The second experiment was conducted using an ELVIS vibration source (Polom et al. 2011) which was mainly designed for near-surface investigations on roads or in open terrain. The first experiment focused on the applicability and performance of the modular underground system (Borm & Giese 2003) in clay. It demonstrates the successful application of impact and vibroseis source in Opalinus clay. The impact source generates signals with high signal-to-noise ratios and strong lower frequencies (above 100 Hz). Due to that, the impact source is preferred for applications at large offsets. In contrast the vibroseis source has more control of the frequency generation and is able to excite higher frequencies (up to 12 kHz) than the impact source. Therefore, the vibroseis source is preferred for high-resolution applications at near offsets. Both sources are also suitable for clay characterization and reflection imaging. Travel time analyses resulted in average P- and S-wave velocities that show a clear azimuthal dependence. The carbonate-rich sandy and the sandy facies are characterized by faster velocities than the shaly facies which is stronger anisotropic than the sandy facies. Our findings are in good agreement with seismic velocities and anisotropy determined by Schuster et al. (2017), Popp & Salzer (2007) and Siegesmund et al. (2014). Although the sparse acquisition geometry was not optimal for reflection imaging of the geological conditions around the URL, later arriving shear wave reflections could be extracted from the impact data. A 3D migration focuses these reflections at a distance of ~50 m at the transition from the lower sandy facies to the upper shaly facies.The second experiment of our pilot survey focused on seismic reflection measurements using near-surface equipment to evaluate its applicability in URLs. Since the ELVIS source was combined with the 3-C geophones of the main experiment, the acquisition geometry was not optimal to image settings beneath the URL. The acquired ELVIS data were dominated by strong surface waves. After their removal, surface wave reflections appeared which mainly map the structural elements of the URL. The test measurements confirmed a general applicability of ELVIS in the tunnel, however it also indicates the need to improve the acquisition geometry.

Fiber-optic cables form an integral part of modern telecommunications infrastructure and are ubiquitous in particular in regions where dedicated seismic instrumentation is traditionally sparse or lacking entirely. Fiber-optic seismology promises to enable affordable and time-extended observations of earth and environmental processes at an unprecedented temporal and spatial resolution. The method’s unique potential for combined large-N and large-T observations implies intriguing opportunities but also significant challenges in terms of data storage, data handling and computation.Our goal is to enable real-time data enhancement, rapid signal detection and wave field characterization without the need for time-demanding user interaction. We therefore combine coherent wave field analysis, an optics-inspired processing framework developed in controlled-source seismology, with state-of-the-art deep convolutional neural network (CNN) architectures commonly used in visual perception. While conventional deep learning strategies have to rely on manually labeled or purely synthetic training datasets, coherent wave field analysis labels field data based on physical principles and enables large-scale and purely data-driven training of the CNN models. The shear amount of data already recorded in various settings makes artificial data generation by numerical modeling superfluous – a task that is often constrained by incomplete knowledge of the embedding medium and an insufficient description of processes at or close to the surface, which are challenging to capture in integrated simulations.Applications to extensive field datasets acquired with dark-fiber infrastructure at a geothermal field in SW Iceland and in a town at the flank of Mt Etna, Italy, reveal that the suggested framework generalizes well across different observational scales and environments, and sheds new light on the origin of a broad range of physically distinct wave fields that can be sensed with fiber-optic technology. Owing to the real-time applicability with affordable computing infrastructure, our analysis lends itself well to rapid on-the-fly data enhancement, wave field separation and compression strategies, thereby promising to have a positive impact on the full processing chain currently in use in fiber-optic seismology.

We performed so-far-unprecedented deep wireline vertical seismic profiling at the Groß Schönebeck site with the novel method of distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) to gain more detailed information on the structural setting and geometry of the geothermal reservoir, which is comprised of volcanic rocks and sediments of Lower Permian age. During the survey of 4 d only, we acquired data for 61 source positions using hybrid wireline fiber-optic sensor cables deployed in two 4.3 km deep, already existing wells. While most of the recorded data have a very good signal-to-noise ratio, individual sections of the profiles are affected by characteristic coherent noise patterns. This ringing noise results from incomplete coupling of the sensor cable to the borehole wall, and it can be suppressed to a large extent using suitable filtering methods. After conversion to strain rate, the DAS data exhibit a high similarity to the vertical component data of a conventional borehole geophone. We derived accurate time–depth relationships, interval velocities, and corridor stacks from the recorded data. Based on integration with other well data and geological information, we show that the top of a porous and permeable sandstone interval of the geothermal reservoir can be identified by a positive reflection event. Overall, the sequence of reflection events shows a different character for both wells explained by lateral changes in lithology. The top of the volcanic rocks has a somewhat different seismic response in both wells, and no clear reflection event is obvious at the postulated base of the volcanic rocks, so that their thickness cannot be inferred from individual reflection events in the seismic data alone. The DAS method enabled measurements at elevated temperatures up to 150 ∘C over extended periods and led to significant time and cost savings compared to deployment of a conventional borehole geophone string. This wireline approach finally suggests significant implications for observation options in old wells for a variety of purposes.

The plate boundary between the American and Eurasian plates runs in southwest Iceland along a 5-10 km wide seismicity zone on the Reykjanes Peninsula. There, tectonic spreading events take place as continuous seismic release and seismic episodes (swarms and individual large events) with recurrence interval of about 40 years and volcanic episodes at intervals of 800-1000 years. The crust in Reykjanes is, therefore, particularly thin and hot and geothermal energy is currently harnesses in two areas on the western part of the peninsula in Reykjanes and Svartsengi. Since January 2020, earthquake swarms with larger events up to M5.6 have been occurring frequently over the entire Reykjanes Peninsula, accompanied by unusual uplift (up to 12 cm) and subsidence cycles in the Svartsengi-Eldvörp fissure swarm. This raises the question whether we might be at the beginning of a new volcanic episode. In order to classify such processes at an early stage, multidisciplinary geophysical measurements are particularly valuable. The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO), University of Iceland as well as ISOR and several partners responded immediately after the unrest began. As soon as January 2020, GFZ proposed a rapid response field campaign (MAGIC: MultidisciplinAry imaGIng and Characterization of the magma/fluid reservoir beneath Svartsengi). Only one week after the uplift start and first earthquake swarm, we connected a Distributed Acoustic Sensing interrogator to a 21 km long telecommunication fibre optic cable which crosses the uplift and swarm area. In addition, while we complied to strict constraints due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the rapid response activities comprised deployment of several additional sensors including broadband seismology, rotational seismology and we performed repeated surveys including gas-, gravity-, electromagnetic-, airborne and ground magnetic- measurements. We present preliminary results from various techniques and discuss their role in discriminating different scenarios aiming at explaining the magma-tectonic unrest phase. In particular, we analyze how the combination of airborne snapshots of ground morphology can be combined with the high temporal and spatial resolution deformation fields along the fibre optic cable., EGUsphere

To determine crustal properties distribution, seismic source processes, and wave propagation mechanisms, the acquisition of dense seismic and ground motion datasets is required (e.g., Jousset et al. 2018). Seismic and ground-motion datasets are typically acquired measuring acceleration, velocity (e.g., geophones and broadband sensors), or position (e.g., GNSS sensors) with individual sensors located in a favorable geometry. A high-resolution image of the subsurface, thereby, requires a dense spatial coverage of sensors. In recent years, fiber optic sensor technologies have been increasingly used for seismic applications. Different acquisition strategies have been applied to measure the subsurface deformation: measurements at a single point using specially engineered fiber optic point sensors, quasi-distributed measurements along an optical fiber with an array of point sensors, or fully distributed, where deformation is detected using interaction of light with the molecular structure of the fiber itself. We will consider fully distributed technologies in the following, only.

Seismic anisotropy and attenuation make claystone formations difficult to characterize. On the other hand, in many geotechnical environments, precise knowledge of structure and elastic properties of clay formations is needed. In crystalline and rock salt underground structures, high-resolution seismic tomography and reflection imaging have proven a useful tool for structural and mechanical characterization at the scale of underground infrastructure (several deca- to hundreds of meters). This study investigates the applicability of seismic tomography for the characterization of claystone formations from an underground rock laboratory under challenging on-site conditions including anisotropy, strong attenuation and restricted acquisition geometry. The seismic tomographic survey was part of a pilot experiment in the Opalinus Clay of the Mont Terri Rock Laboratory, using 3-component geophones and rock anchors, which are installed 2 m within the rock on two levels, thus suppressing effects caused by the excavation damage zone. As a source, a pneumatic impact source was used. The survey covers two different facies types (shaly and carbonate-rich sandy), for which the elliptical anisotropy is calculated for direct ray paths by fitting an ellipse to the separated data for each facies. The tomographic inversion was done with a code providing a good grid control and enabling to take the seismic anisotropy into account. A-priori anisotropy can be attributed to the grid points, taking various facies types or other heterogeneities into account. Tomographic results, compared to computations using an isotropic velocity model, show that results are significantly enhanced by considering the anisotropy and demonstrate the ability of the approach to characterize heterogeneities of geological structures between the galleries of the rock laboratory.

We performed vertical seismic profiling at the Groß Schönebeck site in order to gain more detailed information on the structural setting and geometry of the geothermal reservoir, which is comprised of volcanic rocks and sediments of Lower Permian age. During the four-day survey, we acquired data for 61 source positions with the novel method of distributed acoustic sensing (DAS), using hybrid wireline fiber-optic sensor cables deployed in two 4.3 km deep wells. We show that wireline cable tension has a significant effect on data quality. While most of the recorded data has a very good signal-to-noise ratio, individual sections of the profiles are affected by characteristic coherent noise patterns. This ringing noise is a result of how the sensor cable is mechanically coupled to the borehole wall, and it can be suppressed to a large extent using suitable filtering methods. After conversion to strain rate, the DAS data exhibits a high similarity to the vertical component data of a conventional borehole geophone. Upgoing reflections are nevertheless recorded with opposite polarity, which needs to be taken into account during further seismic processing and interpretation. We derived accurate time-depth relationships, interval velocities, and corridor stacks from the recorded data. Based on integration with other well data and geological information, we show that the top of a porous and permeable sandstone interval of the geothermal reservoir can be identified by a positive reflection event. Overall, the sequence of reflection events shows a different character for both wells, which is explained by lateral changes in lithology. The top of the volcanic rocks has a somewhat different seismic response, and no stronger reflection event is obvious at the postulated top of the Carboniferous. The thickness of the volcanic rocks can therefore not be inferred from individual reflection events in the seismic data alone. The DAS method has enabled measurements at elevated temperatures up to 150 °C over extended periods and has led to significant time and cost savings compared to deployment of a conventional geophone chain.

In this study, we investigate the regional tectonic impact on salt movement at the northeastern margin of the intracontinental North German Basin. We discuss the evolution of salt pillows in the Bay of Mecklenburg in the light of thick‐ and thin‐skinned tectonics, including gravity gliding, and differential loading using seismic imaging. Stratigraphic and structural interpretation of a 170 km long, multichannel seismic line, extending from the Bay of Mecklenburg to northeast of Rügen Island, incorporates well information of nearby onshore wells. This new high‐resolution seismic line completely images the stratigraphic and tectonic pattern of the subsurface, from the base of the Zechstein to the seafloor. Our analysis reveals that subsidence during Late Triassic to Early Cretaceous at the northeastern basin margin was associated with transtensional dextral strike slip movement within the Trans‐European Suture Zone. We reinterpret the Werre and Prerow Fault Zones west of Rügen Island as an inverted, thin‐skinned normal fault system associated with the formation of the Western Pomeranian Fault System. Salt movement in the Bay of Mecklenburg was initiated in the Late Triassic and lasted until the Early Jurassic. A second phase of salt pillow growth occurred during the Coniacian until Cenozoic and correlates with compression‐related regional basin inversion due to the onset of the Africa‐Iberia‐Europe convergence. Thin‐skinned extensional initialization of salt pillow growth and compressional salt remobilization explains salt pillow evolution in the Bay of Mecklenburg. Additionally, we discuss an impact of gravity gliding on salt pillow evolution induced by basin margin tilt., Key Points: A regional high‐resolution seismic profile continuously images the SW Baltic Sea subsurface from the Zechstein salt base to the seafloor. Late Triassic salt movement and Late Cretaceous‐Cenozoic remobilization correlate with regional tectonics at the North German Basin margin The tectonic evolution of salt pillows is discussed in terms of thin‐skinned. extensional/compressional deformation and gravity gliding., Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001659

We explore a unique dataset collected by Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) technology at the summit of Etna volcano in September 2018. We set-up an iDAS interrogator (Silixa) inside the Observatory Pizzi Deneri to record strain rate signals along a 1.3 km-long fibre optic cable deployed in Piano delle Concazze. This area is affected by several North-South trending faults and fractures, that are originated to accommodate the extension of the nearby North-East Rift zone, where magmatic intrusions often occur. The field evidence of the segments of these faults and fractures is hidden by lava flows and volcano-clastic deposits (e.g. scoria and lapilli) produced by the effusive and explosive activity of Etna volcano.We propose a new technological and methodological framework to validate, identify and characterize volcano-related dynamic strain changes at an unprecedented high spatial (2 m) and temporal (1 kHz) sampling over a broad frequency range. The DAS record analysis and the validation of the iDAS response is performed through comparisons with measurements from a dense network of conventional sensors (comprising 5 broadband seismometers, 15 short-period geophone and two arrays of 3 infrasound sensors) deployed along the fibre optic cable. Comparisons between iDAS signals and dynamic strain changes estimated from the broadband seismic array shows an excellent agreement, thus demonstrating for the first time the capability of DAS technology in sensing seismic waves generated by volcanic events.The frequent and diverse Etna activity during the acquisition period (30 August - 16 September 2018) offers the great opportunity to record a wide variety of signals and, hence, to test the response of iDAS to several volcanic processes (e.g. volcanic tremor, explosions, strombolian activity, local seismic events). Here, we focus the analysis on the signals recorded during a small explosive event on 5 September 2018 from the New South-East Crater (NSEC). This explosive event generated both seismic waves (recorded by the seismometers) propagating in the ground, and acoustic pressure signals (recorded by the infra-sound arrays) propagating in the atmosphere. We show that the DAS records catch both, as confirmed by the conventional sensors records.Spectrogram analyses of the DAS signals reveal that the frequency content is confined in two distinctive frequency bands in the ranges 0.5-10 Hz and 18-25 Hz, for the seismic and acoustic wave, respectively. The amplitude and frequency response of the ground to the arrival and propagation of the seismo-acoustic wave along the fibre reveal spatial characteristic patterns that reflect local geological structures. For example, the finer spatial sampling of the iDAS records allows catching details of the variability of dynamic strain amplitudes along the fibre. Amplified signals are found at localized narrow regions matching fracture zones and faults. There, a decrease in the propagation velocity of the seismo-acoustic waves is also clearly pinpointed. These preliminary findings demonstrate the DAS potentiality to revolutionize the study of volcanic process by discovering new signal features undetectable with traditional sensors and methodologies.

In the framework of EUROVOLCs Trans-national grants, we propose the FAME project aiming at validating Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) technology as a complementary and alternative tool for monitoring volcanic and seismic activity at Etna volcano. DAS technology provides records of strain signals with unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution.We deployed a fibre optic cable connected to an iDAS (Silixa) interrogator set-up at the Observatory Pizzi Deneri in the summit area. To allow for a continuously recording of the iDAS, a solar panel power system was designed using battery back-up and inverter to supply 200 W at 220 V/AC. An internet connection was set up for a full remote control capability. The iDAS interrogated a 1.5 km long fibre cable, buried at a depth of about 30 cm by digging a trench in Piano delle Concazze area. The DAS measurements were validated with conventional measurements from 26 broadband seismometers and 3 arrays of 3 infrasound sensors from the Geophysical Instrument Pool Potsdam (GIPP). We deployed instruments along the fibre optic cable, covering an area of about 0.1 km2. The DAS and conventional sensors acquired data from 4 July to 23 September 2019 without major interruptions.Here, we show key features of this the extraordinary multidisciplinary dataset. Thanks to the high spatial resolution (2 m), we could find locations of hypothesized faults in Piano delle Concazze area. Thanks to the long acquisition period, we continuously tracked Etna activity, marked by several eruptive episodes, including ash emissions, strombolian and effusive activities from the summit craters. The most intense and sustained eruptive events occurred in 18-20 July, 27-28 July and 9-13 September. We investigate the application of well-established analysis techniques in volcano-seismology to DAS dataset in order to assess the performance of the system in detecting and characterizing volcanic events.Our findings demonstrate that DAS technology can record on a long term basis volcanic activity, which suggests DAS technology can be integrated to volcanic monitoring systems.

Volcanic and seismic activities produce a variety of phenomena that put population at risk. Etna volcano provides an example where volcanic and tectonic processes are strongly coupled. Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) technology has been for the first time tested both in 2018 and 2019 as a new tool for monitoring the complex tectonic and volcanic interactions at Etna volcano from summit to the sea floor. We connected up to 3 iDAS interrogators, sometimes simultaneously, to optical cables close to the summit, in urban areas and offshore. Each iDAS measured the dynamic strain rate along the whole length of the optical fibre, from the interferometric analysis of the back-scattered light.In the summit area, we connect an iDAS interrogator inside the Volcanological Observatory of Pizzi Deneri (2800 m elevation close to Etna summit) to record dynamic strain signals along a 1.5 km-long fibre optic cable that we deployed in the scoria of Piano delle Concazze. We recorded signals associated with various volcanic events, local and distant earthquakes, thunderstorm, as well as many other anthropogenic signals (e.g., tourists). To validate the DAS signal we collocated along the fibre cable multi-parametric arrays (comprising geophones, broadband seismometers, infrasonic arrays). During the survey periods, Etna activity was mainly characterized by moderate but frequent explosive and/or effusive activity from summit craters. Our observations suggests that DAS technology can record volcano-related signals (in the order of tens nanostrain) with unprecedented spatial and temporal resolutions, opening new opportunities for the understanding of volcano processes.In urban environments, taking advantage of the existence of fibre optic telecommunication infrastructures, we connected iDAS interrogator to fibre optic cables, known to cross active faults linked to the volcano eastern flank dynamics. We recorded dynamic strain rate along a 4 km cable for about 20 days in Zafferana village and along a 12 km-long cable running from Linera to Fleri. We also tested DAS recording along a 40 km-long fiber optic telecommunication cable on the western side of the volcano, at the border between the sedimentary layer and the volcano edifice.On the sea floor, we connected an iDAS interrogator to a 30-km long fibre within a cable transmitting data from sub-marine instrumentation to INFN-LNS facility at the Catania harbour. We record dynamic strain signals from local and regional earthquakes and detect some previously unknown faults offsetting the sea floor below the eastern flank of the volcano.Our results demonstrate that DAS technology is able to contribute to the monitoring system of earthquake and volcanic phenomena at Etna volcano, and thereby could improve the volcanic and seismic hazard assessment in the future.

Reverse movement on the Harz Northern Boundary Fault was responsible for the Late Cretaceous uplift of the Harz Mountains in northern Germany. Using the known geometry of the surface position and dip of the fault, and a published cross section of the Base Permian horizon, we show that it is possible to predict the probable shape of the fault at depth, down to a detachment level. We use the ‘inclined-shear’ method with constant heave and argue that a shear angle of 30° was most likely. In this case, the detachment level is at a depth of ca. 25 km. Kinematic restoration of the Harz Mountains using this fault geometry does not produce a flat horizon, rather it results in a ca. 4 km depression. Airy–Heiskanen isostatic equilibrium adjustment of the Harz Mountains restores the Base Permian horizon to the horizontal, as well as raising the Moho to a depth of 32 km, a typical value for northern Germany. Restoration also causes a rotation of tectonic fabrics within the Harz Mountains of about 11° clockwise. We show that this model geometry is very good fit to the interpreted DEKORP BASIN 9601 deep seismic profile.

A passive seismic experiment using 25 broadband and 20 short‐period stations was conducted between September 2017 and September 2018 at Los Humeros geothermal field, an important natural laboratory for superhot geothermal systems in Mexico. From the recorded local seismicity, we derive a minimum 1‐D velocity model and obtain 3‐D Vp and Vp/Vs structures of Los Humeros. We improved the classical local earthquake tomography by using a postprocessing statistical approach. Several inversions were computed and averaged to reduce artifacts introduced by the model parametrization and to increase the resolution of the investigated region. Finally, the resulting Vp and Vp/Vs structures and associated seismicity were integrated with newly acquired geophysical and petrophysical data for comprehensive interpretation. The recorded seismicity is mainly grouped in three clusters, two of which seem directly related to exploitation activities. By combining new laboratory measurements and existing well data with our Vp model, we estimate possible geological unit boundaries. One large intrusion‐like body in the Vp model, together with neighboring high Vp/Vs anomalies, hints at a region of active resurgence or uplift due to the intrusion of new magma at the northern portion of the geothermal field. We interpret high Vp/Vs features as fluid bearing regions potentially favorable for further geothermal exploitation. Deep reaching permeable faults cutting the reservoir unit could explain fluid flow from a deeper local heat source in the area., Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 125 (12), ISSN:2169-9313, ISSN:0148-0227, ISSN:2169-9356

Elastic moduli derived from vertical seismic profiles (VSPs) and 2-D SH-wave reflection seismic profiles are used to characterize mechanical properties of rocks in sinkhole areas. VP and VS were used to calculate the Poisson's ratio and the dynamic shear modulus. The study shows that 2-D shear wave reflection seismics is suited to depict the heterogeneities of the subsurface induced by subsurface erosion. Low shear wave velocities of ca. 120-350 m s-1 and low shear strength values between 25 and 250 MPa are identified for the subsurface erosion horizon that consists of soluble Permian evapourites and the disturbed overlying deposits. These low values are a result of cavities and fractures induced by dissolution, creating unstable zones. In compliance with the shear modulus the Poisson's ratio derived from the VSPs shows values of 0.38-0.48 for both the presumed subsurface erosion horizon, and the deposits above. This is a further indicator of reduced underground stability. In the VSPs, anomalies of the shear modulus and the Poisson's ratio correlate with low electrical resistivities of less than 10 ��m from borehole logs, indicating high conductivity due to fluid content. Further investigation reveals a conversion of S-to-P wave for the subsurface erosion horizon, which is probably the result of dipping layers and an oriented fracture network. Seismic attribute analysis of the 2-D sections shows strong attenuation of high frequencies and low similarity of adjacent traces, which correlate with the degree of subsurface erosion induced wave disturbance of the underground. �� 2020 The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Royal Astronomical Society.

At the geothermal test site near Groß Schönebeck (NE German Basin), a new 3D seismic reflection survey was conducted to study geothermal target layers at around 4 km depth and 150°C. We present a workflow for seismic facies classification and modelling which is applied to a prospective sandstone horizon within the Rotliegend formation. Signal attributes are calculated along the horizon using the continuous Morlet wavelet transform. We use a short mother wavelet to allow for the temporal resolution of the relatively short reflection signals to be analysed. Time‐frequency domain data patterns form the input of a neural network clustering using self‐organizing maps. Neural model patterns are adopted during iterative learning to simulate the information inherent in the input data. After training we determine a gradient function across the self‐organizing maps and apply an image processing technique called watershed segmentation. The result is a pattern clustering based on similarities in wavelet transform characteristics. Three different types of wavelet transform patterns were found for the sandstone horizon. We apply seismic waveform modelling to improve the understanding of the classification results. The modelling tests indicate that thickness variations have a much stronger influence on the wavelet transform response of the sandstone horizon compared with reasonable variations of seismic attenuation. In our interpretation, the assumed thickness variations could be a result of variable paleo‐topography during deposition of predominantly fluvial sediments. A distinct seismic facies distribution is interpreted as a system of thicker paleo‐channels deposited within a deepened landscape. The results provide constraints for the ongoing development of the geothermal test site., Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100006360

High-resolution, near-surface, shear wave reflection seismic measurements were carried out in November 2013 at the CO2CRC Otway Project site, Victoria, Australia with the aim to determine, and if so, where deeper faults reach the near subsurface. From a previous P wave 3-D reflection seismic data set that was concentrated on a reservoir at 2 km depth, we can only interpret faults up to 400 m below sea level. For the future monitoring in the overburden of the CO2 reservoir it is important to know whether and how the faults continue in the subsurface. We prove that two regional fault zones do in fact reach the surface instead of dying out at depth. Individual first break signatures in the shot gathers along the profiles support this interpretation. However, this finding does not imply perforce communication between the reservoir and the surface in the framework of CO2 injection. The shear wave seismic sections image with high resolution (better than 3 m vertically), and complementary to existing P wave volumes different tectonic structures. Similar structures also outcrop on the southern coast of the Otway Basin. Both the seismic and the outcrops evidence the complex youngest structural history of the area.

We present structural models of two exemplary conjugate seismic lines of the southernmost South Atlantic margins to examine their initial evolution, especially the seaward-dipping reflectors (SDRs). Modeling illustrates the different structure and inclination angles of the SDRs, which therefore require different subsidence histories. Since typical symmetrical subsidence models are not applicable, we suggest a model with a westward-dipping detachment fault that offsets the SDRs on the South American margin and we speculate on passively subsided SDRs on the South African margin. We propose a simple-shear rifting mechanism to explain the initial break-up of the South Atlantic.

For both modeling and management of a reservoir, pathways to and through the seal into the overburden are of vital importance. Therefore, we suggest applying the presented structural modeling workflow that analyzes internal strain, elongation, and paleogeomorphology of the given volume. It is assumed that the magnitude of strain is a proxy for the intensity of subseismic scale fracturing. Zones of high strain may correlate with potential migration pathways. Because of the enhanced need for securing near-surface layer integrity when CO2 storage is needed, an interpretation of three-dimensional (3-D) seismic data from the Cooperative Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Technologies Otway site, Australia, was undertaken. The complete 3-D model was retrodeformed. Compaction- plus deformation-related strain was calculated for the whole volume. The strain distribution after 3-D restoration showed a tripartition of the study area, with the most deformation (30%–50%) in the southwest. Of 24 faults, 4 compartmentalize different zones of deformation. The paleomorphology of the seal formation is determined to tilt northward, presumably because of a much larger normal fault to the north. From horizontal extension analysis, it is evident that most deformation occurred before 66 Ma and stopped abruptly because of the production of oceanic crust in the Southern Ocean. Within the seal horizon, various high-strain zones and therefore subseismic pathways were determined. These zones range in width from 50 m (164 ft) up to 400 m (1312 ft) wide and do not simply follow fault traces, and—most importantly—none of them continue into the overburden. Such information is relevant for reservoir management and public communication and to safeguard near-surface ecologic assets.

The North German Basin is one of the three major type localities in Germany for deep geothermal energy. Here, the pore space is the dominant parameter, in contrast to fractures (Rhine Graben) and karst (Molasse Basin). To further develop the geothermal research platform Groß Schönebeck located in the Northeast German Basin, a subset of the North German Basin, we investigated the geological structure and the existence of possible fault systems in the subsurface. For this purpose, we carried out a high-resolution 3-D reflection seismic survey at the location to overcome methodical restrictions of the few 2-D seismic profiles that cross the area of interest, such as spatial focusing effects and fault imaging. The survey area extends 8 km × 8 km at the surface and focusses down to reservoir depths at 4 km. With four vibrators as source (12–96 Hz sweep, 12 s duration), we used a source line spacing of 700 m and a receiver line spacing of 400 m with both 50 m source and geophone spacing. Data processing encompassed CRS (Common Reflection Surface) stacking, post-stack time migration and depth conversion. We observed a smooth doming of the Zechstein salt from 0.6 to 1 km thickness above the continuous top of the Rotliegend Group at around 4 km depth, and the Mesozoic horizons above appear as mainly continuous reflection surfaces with gentle undulations and occasional normal faulting. We highly resolved the supra-salt sequences in the study area for the first time, which allowed us image an almost complete suite of reflectors mapped in other parts of the Northeast German Basin. However, less resolved, lower frequency images are encountered deeper than ~ 4 km. Two important factors for further field development are that we do not observe an apparent influence of crustal-scale faults, which were expected from former conceptual models for the region, and that at the current status of work, the reservoir does not show a fracture-dominated character.

High-resolution reflection seismic methods are an established non-destructive tool for engineering tasks. In the near surface, shear-wave reflection seismic measurements usually offer a higher spatial resolution in the same effective signal frequency spectrum than P-wave data, but data quality varies more strongly. To discuss the causes of these differences, we investigated a P-wave and a SH-wave seismic reflection profile measured at the same location on the island of Föhr, Germany and applied seismic reflection processing to the field data as well as finite-difference modelling of the seismic wave field. The simulations calculated were adapted to the acquisition field geometry, comprising 2 m receiver distance (1 m for SH wave) and 4 m shot distance along the 1.5 km long P-wave and 800 m long SH-wave profiles. A Ricker wavelet and the use of absorbing frames were first-order model parameters. The petrophysical parameters to populate the structural models down to 400 m depth were taken from borehole data, VSP (vertical seismic profile) measurements and cross-plot relations. The simulation of the P-wave wave-field was based on interpretation of the P-wave depth section that included a priori information from boreholes and airborne electromagnetics. Velocities for 14 layers in the model were derived from the analysis of five nearby VSPs (vP =1600–2300 m s-1). Synthetic shot data were compared with the field data and seismic sections were created. Major features like direct wave and reflections are imaged. We reproduce the mayor reflectors in the depth section of the field data, e.g. a prominent till layer and several deep reflectors. The SH-wave model was adapted accordingly but only led to minor correlation with the field data and produced a higher signal-to-noise ratio. Therefore, we suggest to consider for future simulations additional features like intrinsic damping, thin layering, or a near-surface weathering layer. These may lead to a better understanding of key parameters determining the data quality of near-surface shear-wave seismic measurements.

The Dead Sea region has faced substantial environmental challenges in recent decades, including water resource scarcity, similar to 1 m annual decreases in the water level, sinkhole development, ascending-brine freshwater pollution, and seismic disturbance risks. Natural processes are significantly affected by human interference as well as by climate change and tectonic developments over the long term. To get a deep understanding of processes and their interactions, innovative scientific approaches that integrate disciplinary research and education are required. The research project DESERVE (Helmholtz Virtual Institute Dead Sea Research Venue) addresses these challenges in an interdisciplinary approach that includes geophysics, hydrology, and meteorology. The project is implemented by a consortium of scientific institutions in neighboring countries of the Dead Sea (Israel, Jordan, Palestine Territories) and participating German Helmholtz Centres (KIT, GFZ, UFZ). A new monitoring network of meteorological, hydrological, and seismic/geodynamic stations has been established, and extensive field research and numerical simulations have been undertaken. For the first time, innovative measurement and modeling techniques have been applied to the extreme conditions of the Dead Sea and its surroundings. The preliminary results show the potential of these methods. First time ever performed eddy covariance measurements give insight into the governing factors of Dead Sea evaporation. High-resolution bathymetric investigations reveal a strong correlation between submarine springs and neo-tectonic patterns. Based on detailed studies of stratigraphy and borehole information, the extension of the subsurface drainage basin of the Dead Sea is now reliably estimated. Originality has been achieved in monitoring flash floods in an arid basin at its outlet and simultaneously in tributaries, supplemented by spatio-temporal rainfall data. Low-altitude, high resolution photogrammetry, allied to satellite image analysis and to geophysical surveys (e.g. shear-wave reflections) has enabled a more detailed characterization of sinkhole morphology and temporal development and the possible subsurface controls thereon. All the above listed efforts and scientific results take place with the interdisciplinary education of young scientists. They are invited to attend joint thematic workshops and winter schools as well as to participate in field experiments. (C) 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Matthias Halisch1, Holger Steeb2, Steven Henkel3, and Charlotte M. Krawczyk4,5 1Leibniz Institute for Applied Geophysics (LIAG), Stilleweg 2, 30655 Hanover, Germany 2University of Stuttgart, Institute of Mechanics, Pfaffenwaldring 7, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany 3Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Institute of Geosciences, Burgweg 11, 07749 Jena, Germany 4GFZ German Research Center for Geosciences, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany 5TU Berlin, Institute for Applied Geosciences, Ernst-Reuter-Platz 1, 10587 Berlin, Germany

We constructed a network optimization scheme based on well established survey design tools to design and qualify local and regional microseismic monitoring arrays dedicated for geothermal exploration and volcano monitoring. The optimization routine is based on the traditional minimization of the volume error ellipsoid of the linearized earthquake location problem (D-criterion) with the twist of a sequential design procedure. Seismic stations are removed one by one to obtain networks for constraining the locations of multiple hypothetic earthquakes with varying local magnitudes. The sequential approach is simple and allows the analysis of benefit/cost relations. Cost curves are computed for all hypothetic events to reveal the minimum optimal number of stations given specific design experiment objectives. The scheme is first demonstrated on three test design experiments. Later, we use the routine to augment an existing seismic network for monitoring microseismicity in a geothermal field in NE Iceland (Theistareykir). The resulting 23 station network would become the backbone of a reservoir behavior and exploitation activity study. Hypothetic event locations and magnitude relations are taken from a previous regional seismicity study and coincide with geothermal injection and production areas. Sensitivities are calculated with a known 1D velocity model profile using a finite-difference back-ray tracer, and body wave amplitudes are computed from known local magnitude relations. Finally, expected earthquake location accuracies are calculated via multiple Monte Carlo experiments. The design routine is later used to qualify an existing seismic network located in SW Iceland (Reykjanes). The seismic array is reduced to strategic positions, and benefit and expected accuracies are quantified to observe whether costs could have been optimized had a previous network design experiment been performed. Overall, we explore quick and flexible tools for designing and qualifying networks for many applications at various scales.