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Regional and semi-regional modelling of wide-angle shear waves in OBS data from the Vøring Basin, N. Norway—a comparison

Earth, Planets and Space volume 55, pages 65–81 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

Shear wave refractions and wide-angle reflections recorded on densely spaced Ocean Bottom Seismometers (OBSs) in the Vøring Basin have been modelled by use of 2-D kinematic ray-tracing. Twenty-five three component OBSs were deployed along a 120 km long profile, and the semi-regional shear-wave velocity model derived from modelling the horizontal components is compared with a regional model from 5 OBSs along the same profile. The overall shear-wave velocity distribution of the two models are fairly similar, proving that the regional procedure with large OBS spacing provides a reliable regional shear-wave velocity model. The semi-regional model is more detailed than the regional model due to the much closer receiver spacing. The vertical resolution is improved, especially in the shallow sediments, and this enables a more detailed lithological interpretation to be carried out. Intermediate and deep sediments are also better resolved in the semi-regional model, indicating both vertical and lateral changes in the lithology. The V p /V s ratio inferred for the crystalline basement is 1.75 in both models, considered to be typical for the continental crust. An increase in the V p /V s ratio in the lower crust is observed both in the regional and in the semi-regional model. This indicates a more mafic composition in the lower crust, supporting the interpretation that the lower crust is a “mixing” of continental crust and magmatic underplating.

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Author notes

  1. Per Digranes

    Present address: Statoil, Bergen, Norway

  2. Shuichi Kodaira

    Present address: Jamstec, Yokosuka, Japan

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Solid Earth Physics, Univ. of Bergen, Allegt. 41, 5007, Bergen, Norway

    Per Digranes, Rolf Mjelde & Shuichi Kodaira

  2. Earthquake Research Institute, Tokyo Univ., Yayoi 1-1-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0032, Japan

    Rolf Mjelde, Toshihiko Kanazawa & Hajime Shiobara

  3. Institute for Seismology and Volcanology, Hokkaido Univ., N10W8 Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060, Japan

    Hideki Shimamura & Hajime Shiobara

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  1. Per Digranes
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Digranes, P., Mjelde, R., Kodaira, S. et al. Regional and semi-regional modelling of wide-angle shear waves in OBS data from the Vøring Basin, N. Norway—a comparison. Earth Planet Sp 55, 65–81 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03351734

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