@article{HannemannKruegerDahmetal.2016, author = {Hannemann, Katrin and Kr{\"u}ger, Frank and Dahm, Torsten and Lange, Dietrich}, title = {Oceanic lithospheric S-wave velocities from the analysis of P-wave polarization at the ocean floor}, series = {Geophysical journal international}, volume = {207}, journal = {Geophysical journal international}, publisher = {Oxford Univ. Press}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {0956-540X}, doi = {10.1093/gji/ggw342}, pages = {1796 -- 1817}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Our knowledge of the absolute S-wave velocities of the oceanic lithosphere is mainly based on global surface wave tomography, local active seismic or compliance measurements using oceanic infragravity waves. The results of tomography give a rather smooth picture of the actual S-wave velocity structure and local measurements have limitations regarding the range of elastic parameters or the geometry of the measurement. Here, we use the P-wave polarization (apparent P-wave incidence angle) of teleseismic events to investigate the S-wave velocity structure of the oceanic crust and the upper tens of kilometres of the mantle beneath single stations. In this study, we present an up to our knowledge new relation of the apparent P-wave incidence angle at the ocean bottom dependent on the half-space S-wave velocity. We analyse the angle in different period ranges at ocean bottom stations (OBSs) to derive apparent S-wave velocity profiles. These profiles are dependent on the S-wave velocity as well as on the thickness of the layers in the subsurface. Consequently, their interpretation results in a set of equally valid models. We analyse the apparent P-wave incidence angles of an OBS data set which was collected in the Eastern Mid Atlantic. We are able to determine reasonable S-wave-velocity-depth models by a three-step quantitative modelling after a manual data quality control, although layer resonance sometimes influences the estimated apparent S-wave velocities. The apparent S-wave velocity profiles are well explained by an oceanic PREM model in which the upper part is replaced by four layers consisting of a water column, a sediment, a crust and a layer representing the uppermost mantle. The obtained sediment has a thickness between 0.3 and 0.9 km with S-wave velocities between 0.7 and 1.4 km s(-1). The estimated total crustal thickness varies between 4 and 10 km with S-wave velocities between 3.5 and 4.3 km s(-1). We find a slight increase of the total crustal thickness from similar to 5 to similar to 8 km towards the South in the direction of a major plate boundary, the Gloria Fault. The observed crustal thickening can be related with the known dominant compression in the vicinity of the fault. Furthermore, the resulting mantle S-wave velocities decrease from values around 5.5 to 4.5 km s(-1) towards the fault. This decrease is probably caused by serpentinization and indicates that the oceanic transform fault affects a broad region in the uppermost mantle. Conclusively, the presented method is useful for the estimation of the local S-wave velocity structure beneath ocean bottom seismic stations. It is easy to implement and consists of two main steps: (1) measurement of apparent P-wave incidence angles in different period ranges for real and synthetic data, and (2) comparison of the determined apparent S-wave velocities for real and synthetic data to estimate S-wave velocity-depth models.}, language = {en} } @article{KulikovaSchurrKruegeretal.2016, author = {Kulikova, Galina and Schurr, Bernd and Kr{\"u}ger, Frank and Brzoska, Elisabeth and Heimann, Sebastian}, title = {Source parameters of the Sarez-Pamir earthquake of 1911 February 18}, series = {Geophysical journal international}, volume = {205}, journal = {Geophysical journal international}, publisher = {Oxford Univ. Press}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {0956-540X}, doi = {10.1093/gji/ggw069}, pages = {1086 -- 1098}, year = {2016}, abstract = {The Ms \&\#8764; 7.7 Sarez-Pamir earthquake of 1911 February 18 is the largest instrumentally recorded earthquake in the Pamir region. It triggered one of the largest landslides of the past century, building a giant natural dam and forming Lake Sarez. As for many strong earthquakes from that time, information about source parameters of the Sarez-Pamir earthquake is limited due to the sparse observations. Here, we present the analysis of analogue seismic records of the Sarez-Pamir earthquake. We have collected, scanned and digitized 26 seismic records from 13 stations worldwide to relocate the epicentre and determine the event's depth (\&\#8764;26 km) and magnitude (mB7.3 and Ms7.7). The unusually good quality of the digitized waveforms allowed their modelling, revealing an NE-striking sinistral strike-slip focal mechanism in accordance with regional tectonics. The shallow depth and magnitude (Mw7.3) of the earthquake were confirmed. Additionally, we investigated the possible contribution of the landslide to the waveforms and present an alternative source model assuming the landslide and earthquake occurred in close sequence.}, language = {en} }