TY - JOUR A1 - Weber, Michael H. A1 - Zetsche, F. A1 - Ryberg, Trond A1 - Schulze, A. A1 - Spangenberg, Erik A1 - Huenges, Ernst T1 - Seismic detection limits of small, deep, man-made reflectors : a test at a geothermal site in northern Germany N2 - A key question for the development of geothermal plants is the seismic detection and monitoring of fluid injections at several kilometers depth. The detection and monitoring limits are controlled by several parameters, for example, the strength of seismic sources, number of receivers, vertical stacking, and noise conditions. For a known reference reflector at 2.66 km depth at a geothermal site in northern Germany the results of a simple surface seismic experiment were therefore combined with numerical forward modeling for different injection scenarios at 3.8 km depth. The underlying idea is that changes of reflectivity from the injection at 3.8 km must be larger than the variance of the measurements to be observable. Assuming that the injection at 3.8 km depth would produce a subhorizontal disklike target with a fracture porosity of 2% or 5% (the critical porosity) the water injection volume has to be at least 443 and 115 m(3), respectively, to be detectable from the surface. If the injection on the other hand does not create subhorizontal but subvertical pathways or only reduces the seismic velocities via the increased pore pressure in the immediate vicinity of the bore hole, the injection is undetectable from the surface. The most promising approach is therefore to move sources and/or receivers closer to the target, that is, the use of borehole instrumentation Y1 - 2005 SN - 0037-1106 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Weber, Michael H. A1 - Abu-Ayyash, Khalil A1 - Abueladas, Abdel-Rahman A1 - Agnon, Amotz A1 - Al-Amoush, H. A1 - Babeyko, Andrey A1 - Bartov, Yosef A1 - Baumann, M. A1 - Ben-Avraham, Zvi A1 - Bock, Günter A1 - Bribach, Jens A1 - El-Kelani, R. A1 - Forster, A. A1 - Förster, Hans-Jürgen A1 - Frieslander, U. A1 - Garfunkel, Zvi A1 - Grunewald, Steffen A1 - Gotze, Hans-Jürgen A1 - Haak, Volker A1 - Haberland, Christian A1 - Hassouneh, Mohammed A1 - Helwig, S. A1 - Hofstetter, Alfons A1 - Jackel, K. H. A1 - Kesten, Dagmar A1 - Kind, Rainer A1 - Maercklin, Nils A1 - Mechie, James A1 - Mohsen, Amjad A1 - Neubauer, F. M. A1 - Oberhänsli, Roland A1 - Qabbani, I. A1 - Ritter, O. A1 - Rumpker, G. A1 - Rybakov, M. A1 - Ryberg, Trond A1 - Scherbaum, Frank A1 - Schmidt, J. A1 - Schulze, A. A1 - Sobolev, Stephan Vladimir A1 - Stiller, M. A1 - Th, T1 - The crustal structure of the Dead Sea Transform N2 - To address one of the central questions of plate tectonics-How do large transform systems work and what are their typical features?-seismic investigations across the Dead Sea Transform (DST), the boundary between the African and Arabian plates in the Middle East, were conducted for the first time. A major component of these investigations was a combined reflection/ refraction survey across the territories of Palestine, Israel and Jordan. The main results of this study are: (1) The seismic basement is offset by 3-5 km under the DST, (2) The DST cuts through the entire crust, broadening in the lower crust, (3) Strong lower crustal reflectors are imaged only on one side of the DST, (4) The seismic velocity sections show a steady increase in the depth of the crust-mantle transition (Moho) from 26 km at the Mediterranean to 39 km under the Jordan highlands, with only a small but visible, asymmetric topography of the Moho under the DST. These observations can be linked to the left-lateral movement of 105 km of the two plates in the last 17 Myr, accompanied by strong deformation within a narrow zone cutting through the entire crust. Comparing the DST and the San Andreas Fault (SAF) system, a strong asymmetry in subhorizontal lower crustal reflectors and a deep reaching deformation zone both occur around the DST and the SAF. The fact that such lower crustal reflectors and deep deformation zones are observed in such different transform systems suggests that these structures are possibly fundamental features of large transform plate boundaries Y1 - 2004 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Stankiewicz, Jacek A1 - Munoz, G. A1 - Ritter, Oliver A1 - Bedrosian, Paul A. A1 - Ryberg, Trond A1 - Weckmann, Ute A1 - Weber, Michael H. T1 - Shallow lithological structure across the Dead Sea Transform derived from geophysical experiments JF - Geochemistry, geophysics, geosystems N2 - In the framework of the DEad SEa Rift Transect (DESERT) project a 150 km magnetotelluric profile consisting of 154 sites was carried out across the Dead Sea Transform. The resistivity model presented shows conductive structures in the western section of the study area terminating abruptly at the Arava Fault. For a more detailed analysis we performed a joint interpretation of the resistivity model with a P wave velocity model from a partially coincident seismic experiment. The technique used is a statistical correlation of resistivity and velocity values in parameter space. Regions of high probability of a coexisting pair of values for the two parameters are mapped back into the spatial domain, illustrating the geographical location of lithological classes. In this study, four regions of enhanced probability have been identified, and are remapped as four lithological classes. This technique confirms the Arava Fault marks the boundary of a highly conductive lithological class down to a depth of similar to 3 km. That the fault acts as an impermeable barrier to fluid flow is unusual for large fault zone, which often exhibit a fault zone characterized by high conductivity and low seismic velocity. At greater depths it is possible to resolve the Precambrian basement into two classes characterized by vastly different resistivity values but similar seismic velocities. The boundary between these classes is approximately coincident with the Al Quweira Fault, with higher resistivities observed east of the fault. This is interpreted as evidence for the original deformation along the DST originally taking place at the Al Quweira Fault, before being shifted to the Arava Fault. KW - magnetotellurics KW - seismic tomography Y1 - 2011 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1029/2011GC003678 SN - 1525-2027 VL - 12 IS - 3-4 PB - American Geophysical Union CY - Washington ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Ryberg, Trond A1 - Haberland, Christian A1 - Haberlau, Thomas A1 - Weber, Michael H. A1 - Bauer, Klaus A1 - Behrmann, Jan H. A1 - Jokat, Wilfried T1 - Crustal structure of northwest Namibia: Evidence for plume-rift-continent interaction JF - Geology N2 - The causes for the formation of large igneous provinces and hotspot trails are still a matter of considerable dispute. Seismic tomography and other studies suggest that hot mantle material rising from the core-mantle boundary (CMB) might play a significant role in the formation of such hotspot trails. An important area to verify this concept is the South Atlantic region, with hotspot trails that spatially coincide with one of the largest low-velocity regions at the CMB, the African large low shear-wave velocity province. The Walvis Ridge started to form during the separation of the South American and African continents at ca. 130 Ma as a consequence of Gondwana breakup. Here, we present the first deep-seismic sounding images of the crustal structure from the landfall area of the Walvis Ridge at the Namibian coast to constrain processes of plume-lithosphere interaction and the formation of continental flood basalts (Parana and Etendeka continental flood basalts) and associated intrusive rocks. Our study identified a narrow region (<100 km) of high-seismic-velocity anomalies in the middle and lower crust, which we interpret as a massive mafic intrusion into the northern Namibian continental crust. Seismic crustal reflection imaging shows a flat Moho as well as reflectors connecting the high-velocity body with shallow crustal structures that we speculate to mark potential feeder channels of the Etendeka continental flood basalt. We suggest that the observed massive but localized mafic intrusion into the lower crust results from similar-sized variations in the lithosphere (i.e., lithosphere thickness or preexisting structures). Y1 - 2015 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1130/G36768.1 SN - 0091-7613 SN - 1943-2682 VL - 43 IS - 8 SP - 739 EP - 742 PB - American Institute of Physics CY - Boulder ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Ryberg, Trond A1 - Braeuer, Benjamin A1 - Weber, Michael T1 - Upper mantle structure at Walvis Ridge from P-n tomography JF - Tectonophysics : international journal of geotectonics and the geology and physics of the interior of the earth N2 - Passive continental margins offer the unique opportunity to study the processes involved in continental extension and break-up. Within the LISPWAL (Llthospheric Structure of the Namibian continental Passive margin at the intersection with the Walvis Ridge from amphibious seismic investigations) project, combined on- and offshore seismic experiments were designed to characterize the Southern African passive margin at the Walvis Ridge in northern Namibia. In addition to extensive analysis of the crustal structures, we carried out seismic investigations targeting the velocity structure of the upper mantle in the landfall region of the Walvis Ridge with the Namibian coast. Upper mantle P-n travel time tomography from controlled source, amphibious seismic data was used to investigate the sub-Moho upper mantle seismic velocity. We succeeded in imaging upper mantle structures potentially associated with continental break-up and/or the Tristan da Cunha hotspot track. We found mostly coast-parallel sub-Moho velocity anomalies, interpreted as structures which were created during Gondwana break-up. (C)2016 Published by Elsevier B.V. KW - Seismic investigations KW - P-n tomography KW - passive continental margin KW - Gondwana break-up Y1 - 2017 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2016.08.009 SN - 0040-1951 SN - 1879-3266 VL - 716 SP - 121 EP - 129 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - THES A1 - Ryberg, Trond T1 - Die Struktur des oberen Erdmantels und der Übergangszone Y1 - 1999 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Planert, Lars A1 - Behrmann, Jan H. A1 - Jokat, Wilfried A1 - Fromm, Tanja A1 - Ryberg, Trond A1 - Weber, Michael A1 - Haberland, Christian T1 - The wide-angle seismic image of a complex rifted margin, offshore North Namibia: Implications for the tectonics of continental breakup JF - Tectonophysics : international journal of geotectonics and the geology and physics of the interior of the earth N2 - Voluminous magmatism during the South Atlantic opening has been considered as a classical example for plume related continental breakup. We present a study of the crustal structure around Walvis Ridge, near the intersection with the African margin. Two wide-angle seismic profiles were acquired. One is oriented NNW–SSE, following the continent–ocean transition and crossing Walvis Ridge. A second amphibious profile runs NW–SE from the Angola Basin into continental Namibia. At the continent–ocean boundary (COB) the mafic crust beneath Walvis Ridge is up to 33 km thick, with a pronounced high-velocity lower crustal body. Towards the south there is a smooth transition to 20–25 km thick crust underlying the COB in the Walvis Basin, with a similar velocity structure, indicating a gabbroic lower crust with associated cumulates at the base. The northern boundary of Walvis Ridge towards the Angola Basin shows a sudden change to oceanic crust only 4–6 km thick, coincident with the projection of the Florianopolis Fracture Zone, one of the most prominent tectonic features of the South Atlantic ocean basin. In the amphibious profile the COB is defined by a sharp transition from oceanic to rifted continental crust, with a magmatic overprint landward of the intersection of Walvis Ridge with the Namibian margin. The continental crust beneath the Congo Craton is 40 km thick, shoaling to 35 km further SE. The velocity models show that massive high-velocity gabbroic intrusives are restricted to a narrow zone directly underneath Walvis Ridge and the COB in the south. This distribution of rift-related magmatism is not easily reconciled with models of continental breakup following the establishment of a large, axially symmetric plume in the Earth's mantle. Rift-related lithospheric stretching and associated transform faulting play an overriding role in locating magmatism, dividing the margin in a magma-dominated southern and an essentially amagmatic northern segment. KW - Wide-angle seismic KW - Crustal structure KW - Walvis Ridge KW - Hotspot KW - Rifted continental margin KW - South Atlantic Y1 - 2017 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2016.06.024 SN - 0040-1951 SN - 1879-3266 VL - 716 SP - 130 EP - 148 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Paschke, Marco A1 - Stiller, Manfred A1 - Ryberg, Trond A1 - Weber, Michael H. T1 - The shallow P-velocity structure of the southern Dead Sea basin derived from near-vertical incidence reflection seismic data in project DESIRE JF - Geophysical journal international N2 - As a part of the DEad Sea Integrated REsearch (DESIRE) project a near-vertical incidence reflection (NVR) experiment with a profile length of 122 km was completed in spring 2006. The profile crossed the southern Dead Sea basin (DSB), a pull-apart basin due to the strike-slip motion along the Dead Sea Transform (DST). The DST with a total displacement of 107 km since about 18 Ma is part of a left-lateral fault system which connects the spreading centre in the Red Sea with the Taurus collision zone in Turkey over a distance of about 1100 km. The seismic experiment comprises 972 source locations and 1045 receiver locations. Each source was recorded by similar to 180 active receivers and a field data set with 175 000 traces was created. From this data set, 124 444 P-wave first-break traveltimes have been picked. With these traveltimes a tomographic inversion was carried out, resulting in a 2-D P-wave velocity model with a rms error of 20.9 ms. This model is dominated by a low-velocity region associated with the DSB. Within the DSB, the model shows clearly the position of the Lisan salt diapir, identified by a high-velocity zone. A further feature is an unexpected laterally low-velocity zone with P-velocities of 3 km s1 embedded in regions with 4 km s1 in the shallow part on the west side of the DSB. Another observation is an anticlinal structure west of the DSB interpretated to the related Syrian arc fold belt. KW - Tomography KW - Controlled source seismology KW - Transform faults Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-246X.2011.05270.x SN - 0956-540X VL - 188 IS - 2 SP - 524 EP - 534 PB - Wiley-Blackwell CY - Malden ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Overduin, Pier Paul A1 - Haberland, Christian A1 - Ryberg, Trond A1 - Kneier, Fabian A1 - Jacobi, Tim A1 - Grigoriev, Mikhail N. A1 - Ohrnberger, Matthias T1 - Submarine permafrost depth from ambient seismic noise JF - Geophysical research letters N2 - Permafrost inundated since the last glacial maximum is degrading, potentially releasing trapped or stabilized greenhouse gases, but few observations of the depth of ice-bonded permafrost (IBP) below the seafloor exist for most of the arctic continental shelf. We use spectral ratios of the ambient vibration seismic wavefield, together with estimated shear wave velocity from the dispersion curves of surface waves, for estimating the thickness of the sediment overlying the IBP. Peaks in spectral ratios modeled for three-layered 1-D systems correspond with varying thickness of the unfrozen sediment. Seismic receivers were deployed on the seabed around Muostakh Island in the central Laptev Sea, Siberia. We derive depths of the IBP between 3.7 and 20.7m15%, increasing with distance from the shoreline. Correspondence between expected permafrost distribution, modeled response, and observational data suggests that the method is promising for the determination of the thickness of unfrozen sediment. KW - submarine permafrost KW - ambient noise KW - Siberia KW - continental shelf Y1 - 2015 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/2015GL065409 SN - 0094-8276 SN - 1944-8007 VL - 42 IS - 18 SP - 7581 EP - 7588 PB - American Geophysical Union CY - Washington ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Maercklin, Nils A1 - Haberland, Christian A1 - Ryberg, Trond A1 - Weber, Michael H. A1 - Bartov, Yosef T1 - Imaging the Dead Sea Transform with scattered seismic waves N2 - With controlled seismic sources and specifically designed receiver arrays, we image a subvertical boundary between two lithological blocks at the Arava Fault (AF) in the Middle East. The AF is the main strike-slip fault of the Dead Sea Transform (DST) in the segment between the Dead Sea and the Red Sea. Our imaging (migration) method is based on array beamforming and coherence analysis of P to P scattered seismic phases. We use a 1-D background velocity model and the direct P arrival as a reference phase. Careful resolution testing is necessary, because the target volume is irregularly sampled by rays. A spread function describing energy dispersion at localized point scatterers and synthetic calculations for large planar structures provides estimates of the resolution of the images. We resolve a 7 km long steeply dipping reflector offset roughly 1 km from the surface trace of the AF. The reflector can be imaged from about 1 km down to 4 km depth. Previous and ongoing studies in this region have shown a strong contrast across the fault: low seismic velocities and electrical resistivities to the west and high velocities and resistivities to the east of it. We therefore suggest that the imaged reflector marks the contrast between young sedimentary fill in the west and Precambrian rocks in the east. If correct, the boundary between the two blocks is offset about 1 km east of the current surface trace of the AF Y1 - 2004 SN - 0956-540X ER -