Lateral variation of attenuation of P and S waves beneath the United States

Abstract New observations of the differential attenuation of long period S waves, measured using a spectral ratio technique, and a re-examination of reported attenuation measurements for P waves indicate significant lateral variations in attenuation beneath the United States. High attentuation is observed at stations between the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada-Cascade ranges and in the northeast United States. Low attenuation is seen at stations in the central and eastern parts of the country and along the Pacific coast. Relative magnitudes of S - and P -differential attenuation are consistent with P -wave absorption being due entirely to losses in shear. A large azimuthal dependence for near-source attenuation is suggested for an earthquake on a mid-ocean ridge.

[1]  J. B. Walsh.  New analysis of attenuation in partially melted rock , 1969 .

[2]  D. L. Anderson,et al.  Relative amplitudes of P and S waves as a mantle reconnaissance tool , 1969 .

[3]  P. Molnar,et al.  Lateral variations of attenuation in the upper mantle and discontinuities in the lithosphere , 1969 .

[4]  K. Khattri.  Focal mechanism of the Brazil deep focus earthquake of November 3, 1965, from the amplitude spectra of isolated P waves , 1969 .

[5]  K. Aki,et al.  Simultaneous determination of the seismic moment and attenuation of seismic surface waves , 1969 .

[6]  T. Teng.  Attenuation of body waves and the Q structure of the mantle , 1968 .

[7]  J. B. Walsh.  Attenuation in partially melted material , 1968 .

[8]  D. L. Anderson,et al.  Travel times, apparent velocities and amplitudes of body waves , 1968 .

[9]  T. Utsu,et al.  Anomalies in Seismic Wave Velocity and Attenuation Associated with a Deep Earthquake Zone(2) , 1967 .

[10]  O. Nuttli,et al.  Travel-time curves and upper-mantle structure from long period S waves , 1967 .

[11]  R. Sato,et al.  Dissipation in the earth's mantle and rigidity and viscosity in the earth's core determined from waves multiply reflected from the mantle-core boundary , 1967 .

[12]  A. L. Hales,et al.  P and S Travel Time Anomalies and their Interpretation , 1967 .

[13]  H. Kanamori.  Attenuation of P Waves in the Upper and Lower Mantle , 1967 .

[14]  J. Oliver,et al.  Deep earthquake zones, anomalous structures in the upper mantle, and the lithosphere , 1967 .

[15]  H. Kanamori.  Spectrum of short‐period core phases in relation to the attenuation in the mantle , 1967 .

[16]  G. Sutton,et al.  Short-period seismic energy radiation patterns from underground nuclear explosions and small-magnitude earthquakes , 1967 .

[17]  A. L. Hales,et al.  AN ANALYSIS OF THE TRAVEL TIMES OF S WAVES TO NORTH AMERICAN STATIONS, IN THE DISTANCE RANGE 28 DEGREES TO 82 DEGREES , 1967 .

[18]  R. Sumner.  Attenuation of earthquake generated P waves along the western flank of the Andes , 1967 .

[19]  H. Kanamori.  Spectrum of P and PcP in relation to the mantle‐core boundary and attenuation in the mantle , 1967 .

[20]  P. Attewell,et al.  WAVE ATTENUATION AND INTERNAL FRICTION AS FUNCTIONS OF FREQUENCY IN ROCKS , 1966 .

[21]  T. Utsu.  VARIATIONS IN SPECTRA OF P WAVES RECORDED AT CANADIAN ARCTIC SEISMOGRAPH STATIONS , 1966 .

[22]  A. L. Hales,et al.  An analysis of the travel times of P waves to North American Stations, in the distance range 32° to 100° , 1966 .

[23]  T. Teng,et al.  Mechanism of Deep Earthquakes from Spectrums of Isolated Body-Wave Signals , 1965 .

[24]  P. Basham,et al.  VARIATIONS IN SHORT-PERIOD RECORDS FROM CANADIAN SEISMOGRAPH STATIONS , 1965 .

[25]  T. Teng,et al.  A procedure for source studies from spectrums of long-period seismic body waves , 1965 .

[26]  D. B. Slemmons,et al.  Catalog of Nevada earthquakes, 1852-1960 , 1965 .

[27]  G. E. Frantti.  Attenuation of Pn from offshore Maine explosions , 1965 .

[28]  L. Sykes.  The seismicity of the Arctic , 1965 .

[29]  D. L. Anderson,et al.  Attenuation of seismic energy in the upper mantle , 1965 .

[30]  D. L. Anderson,et al.  Attenuation of shear waves in the upper and lower mantle , 1964 .

[31]  D. L. Anderson,et al.  The Anelasticity of the Earth. , 1964, Science.

[32]  B. G. Brooks,et al.  Travel times and amplitudes of principal body phases recorded from gnome , 1962 .

[33]  N. A. Haskell.  Crustal reflection of plane P and SV waves , 1962 .

[34]  B. Gutenberg.  Attenuation of seismic waves in the earth's mantle , 1958 .

[35]  B. Gutenberg.  Amplitudes of P, PP, and S and magnitude of shallow earthquakes , 1945 .

[36]  T. Mikumo,et al.  Q Distribution for Long-Period P Waves in the Mantle , 1968 .

[37]  Tuneto Kurita,et al.  Attenuation of Long-period P-waves and Q in the Mantle , 1966 .

[38]  K. Takano,et al.  Differential Attenuation of P Waves as Derived from a Hindu-Kush Earthquake , 1966 .

[39]  A. Karasik,et al.  Magnetic Data Confirm That the Nansen - Amundsen Basin Is of Normal Oceanic Type , 1966 .

[40]  T. Teng.  Body-Wave and Earthquake Source Studies , 1966 .

[41]  T. Asada,et al.  Attenuation of Short Period P Waves in the Mantle , 1963 .