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Finite difference seismic modeling of axial magma chambers
Author(s) -
Swift Stephen A.,
Dougherty Martin E.,
Stephen Ralph A.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/gl017i012p02105
Subject(s) - geology , borehole , refraction , magma , magma chamber , shear (geology) , finite difference , polarity reversal , seismic tomography , displacement (psychology) , geophysics , seismology , optics , physics , petrology , geotechnical engineering , volcano , psychology , mathematical analysis , mathematics , voltage , quantum mechanics , mantle (geology) , psychotherapist
We tested the feasibility of using finite difference methods to model seismic propagation at ∼10 Hz through a two‐dimensional representation of an axial magma chamber with a thin, liquid lid. Our technique produces time series of displacement or pressure at seafloor receivers to mimic a seismic refraction experiment and snapshots of P and S energy propagation. The results indicate that our implementation is stable for models with sharp velocity contrasts and complex geometries. We observe a high‐energy, downward‐traveling shear phase, observable only with borehole receivers, that would be useful in studying the nature and shape of magma chambers. The ability of finite difference methods to model high‐order wave phenomena makes this method ideal for testing velocity models of spreading axes and for planning near‐axis drilling of the East Pacific Rise in order to optimize the benefits from shear wave imaging of sub‐axis structure.