Determination of the Earth’s structure based on intermediate-period surface wave recordings of tidal gravimeters: a case study

Abstract

Abstract Tidal gravimeters can detect intermediate-period surface waves with high accuracy. Three gravimetric stations with estimated transfer functions and co-located with seismic stations were selected: two in Belgium (Membach and Rochefort, in Western Europe) and one in Germany (Black Forest, in Central Europe). The compatibility of gravimetric and seismic recordings of earthquakes in the period range of 10-180 s has been presented. The series of monochromatic signals separated from surface waves for selected events have been calculated using the multiple-filtering procedure, and averaged fundamental-mode Rayleigh wave group-velocity curves have been estimated on a regional scale. Next, averaged dispersion curves for three regions (Italy, Greece, and Western Turkey) were inverted by weighted linear inversion methods. Additionally, a quantitative analysis of resolution tests of inverted models was presented to show the capabilities of the gravimetric data to retrieve a shear-wave velocity distribution with a depth. In particular, a method for determining the depth range of the inverted model has been proposed. Results obtained based on gravimetric data were verified by results from seismic data obtained by applying the same procedure. This study shows the novel application of tidal gravimetric data in the determination of the regional Earth’s structure based on intermediate-period surface waves recordings, as well as a comprehensive approach to the quantitative estimation of a final model resolution. Graphical Abstract

Keywords

• Rayleigh waves dispersion curves
• Linear inversion
• Tidal gravimeters
• BB seismometers