| Title | Coda Q determination across Western Canada: from a region of active subduction, through a volcanic belt, to the Stable Craton |
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| Author | Cassidy, J F ;
Farahbod, A |
| Source | 2016, 1 pages |
| Image |  |
| Year | 2016 |
| Alt Series | Earth Sciences Sector, Contribution Series 20160030 |
| Publisher | European Seismological Commission |
| Meeting | 35th General Assembly of the European Seismological Commission; Trieste; IT; September 4-11, 2016 |
| Document | serial |
| Lang. | English |
| Media | paper |
| Province | British Columbia; Alberta |
| Area | western North America; United States of America |
| Subjects | tectonics; volcanic-sedimentary belts; craton; array seismology; subduction zones; seismicity; tectonic setting; deformation; earthquakes; earthquake studies; coda-wave attenuation (QC) |
| Program | Public Safety Geoscience Western Canada Geohazards Project |
| Released | 2016 01 01 |
| Abstract | In this study we determine the variation in coda-wave attenuation (QC) across western Canada, covering a wide range of tectonic settings - from a seismically active subduction zone in the west, through
a volcanic belt, to the stable craton of North America - a region of slow lithospheric deformation in the east. Our dataset is made up of more than 1000 earthquakes recorded at 85 Canadian seismic stations across the region. We employ the single
back scattering approximation, and consider only high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) traces (SNR=5.0) with a range of ellipse parameter (a2) from 30 to 110. Coda windows were selected to start at tc = 2tS (two times the travel time of the direct S
wave), and were filtered at center frequencies of 2, 4, 8, 12 and 16 Hz. We find a very clear attenuation pattern across the study area. The lowest Q0 values (e.g., Q0 of 39) are in the vicinity of Nazko Cone in the Anahim volcanic Belt (AVB), the
highest Q0 values (e.g., Q0 of 151) are on the stable craton, and intermediate values of Q0 are determined across the Cascadia subduction zone. Our results showing low Q0 throughout the AVB (and the lowest Q0 at Nazko Cone) provides additional
support for an interpretation of magma injection into the lower crust during the 2007 Nazko earthquake swarm, fracturing of the crust, and resulting high seismic attenuation. Within the subduction zone, Q0 is lowest closest to the active faults off
the coast and in the vicinity of the only known large crustal earthquakes (1918, M~7 and 1946, M~7.3) on Vancouver Island, and Q0 increases moving inland. The highest Q0 values we determine are in the regions of slow lithospheric deformation. Our
results show a clear link between coda Q, tectonic setting, and seismicity rates. |
| Summary | (Plain Language Summary, not published)
This study examines seismic attenuation across western Canada in a wide range of tectonic environments from an active subduction zone in the west,
through a volcanic belt, to the stable craton in the east. We determine a clear link between the attenuation patterns, the tectonic setting, and the seismicity rate with the greatest attenuation in the most seismically active regions, and the lowest
attenuation on the stable craton. Our research helps to constrain the boundaries of various tectonic environments across western Canada, and provides new details on the seismic attenuation both of which will contribute to improved earthquake and
volcanic hazard models for this region. |
| GEOSCAN ID | 298722 |
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