Earthquake rupture below the brittle-ductile transition in continental lithospheric mantle

Earthquakes deep in the continental lithosphere are rare and hard to interpret in our current understanding of temperature control on brittle failure. The recent lithospheric mantle earthquake with a moment magnitude of 4.8 at a depth of ~75 km in the Wyoming Craton was exceptionally well recorded and thus enabled us to probe the cause of these unusual earthquakes. On the basis of complete earthquake energy balance estimates using broadband waveforms and temperature estimates using surface heat flow and shear wave velocities, we argue that this earthquake occurred in response to ductile deformation at temperatures above 750°C. The high stress drop, low rupture velocity, and low radiation efficiency are all consistent with a dissipative mechanism. Our results imply that earthquake nucleation in the lithospheric mantle is not exclusively limited to the brittle regime; weakening mechanisms in the ductile regime can allow earthquakes to initiate and propagate. This finding has significant implications for understanding deep earthquake rupture mechanics and rheology of the continental lithosphere

Rapid response to the M_w 4.9 earthquake of November 11, 2019 in Le Teil, Lower Rhône Valley, France

On November 11, 2019, a Mw 4.9 earthquake hit the region close to Montelimar (lower Rhône Valley, France), on the eastern margin of the Massif Central close to the external part of the Alps. Occuring in a moderate seismicity area, this earthquake is remarkable for its very shallow focal depth (between 1 and 3 km), its magnitude, and the moderate to large damages it produced in several villages. InSAR interferograms indicated a shallow rupture about 4 km long reaching the surface and the reactivation of the ancient NE-SW La Rouviere normal fault in reverse faulting in agreement with the present-day E-W compressional tectonics. The peculiarity of this earthquake together with a poor coverage of the epicentral region by permanent seismological and geodetic stations triggered the mobilisation of the French post-seismic unit and the broad French scientific community from various institutions, with the deployment of geophysical instruments (seismological and geodesic stations), geological field surveys, and field evaluation of the intensity of the earthquake. Within 7 days after the mainshock, 47 seismological stations were deployed in the epicentral area to improve the Le Teil aftershocks locations relative to the French permanent seismological network (RESIF), monitor the temporal and spatial evolution of microearthquakes close to the fault plane and temporal evolution of the seismic response of 3 damaged historical buildings, and to study suspected site effects and their influence in the distribution of seismic damage. This seismological dataset, completed by data owned by different institutions, was integrated in a homogeneous archive and distributed through FDSN web services by the RESIF data center. This dataset, together with observations of surface rupture evidences, geologic, geodetic and satellite data, will help to unravel the causes and rupture mechanism of this earthquake, and contribute to account in seismic hazard assessment for earthquakes along the major regional Cévenne fault system in a context of present-day compressional tectonics

Utilisation du bruit sismique ambiant dans le suivi temporel de structures géologiques

The ambient noise correlation technique is now widely used in seismology. It is especially useful since data provided do not depend on the occurrence of earthquakes. This technique has been used to construct high-resolution tomographic images of the crust in various regions of the world. More recently, ambient noise correlations have been used to detect changes in elastic properties of the Earth's crust, and monitor the temporal evolution of potentially dangerous geological structures. In this scientific context, my research work has consisted of two main parts : 1/A methodological study to improve the quality of noise-based measurements. Usually, the distribution of noise sources prevents the exact reconstruction of the Green's function in noise correlations, that may introduce bias in noise-based measurements. We propose here two different approaches that can help in suppressing noise source influence in measurements. 2/A monitoring case study in Sichuan (China), associated with the Wenchuan earthquake (12 May 2008, Mw = 7.9). This case study provides many opportunities, with the study of a great continental earthquake and a large amount of data available. We especially investigated the behavior of the crust at different depths, in response to the Wenchuan earthquake.We also present an inversion method in order to locate variations in the medium.La technique des corrélations de bruit ambiant est aujourd'hui largement utilisée en sismologie. Elle présente l'avantage essentiel de fournir des données qui ne dépendent pas de l'occurrence des séismes. Cette technique a été utilisée pour imager avec une bonne résolution la croûte dans plusieurs régions du monde. Depuis plus récemment, les corrélations de bruit sont également utilisées pour détecter des variations des propriétés élastiques de la croûte terrestre, et suivre l'évolution temporelle de structures géologiques potentiellement dangereuses. Dans ce contexte, mon travail de thèse a consisté en deux parties principales : 1/ Une étude méthodologique pour améliorer la qualité des mesures sur les corrélations de bruit. La distribution des sources de bruit empêche généralement la reconstruction parfaite de la fonction de Green dans les corrélations de bruit, pouvant introduire des biais dans les mesures basées sur le bruit sismique ambiant. Nous présentons dans ce manuscrit deux approches différentes pour essayer d'éliminer l'influence des sources de bruit dans nos mesures. 2/ Une étude de suivi temporel dans la province du Sichuan (Chine), autour du séisme du Wenchuan (12 mai 2008, Mw = 7.9). Cette application offre des conditions exceptionnelles à une application de suivi temporel, avec l'étude d'un très puissant séisme continental et un très grand nombre de données. Nous nous sommes en particulier intéressés au comportement de la croûte à différentes profondeurs, en réponse au séisme. Nous présentons également une méthode d'inversion pour localiser les variations dans le milieu

Monitoring slight mechanical changes using seismic background noise.

La technique des corrélations de bruit ambiant est aujourd'hui largement utilisée en sismologie. Elle présente l'avantage essentiel de fournir des données qui ne dépendent pas de l'occurrence des séismes. Cette technique a été utilisée pour imager avec une bonne résolution la croûte dans plusieurs régions du monde. Depuis plus récemment, les corrélations de bruit sont également utilisées pour détecter des variations des propriétés élastiques de la croûte terrestre, et suivre l'évolution temporelle de structures géologiques potentiellement dangereuses. Dans ce contexte, mon travail de thèse a consisté en deux parties principales : 1/ Une étude méthodologique pour améliorer la qualité des mesures sur les corrélations de bruit. La distribution des sources de bruit empêche généralement la reconstruction parfaite de la fonction de Green dans les corrélations de bruit, pouvant introduire des biais dans les mesures basées sur le bruit sismique ambiant. Nous présentons dans ce manuscrit deux approches différentes pour essayer d'éliminer l'influence des sources de bruit dans nos mesures. 2/ Une étude de suivi temporel dans la province du Sichuan (Chine), autour du séisme du Wenchuan (12 mai 2008, Mw = 7.9). Cette application offre des conditions exceptionnelles à une application de suivi temporel, avec l'étude d'un très puissant séisme continental et un très grand nombre de données. Nous nous sommes en particulier intéressés au comportement de la croûte à différentes profondeurs, en réponse au séisme. Nous présentons également une méthode d'inversion pour localiser les variations dans le milieu.The ambient noise correlation technique is now widely used in seismology. It is especially useful since data provided do not depend on the occurrence of earthquakes. This technique has been used to construct high-resolution tomographic images of the crust in various regions of the world. More recently, ambient noise correlations have been used to detect changes in elastic properties of the Earth's crust, and monitor the temporal evolution of potentially dangerous geological structures. In this scientific context, my research work has consisted of two main parts : 1/A methodological study to improve the quality of noise-based measurements. Usually, the distribution of noise sources prevents the exact reconstruction of the Green's function in noise correlations, that may introduce bias in noise-based measurements. We propose here two different approaches that can help in suppressing noise source influence in measurements. 2/A monitoring case study in Sichuan (China), associated with the Wenchuan earthquake (12 May 2008, Mw = 7.9). This case study provides many opportunities, with the study of a great continental earthquake and a large amount of data available. We especially investigated the behavior of the crust at different depths, in response to the Wenchuan earthquake.We also present an inversion method in order to locate variations in the medium

Utilisation du bruit sismique ambiant dans le suivi temporel de structures géologiques

La technique des corrélations de bruit ambiant est aujourd'hui largement utilisée en sismologie. Elle présente l'avantage essentiel de fournir des données qui ne dépendent pas de l'occurrence des séismes. Cette technique a été utilisée pour imager avec une bonne résolution la croûte dans plusieurs régions du monde. Depuis plus récemment, les corrélations de bruit sont également utilisées pour détecter des variations des propriétés élastiques de la croûte terrestre, et suivre l'évolution temporelle de structures géologiques potentiellement dangereuses. Dans ce contexte, mon travail de thèse a consisté en deux parties principales : 1/ Une étude méthodologique pour améliorer la qualité des mesures sur les corrélations de bruit. La distribution des sources de bruit empêche généralement la reconstruction parfaite de la fonction de Green dans les corrélations de bruit, pouvant introduire des biais dans les mesures basées sur le bruit sismique ambiant. Nous présentons dans ce manuscrit deux approches différentes pour essayer d'éliminer l'influence des sources de bruit dans nos mesures. 2/ Une étude de suivi temporel dans la province du Sichuan (Chine), autour du séisme du Wenchuan (12 mai 2008, Mw = 7.9). Cette application offre des conditions exceptionnelles à une application de suivi temporel, avec l'étude d'un très puissant séisme continental et un très grand nombre de données. Nous nous sommes en particulier intéressés au comportement de la croûte à différentes profondeurs, en réponse au séisme. Nous présentons également une méthode d'inversion pour localiser les variations dans le milieu.The ambient noise correlation technique is now widely used in seismology. It is especially useful since data provided do not depend on the occurrence of earthquakes. This technique has been used to construct high-resolution tomographic images of the crust in various regions of the world. More recently, ambient noise correlations have been used to detect changes in elastic properties of the Earth's crust, and monitor the temporal evolution of potentially dangerous geological structures. In this scientific context, my research work has consisted of two main parts : 1/A methodological study to improve the quality of noise-based measurements. Usually, the distribution of noise sources prevents the exact reconstruction of the Green's function in noise correlations, that may introduce bias in noise-based measurements. We propose here two different approaches that can help in suppressing noise source influence in measurements. 2/A monitoring case study in Sichuan (China), associated with the Wenchuan earthquake (12 May 2008, Mw = 7.9). This case study provides many opportunities, with the study of a great continental earthquake and a large amount of data available. We especially investigated the behavior of the crust at different depths, in response to the Wenchuan earthquake.We also present an inversion method in order to locate variations in the medium.SAVOIE-SCD - Bib.électronique (730659901) / SudocGRENOBLE1/INP-Bib.électronique (384210012) / SudocGRENOBLE2/3-Bib.électronique (384219901) / SudocSudocFranceF

Reconstructing the Green's function through iteration of correlations

International audienceCorrelations of ambient seismic noise are now widely used to retrieve the Earth response between two points. In this study, we reconstruct the surface-wave Green's function by iterating the correlation process over the tail of the noise-based correlation function. It has been demonstrated that the so-called C3 function shows the surface-wave part of the Green's function. Using data from 150 continuously recording stations in Europe, the C3 results help in the extraction of the travel-times from noise-based measurements, especially through the suppression of effects caused by non-isotropic source distributions. We present the results of the next iterative step (i.e. C5), which show that some coherent signal is still present in the coda of the C3 function, and we investigate the evolution of the reconstruction of the Green's function throughout the iteration process. Finally, we discuss the interest of combining information from the different correlation functions to improve noise-based tomography analysis

Insights into the conditions of application of noise-based spectral ratios in a highly industrialized area: a case study in the French Rhone Valley

International audienceThe local ground motion amplification related to the geology at a specific site (i.e. the so-called site effects) may be classically quantified through the SSR (standard spectral ratio) technique applied on earthquake recordings. However, such a quantification might be challenging to carry out in low-to-moderate seismicity regions. Methods based on background ambient noise, such as noise-based standard spectral ratio (SSRn), might be of great interest in these areas. But noise-derived amplification is particularly sensitive to local anthropogenic sources, which may introduce biases in the evaluation of site effects by dominating the geological effects, especially for frequencies higher than 1 Hz. A hybrid approach (SSRh), developed to reduce biases in noise-based spectral ratios by combining classical earthquake-based spectral ratio (SSR) and SSRn, was recently introduced and relies on a site reference. We here investigate the applicability of SSRn and SSRh in a heavily industrialized environment in the Tricastin Valley (south-east France), where critical facilities are located. We continuously recorded ambient noise from 2020 February to March on a 400-sensor seismic array covering an area of about 10 km by 10 km. We demonstrate that SSRn and SSRh computed below 1 Hz are able to reproduce amplification factors provided by SSR. By contrast, at frequencies higher than 1 Hz, SSRn strongly deviates from SSR. SSRh shows closer results to SSR but presents a dependence to the choice of the local site reference, thereby questioning the possibility to use SSRh blindly to estimate the local amplification in our context. These discrepancies reflect the impact of local anthropogenic sources. We therefore introduced a two-step workflow to mitigate the influence of local sources. The first step is to define a characteristic time window to optimally isolate significant transient signals. The second step consists in selecting the time segments that do not contain these transients with a clustering-based approach. By applying this workflow, we were able to remove some strong anthropogenic transient signals likely to be generated by local sources at some sites and therefore to locally improve the amplification assessment through noise-based spectral ratios. However, stationary sources, whose impact cannot be removed through our procedure, remain a major issue. This study provides some insights into the application of SSRn and SSRh in noisy industrialized areas, especially regarding the impact of local noise sources. It illustrates the difficulty of having a procedure for mitigating the impact of these sources that is efficient everywhere inside such a complex anthropized environment, where different types of sources (including stationary sources) cohabit