ALBERT

Description: The striking improvements in long- to medium-wavelengths gravity field recovery achieved with GPS-CHAMP and GPS-GRACE high-low and GRACE K-band range low-low satellite-to-satellite tracking prompted us to combine the satellite data with surface data from altimetry over the oceans and gravimetry over the continents to generate a new, high resolution global gravity field model: EIGEN-CG01C. The model is complete to degree/order 360 in terms of spherical harmonics and resolves half-wavelengths of 55 km in the geoid and gravity anomaly fields. A special band-limited combination method has been applied in order to preserve the high accuracy from the satellite data in the lower frequency band of the geopotential and to allow for a smooth transition to the high-frequency band, dominated by the surface data. Compared to pre-CHAMP/GRACE global high-resolution gravity field models, the accuracy was improved by one order of magnitude to 4 cm and 0.5 mgal in terms of geoid heights and gravity anomalies, respectively, at a spatial resolution of 200 km half-wavelength. The overall accuracy at degree/order 360 is estimated to be 20 cm and 5 mgal, respectively, and benefits significantly from recently released new gravity anomaly compilations over the polar regions. In general, the accuracy over the oceans is better than over the continents reflecting the higher quality of the available surface data.

Description: This thesis focuses on the seismic structure of the lithosphere and upper mantle beneath the western Eger Rift area with the aim of investigating deep-lying possible causes of the phenomena observed at surface. For the investigation, data of the international passive seismic experiment BOHEMA carried out in 2002/2003 was used. The BOHEMA network consisted of 61 permanent and 84 temporary stations and was centred on the western Eger Rift. The resulting large data set allowed a high resolution P and S receiver function study using P-to-S and S-to-P converted waves, respectively, to map seismic discontinuities in the lithosphere and upper mantle. Data from an earlier passive seismic experiment was additionally used to complement the BOHEMA data set. The results of the analysis are described in this thesis ‘from top to bottom’. [...] Furthermore, the first map of average crustal vp/vs ratios is presented for the investigated area.

Description: In der vorliegenden Arbeit werden der Einfluss seismischer Anisotropie auf wahre oder scheinbar auftretende tensile Quellanteile untersucht und Erdbebenmechanismen unter Berücksichtigung seismischer Anisotropie bestimmt. Es wird gezeigt, dass der Momententensor und die Abstrahlmuster eines Scherbruches im anisotropen Medium denen eines tensilen Bruches im isotropen Medium ähneln können. Umgekehrt treten Ähnlichkeiten tensiler Beben in anisotropen Gesteinen mit Scherbrüchen in isotropen Medien auf. Damit existieren Mehrdeutigkeiten beobachteter tensiler Quellanteile. Die Effekte von Anisotropie hängen von der Orientierung des Bruches und vom Grad der Anisotropie ab. Außerdem beeinflusst Anisotropie das Moment eines Bebens. [...] Mit dieser Arbeit werden erstmals zeitliche und räumliche Veränderungen tensiler Quellanteile und Spannungszustände im Vogtland für Erdbeben im Jahr 2000 beob- achtet. Diese haben auch dann Bestand, wenn seismische Anisotropie berücksichtigt wird. Sie können durch Fluide erklärt werden, die in die Bruchflächen eindringen.

Description: Based on the physical processes governing the motion and dynamics of poly-thermal ice sheets, we distinguish two regions; the cold region, where the ice temperature is below the melting point, and the temperate region, where the ice temperature is exactly equal to the melting point, leading to the presence of a water fraction. This work focuses on the analysis and description of the temperate zone on the basis of rational thermo-dynamics of reacting mixtures. The balance laws for the ice-water mixture, that is the mass balance, balance of linear and angular momenta, energy and entropy, are discussed. A physical model for a polythermal ice sheet is then established, including appropriate boundary and transition conditions. The resulting formulation is convenient for numerical implementation. Numerical examples are carried out for a stationary 2-D case and the results of the present and traditional formulations are compared.

Description: This work describes the results of seismological field campaigns and experiments using combined seismic networks of varying geometries such as a combined seismic downhole and surface network or a combined temporary local and permanent regional network. The networks were deployed in different tectonic environments, i.e. in a stable intraplate surrounding, at a plate boundary along a major transform fault zone and in forearc and backarc settings of a subduction zone to record different types of seismicity (induced earthquakes, aftershocks, subduction-related seismicity). Recording periods are typically several months. The basic ideas behind all the different experiments and studies presented here can be described as follows: In a first step, a state of the art seismic network is designed and deployed in a selected area to record local (micro)seismic activity at low magnitude detection threshold. The acquired data base is then evaluated using standard processing techniques to generate a proper hypocenter catalog for the area of investigation during the observational period. This period might be extended (at higher magnitude detection threshold) through re-evaluating and calibrating earlier hypocenter catalogs gained from records of regional permanent networks. This new catalog for the selected region then forms the base for further evaluation using different approaches one of which is the determination of fault plane solutions in order to determine the local stress field orientation and relate it to the WSM data or information on regional displacement fields determined from GPS recordings.

Description: A set of 59 seismological stations was deployed in the Central Andes region at 21°S (Chile-Bolivia) along a profile ~600 km long and were operated between 2002 and 2004. The teleseismic tomographic images (from P- and S- waves) show low-velocity anomalies that are interpreted as the effects of melting or fluids at both flanks of the Altiplano plateau. Beneath the Central Volcanic Zone (CVZ) a low-velocity anomaly is interpreted to be caused by fluids that are the origin of the volcanic material from the CVZ. A low-velocity anomaly in the upper crust is interpreted as the Altiplano Low-Velocity Zone that appears to extend as far to the east as the Eastern Cordillera. A high-velocity body between 100 km and 150 km depth is interpreted as being part of the old cold lithosphere that detached from the base of the crust. The Brazilian Shield is thought to be responsible for the strong high-velocity anomaly on the eastern side of the Central Andes. In addition, another set of 19 stations was deployed in the southern Argentine Puna along a profile ~200 km long and were run over the same period of time (2002-2004). The intention was to study the crustal thickness at 25.5°S, where delamination of the lithosphere was proposed to explain the higher elevation of the Puna plateau. Beneath the plateau a negative velocity anomaly is observed and interpreted here as being the location of fluid transfer between the deeper and shallower portions of the crust, that emanate from the Benioff zone at depths of ~200 km. This anomaly clearly divides in two branches: one to the west towards the volcanic arc (CVZ) and the other to the east where the back-arc volcanoes are located. On their way to lower depths, the fluid paths are probably influenced by the presence of nearby isotherms. The bifurcation of the ascending path could be related to the presence of the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary (LAB) at ~100-130 km. Based on our observations, the type and form of the anomaly, it is possible to propose the presence of a return-flow type model for fluid ascent in contraposition to the assumed corner-flow model usually proposed for the Andes. The fluids that cause the seismic anomalies beneath the Puna plateau are generated at deeper levels in the asthenosphere and ascend parallel to the oceanic slab in the manner of a return-flow. In the crust and beneath the Salar de Antofalla (SA), a high-velocity block with seismic activity is interpreted as part of the old and cold Palaeozoic magmatic arc (Faja Eruptiva de la Puna Occidental). The presence of this block is may be responsible for the distribution of volcanic activity localized at both sides of this anomaly. Eastern of the SA, it is possible to recognize a zone with low-velocities beneath the Galan volcano. A sharp limit imposed by high velocities, probably related to metamorphic rocks from the Paleozoic basement (Tacuil and Luracatao ranges) can be detected on the east of the profile. A high-velocity block with seismic activity is located in the crust beneath the Salar de Antofalla (SA) and interpreted as part of the old and cold Palaeozoic magmatic arc (Faja Eruptiva de la Puna Occidental). This block might be responsible for the distribution of volcanic activity localized at both sides of this anomaly. Beneath the Galan volcano and east of the SA, a zone with low-velocities can be recognized. A sharp limit towards high-velocities can be observed on the east of the profile, probably related to metamorphic rocks from the Palaeozoic basement (Tacuil and Luracatao ranges).