SCEC Award Number 15190 View PDF
Proposal Category Collaborative Proposal (Data Gathering and Products)
Proposal Title Incorporation of SSIP velocity data into the Community Velocity Model
Investigator(s)
Name Organization
Joann Stock California Institute of Technology Gary Fuis United States Geological Survey John Hole Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Patricia Persaud California Institute of Technology
Other Participants Graduate student: Yiran Ma
SCEC Priorities 6a SCEC Groups Seismology, USR
Report Due Date 03/15/2016 Date Report Submitted 03/14/2016
Project Abstract
 P wave velocity models, and constraints on faults, obtained from the Salton Seismic Imaging Project, need to be integrated into the SCEC Community Velocity Models and Community Fault Model (CFM). Graduate students Yiran Ma of Caltech completed a 3-D velocity model for the Brawley Seismic Zone in Imperial Valley, and a 2-D model for Line 2 of the Salton seismic Imaging project (from Otay Mountain in San Diego County to the Colorado River at the Arizona-California border). Graduate student Liang Han of Virginia Tech completed on a velocity model for all of Line 1 of the Salton Seismic Imaging Project, along the axis of the Coachella Valley, Salton Sea, and Imperial Valley. These students defended their theses but have not yet been able to submit their results for publication. Thus, our project has been delayed. Because of the delay, we did not spend all of the funds we had been allocated, and we have asked for an extension on the project so that we can accomplish the project this year with the remaining funds.
In the meantime, researcher Patricia Persaud is working on a 3-D model for the Coachella Valley includ-ing lines 4, 5, and 6 of the Salton Seismic Imaging project. We plan to work with the CVM-H/CFM or-ganizers to provide data in the format needed, and to work with them on validation of aspects of the resulting hybrid models to better locate earthquakes, depict faults, and calibrate phase arrivals from seismicity in southern California.
Intellectual Merit This project will provide additional detailed constraints on the Community Fault Model and the Community Velocity Model once it has been completed. Currently the work is still under way.
Broader Impacts The project involved a female graduate student (Yiran Ma). One of the no-cost collaborators, Dr Patricia Persaud, is a minority female research scientist. We have requested an extension on the timeline for this project and Dr. Patricia Persaud will continue to be involved in preparing the data sets for inclusion in the CVM and CFM.
Exemplary Figure Figure 1 (note: not final results, so probably not suitable for highlights or meeting cover)
Caption: Example of some results to be included in the CVM. The P wave velocities at 1000, 3000, 5000 and 7000 km depths, sliced from the velocity model (1 km grid) in the Imperial Valley. The cells with no ray penetration are shown in grey. The receivers are shown in small black circles. The sea level is denoted with green line. Pink lines are faults from the California State Fault Map, 2010. These results will be included in the Community Velocity Model during the extension requested for the project.
Credit: Figure by Yiran Ma.