We present results of seismic tomography for a broad region of southern Africa using data from the seismic component of the Kaapvaal Project, a multinational, multidisciplinary experiment conducted in the late 1990s. Seismic images provide clear evidence of mantle structures that mimic the surface geology across the region and provide important constraints on subcrustal structure associated wit...

Seismic velocities are calculated for two petrological models of the upper mantle, an olivine-rich assemblage, pyrolite, and a garnet-clinopyroxene rich, olivine bearing, assemblage, piclogite. These are compared with recent seismic profiles for various tectonic provinces. The .shield data is most consistent with a cold olivine and orthopyroxene-rich LID (the seismic lithosphere) extending to 1...

[1] Using an integrated geophysical and geological approach based on a comparative analysis of 27 different parameters, we investigate both the location and origin of the source material for hot spot volcanoes. We report a significant correlation between extreme geochemical compositions of lavas with both shallow seismic velocities and the depth extent to which a hot spot source can be traced w...

We determine upper mantle seismic velocity heterogeneities below Southern California from the inversion of teleseismic travel-time residuals. Teleseismic P-wave arrival times are obtained from three temporary passive experiments and Southern California Seismic Network (SCSN) stations, producing good raypath coverage. The inversion is performed using a damped least-squares conjugate gradient met...

Imposing a thermal and compositional significance to the outcome of the inversion of seismic data facilitates their interpretation. Using long-period seismic waveforms and an inversion approach that includes constraints from mineral physics, we find that lateral variations of temperature can explain a large part of the data in the upper mantle. The additional compositional signature of cratons ...

Some experimental results measuring P-wave phase velocity and seismic attenuation in laboratory under dry and water-saturated conditions at ultrasonic frequencies and atmospheric pressure on sandstone samples of the Milk River Formation in the Writingon-Stone Provincial Park (WOSPP), southern Alberta, are presented and are correlated with petrophysical data obtained from these samples as clay c...

Seismic images and the geologic information they provide contribute significantly to our understanding of the earth’s subsurface. In this thesis, I focus on methods relevant for constructing and interpreting seismic images, including methods for velocity estimation, seismic imaging, and interpretation, which together address key aspects of reflection seismic data processing. Specifically, I pro...

Theoretical physical models of the Martian interior are presented in the light of new and revised data and constraints. These models include thermal evolution, densities, and seismic wave velocities. The interior of Mars appears to be Earth-like in many respects. Although thermal models indicate that Mars has passed its peak of evolution it may still have an asthenosphere and may be moderately ...

A common problem in seismic tomography is the inadequate amount of data required for accurate traveltime inversion. The inherent nature in which data is acquired and the subsurface velocities of the survey area can result in a nonuniform distribution of raypaths. In such instances the statistical nature of tomographic inversion biases the solution to reflect the acquisition instead of the geolo...

In situ shear wave velocity is one of the most important parameters for evaluating dynamic elastic moduli and needs special energy sources for generation and receivers for detection. Identification of shear wave phase on a seismic record needs skill as it is not the first wave to arrive and is usually embedded in surface waves. To estimate shear wave velocity for site characterization and for p...