Imaging the Rupture Processes of Earthquakes Using the Relative Back-Projection Method

This thesis adopts the relative back-projection method to dramatically reduce "swimming" artifacts by identifying the rupture fronts in the time window of a reference station; this led to a faster and more accurate image of the rupture processes of earthquakes. Mitigating the damage caused by earthquakes is one of the primary goals of seismology, and includes saving more people's lives by devising seismological approaches to rapidly analyze an earthquake's rupture process. The back-projection method described in this thesis can make that a reality.

Autorentext

Ph.D. 09/2007-07/2013, Department of Geophysics, School of Earth and Space Sciences, Dissertation Title: Imaging the Rupture Processes of Earthquakes Using the Relative Back-projection Method. Advisers: Jieyuan Ning B.S. 09/2003-07/2007, Department of Geophysics, School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking Thesis Title: Simulating the Seismic Responses of 2-D Constant-Gradient Models Using the Boundary Element Method. Adviser: Zengxi Ge (Associate Professor)

Awards 2012-2013 Outstanding Graduates of 2012-2013 Outstanding Graduates of Peking 2012-2013 2011-2012 2010-2011 Founder Scholarship, Peking University

Inhalt
Introduction.- Generalized array imaging on rupture processes of earthquakes: Principle and Theoretical Tests.- Relative back-projection method and its application to the 2008 Wenchuan, China earthquake.- Imaging the rupture process of the 2010 Mw 8.8 Chilean earthquake using the relative back-projection method.- Three sub-event rupture in the 2011 Mw 9.0 Tohoku, Japan earthquake revealed by teleseimsic P waves.- Multi-fault rupture and successive triggering during the 2012 Mw 8.6 Sumatra earthquake.- Discussion, conclusions and prospectives.