Crustal structure in the western United States; study of seismic propagation paths and regional traveltimes in the California-Nevada region
Crustal Studies Technical Letter
9
In cooperation with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
By: J.C. Roller, W. H. Jackson, J.F. Cooper, and B.A. Martina
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Abstract
The U.S. Geological Survey, with the assistance of United ElectroDynamics, Inc., completed ten weeks of seismic-refraction field work during the summer of 1962 in the southwestern part of the United States. This work was a continuation of a program initiated in 1961 to study traveltimes and seismic propagation paths in the earth?s crust and upper mantle in the western United States. A total of 761 seismograms were recorded along 10 profiles from 86 explosions at 18 shotpoints. Analysis of the data is continuing, but a few conclusions can be made from a preliminary study: (1) Variations in traveltimes in the Basin and Range province are large but measurable, and perhaps predictable. (2) Traveltimes of seismic waves in adjacent geologic provinces are usually significantly different. (3) The velocity of Pg along all of the profiles recorded in 1962 ranges from 5.0 to 6.5 km/sec, and averages 6.0 km/sec. (4) The average velocity of Pg in extreme northern Nevada and southern Idaho is 5.6 km/sec, and it is 6.1 km/sec in most of Nevada and California. (5) The average velocity of Pn is 7–9 km/ sec and ranges from 7.85 to 7.95 km/sec on reversed profiles where the true Pn velocity could be computed. (6) A shallow "intermediate" layer with a velocity of approximately 6.8 km/sec was found in the Snake River Plain. (7) Refraction arrivals from the mantle (Pn) were recorded in the Sierra Nevada. They indicate that the thickness of the crust in the Sierra Nevada is much greater than that in the Basin and Range province. (8) Many refinements in field techniques were made during the 1962 field season.
Suggested Citation
Roller, J., Jackson, W.H., Cooper, J., Martina, B., 1963, Crustal structure in the western United States; study of seismic propagation paths and regional traveltimes in the California-Nevada region: Crustal Studies Technical Letter 9, 57 p.; ill.; maps, https://doi.org/10.3133/70039283.
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | USGS Unnumbered Series |
| Title | Crustal structure in the western United States; study of seismic propagation paths and regional traveltimes in the California-Nevada region |
| Series title | Crustal Studies Technical Letter |
| Series number | 9 |
| DOI | 10.3133/70039283 |
| Year Published | 1963 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | U.S. Geological Survey |
| Publisher location | Reston, VA |
| Contributing office(s) | Earthquake Science Center |
| Description | 57 p.; ill.; maps |
| First page | 1 |
| Last page | 57 |
| Country | United States |
| State | California;Nevada;Idaho |
| Online Only (Y/N) | Y |
| Additional Online Files (Y/N) | N |