• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.277-291
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• 2023

To analyze the crustal velocity structures beneath 21 broadband seismic stations in Gangwon Province, South Korea, we first applied the H-κ stacking method to 139 teleseismic event data (Mw ≥ 5.8 and the epicentral distance of 30° - 90°) occurring between March 18, 2019 and December 31, 2022 to estimate the Moho depths and V_p/V_s ratios beneath each station. The Moho depths and V_p/V_s ratios from the H-κ stacking method range from 24.9 to 33.2 km depth and 1.695 - 1.760, respectively, and the estimated V_p/V_s ratios were applied to the joint inversion of receiver functions and surface wave dispersion to obtain 1-D crustal velocity models beneath each station. The resulting Moho depths range from 25.9 to 33.7 km depth, similar to the results from the H-κ stacking method. Moho depth results from the both methods are generally consistent with Airy's isostasy. The 1-D crustal velocity models confirm that the existence of 2 km thick low-velocity layers with P-wave velocities of 5 km/s or less at some stations in the Taebaeksan basin, and at the stations CHNB and GAPB in northern Gangwon Province, which are located above the Cenozoic sedimentary layer. The station SH2B, although not overlying a sedimentary layer, has a low P-wave velocity near the surface, which is probably due to various factors such as weathering of the bedrock. We also observe a velocity inversion with decreasing velocity with depth at all stations within 4 - 12 km depths, and mid-crustal discontinuities possibly due to density differences in the rocks at around 10 km depth below some stations.

• Proceedings of the KSEG Conference
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• 2005.04a
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• pp.101-106
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• 2005

The three-dimensional Tomography developed by Kim and Bae(2004) was applied to 64,024 P and 64,618 S wave arrival times observed at 238 seismic stations for 4050 local earthquakes in the depth range from 0 to 300 km in and around Hokkaido, Japan. High and low velocity zones for Vp/Vs were clearly imaged in and around Hokkaido. The upper seismic planes of the double seismic zone (DSZ) were found in the subducted Pacific Plate beneath Hokkaido at depth of 40- 80 km, which produced high seismicity around Hokkaido. The findings of high Vp/Vs anomalies beneath the Moho discontinuity supports an evidence of a surface triple-collision hypothesis prepared by Moriya(1994) that the Kuril Arc(Okhotsk Plate or North American Plate) is colliding against the NE Japanese Arc(Amurian Plate or Eurasian Plate), along and beneath the Hidaka Mountain Range, and at the same time the Pacific Plate is subducting into these two plates, making an equilibrium of tectonic forces along the Hikada Mountain Range (HMR) corner and the central tectonic axis(142 ~ 143E) in Hokkaido. The low Vp and Vs were also found in east and west along the central tectonic axis in which the focal mechanism represents the extensional forces. These phenomena are also consistent with low Bouguer gravity anomalies in this region. It is understood why most of great earthquakes occurred outside Hokkaido where the balance of tectonic forces are breaking from the triple junction of three tectonic forces in Hokkaido.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.39 no.2 s.177
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• pp.111-128
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• 2006

Three dimensional crustal structure and source features of earthquake hypocenters on the Korean peninsula were investigated using P and S-wave travel time tomography. The main goal of this research was to find Vp/Vs anomalies at earthquake hypocenters as well as those of crustal structure of basins and deep tectonic settings. This allowed fer the extrapolation of more detailed seismotectonic force from the Korean peninsula. The earthquake hypocenters were found to have high Vp/Vs ratio discrepancies (VRD) at the vertical sections. High V/p/Vs ratios were also found in the sedimentary basins and beneath the Chugaryong Rift Zone (CRZ), which was due to mantle plume that subsequently solidified with many fractures and faults which were saturated with connate water. The hypocenters of most earthquakes were found in the upper crust for Youngwol (YE), Kyongju (KE), Hongsung (HE), Kaesong (KSE), Daekwan (DKE), and Daehung (DHE) earthquakes, but near the subcrust or the Moho Discontinuity for Mt. Songni (SE), Sariwon (SRE) and Mt. Jiri (JE) earthquakes. Especially, we found hot springs of the Daekwan, Daehung and Unsan regions coincide with high VRD. Also, this cannot rule out the possibility that there are some partial meltings in the subcrust of this region. High VRD might indicate that many faults and fractures with connate water were dehydrated when earthquakes took place, reducing shear modulus in the hypocenter areas. This is can be explained by due to the fact that a point source which is represented by the moment tensor that may involve changes in volume, shear fracture, and rigidity. High Vp/Vs ratio discrepancies (VRD) were also found beneath Mt. Backdu beneath 40 km, indicating that magma chamber existed beneath Mt. Backdu is reducing shear modulus of S-wave velocity.