We propose a method to invert surface wave dispersion data directly for 3-D variations of shear wave speed, that is, without the intermediate step of phase or group velocity maps, using frequency-dependent ray tracing and a wavelet-based sparsity-constrained tomographic inversion. A fast marching method is used to compute, at each period, surface wave traveltimes and ray paths between sources and receivers. This avoids the assumption of great-circle propagation that is used in most surface wave tomographic studies, but which is not appropriate in complex media. To simplify the problem we consider quasi-stratified media with smoothly varying seismic properties. We represent the 3-D shear wave speed model by means of 1-D profiles beneath grid points, which are determined from all dispersion data simultaneously using a wavelet-based sparsity-constrained tomographic method. The wavelet coefficients of the wave speed model are estimated with an iteratively reweighted least squares algorithm, and upon iteration the surface wave ray paths and the data sensitivity matrix are updated using the newly obtained wave speed model. To demonstrate its feasibility, we apply the method to determine the 3-D shallow crustal shear wave speed variations in the Taipei basin of Taiwan using short period interstation Rayleigh wave phase velocity dispersion measurements extracted from the ambient noise cross-correlation method. The results are consistent with previous studies and reveal strong shallow crustal heterogeneity that correlates with surface geology.

We present a new three-dimensional (3D) compressional wavespeed (Vp) model for the Parkfield region, taking advantage of the recent seismicity associated with the 2003 San Simeon and 2004 Parkfield earthquake sequences to provide increased model resolution compared to the work of Eberhart-Phillips and Michael (1993) (epm93). Taking the epm93 3D model as our starting model, we invert the arrival-time data from about 2100 earthquakes and 250 shots recorded on both permanent network and temporary stations in a region 130 km northeast–southwest by 120 km northwest–southeast. We include catalog picks and cross-correlation and catalog differential times in the inversion, using the double-difference tomography method of Zhang and Thurber (2003). The principal Vp features reported by epm93 and Michelini and McEvilly (1991) are recovered, but with locally improved resolution along the San Andreas Fault (saf) and near the active-source profiles. We image the previously identified strong wavespeed contrast (faster on the southwest side) across most of the length of the saf, and we also improve the image of a high Vp body on the northeast side of the fault reported by epm93. This narrow body is at about 5- to 12-km depth and extends approximately from the locked section of the saf to the town of Parkfield. The footwall of the thrust fault responsible for the 1983 Coalinga earthquake is imaged as a northeast-dipping high wavespeed body. In between, relatively low wavespeeds (<5 km/sec) extend to as much as 10-km depth. We use this model to derive absolute locations for about 16,000 earthquakes from 1966 to 2005 and high-precision double-difference locations for 9,000 earthquakes from 1984 to 2005, and also to determine focal mechanisms for 446 earthquakes. These earthquake locations and mechanisms show that the seismogenic fault is a simple planar structure. The aftershock sequence of the 2004 mainshock concentrates into the same structures defined by the pre-2004 seismicity, confirming earlier observations (Waldhauser et al., 2004) that the seismicity pattern at Parkfield is long lived and persists through multiple cycles of mainshocks. Online material: 3D Vp model and earthquake relocations.

Continental China consists of a complex amalgamation of geotectonic units and has experienced strong and widespread tectonic deformation since the Mesozoic. To understand its geological structure better, we conducted a systematic receiver function analysis using a total of 83 509 teleseismic traces in the time period of 2009–2010 recorded by 798 broad-band stations, among which 749 stations are permanent digital seismic stations from China Earthquake Networks Center and 49 stations were temporarily deployed in northern Central Tibet. A standard H–κ stacking method is employed to determine Moho depth and V_p/V_s ratio underneath each station from teleseismic receiver function analysis. The obtained Moho depth variations are generally consistent with those determined from various deep seismic soundings profiles. We combine our results with those from previous receiver functions studies to produce a high-resolution map of Moho depth and V_p/V_s variation for continental China. Compared to previous studies, the new study concerns many more stations and the resulting Moho depth map has much higher lateral resolution, especially in the eastern China. Overall, the Moho depth variation has a remarkable correlation with major tectonic units in continental China. For example, across the well-known gravity gradient line in east China, there is a clear shift in Moho depths. In general, the map of V_p/V_s ratio shows relatively high anomalies underneath Tibetan Plateau, along the gravity gradient line, and under several volcanoes.