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Three-Dimensional Distributional Finite-Difference Modelling of Elastic Wave Propagation in a Heterogeneous Earth

Description: 

We present a 3D distributional finite-difference algorithm (DFDM) for modeling the propagation of seismic waves in heterogeneous media. Our algorithm relies on the classic staggered finite-difference algorithm and is obtained by substituting the standard finite-difference operators with distributional finite-difference operators. The distributional finite-difference operators lead to improved accuracy while maintaining the structure of the former algorithm. The proposed approach allows for arbitrary Poisson's ratio, and a unique scheme handles wave propagation in both elastic and acoustic domains. The shear modulus is set to zero in the acoustic case. The proposed algorithm accurately and naturally accounts for the free surface and a solid-fluid interface with topography. We compare seismograms obtained using DFDM and the spectral-element method (SEM). For a given polynomial order, DFDM requires fewer points per wavelength than SEM to achieve similar accuracy. DFDM is thus memory efficient and offers a promising alternative to SEM for wave propagation modeling. We demonstrate the proposed algorithm's accuracy through numerical examples and discuss global seismology applications.

References:

Masson, Yder (2023). Distributional finite difference modeling of seismic waves. Geophysical Journal International. ISSN 0956-540X. doi:10.1093/gji/ggac306

Session: Numerical Modeling in Seismology: Developments and Applications

Type: Oral

Date: 4/20/2023

Presentation Time: 02:45 PM (local time)

Presenting Author: Chao Lyu

Student Presenter: No

Invited Presentation: 

Authors