P and S Wave Velocity Structure and Vp/Vs Ratios for the New Madrid Seismic Zone

Three dimensional P and S wave velocity models have been constructed for the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ) using double difference local earthquake tomography (tomoDD). TomoDD incorporates catalog arrival times with catalog and waveform cross correlation differential times to solve for P and S wave velocity and for high resolution earthquake locations. For the NMSZ, we utilized 101504 P wave differential times and 67811 S wave differential times from 1157 earthquakes recorded over the time period 2000 to 2007 by the Cooperative NMSZ Network. The NMSZ consists of three intersecting arms of seismicity located in the central United States. There are approximately 200 earthquakes a year in the NMSZ despite the absence of a major plate boundary. Most earthquakes occur along the central Reelfoot Fault leading to uneven source distribution. We use a finite difference travel time calculator combined with an irregular inversion grid of nodes spaced every 5 to 20 kilometers horizontally and 1 to 3 kilometers vertically. Model resolution was examined using chessboard and spike tests and indicated that resolution is highest close to the source region between depths of 5 to 12 kilometers. P and S wave models indicate that velocities close to the source region are slightly low relative to the 1D starting model. The decrease in velocities may be indicative of rock properties, such as increased fluid content and fracturing. A high P and S wave velocity anomaly located away from known faults is associated with a known mafic intrusion to the northwest of seismicity.