Detecting small scale heterogeneities in the crust from ambient noise cross-correlation

Ambient noise cross-correlation is extensively applied to obtain the surface wave dispersion, and further to study the structures of the crust and the upper mantle. In recent years, many applications of the ambient noise tomography are reported in many locations, e.g., California, Europe, New Zealand, Tibet, and even in the Antarctica. The scale is regional or even continental. However, the applications of the method in detecting small scale heterogeneities are paid little attention. Small scale heterogeneities may be important to monitor/predict activities of volcano. This is concluded from the fact activities of volcano will result in stress variations. Correspondingly, the velocity distribution, i.e., heterogeneities, will change. Here, we will try to extend the ambient noise cross-correlation method to study small heterogeneities in the crust.