Estimation of seismic attenuation of the Greenland Ice Sheet using 3-D
waveform modeling
Abstract
We estimated the seismic attenuation (Q factor) of the Greenland Ice
Sheet (GrIS) by comparing observed and theoretical Rayleigh waveforms.
Observed waveforms are obtained by interfering with noise waveforms in
vertical-component seismograms between stations, which belong to the
latest broadband seismic network distributed throughout Greenland (GLISN
network). Theoretical waveforms are calculated by parallel computation
with the latest 3-D seismic waveform modeling. Comparing the observed
waveforms with the theoretical waveforms at different Q factors reveals
that GrIS has a low Q of QP,
QS ≤ 50, indicating very high attenuation of
seismic waves due to the ice. This study is the first to confirm the low
Q factor of ice sheets via ultra-long-distance propagation
(~several hundreds to 1,000 km). The Q factors obtained
in this study are indispensable for estimating the thermal status of
GrIS, as well as for interpreting the characteristics of seismic
waveform that propagates through GrIS.