Temperature model in support of the U.S. Geological Survey National Crustal Model for seismic hazard Ssudies
The U.S. Geological Survey National Crustal Model (NCM) is being developed to assist with earthquake hazard and risk assessment by supporting estimates of ground shaking in response to an earthquake. The period-dependent intensity and duration of shaking depend upon the three-dimensional seismic velocity, seismic attenuation, and density distribution of a region, which in turn is governed to a large degree by geology and how that geology behaves under varying temperatures and pressures.
A three-dimensional temperature model is presented here to support the estimation of physical parameters within the U.S. Geological Survey NCM. The crustal model is defined by a geological framework consisting of various lithologies with distinct mineral compositions. A temperature model is needed to calculate mineral density and bulk and shear modulus as a function of position within the crust. These properties control seismic velocity and impedance, which are needed to accurately estimate earthquake travel times and seismic amplitudes in earthquake hazard analyses. The temperature model is constrained by observations of surface temperature, temperature gradient, and conductivity, inferred Moho temperature and depth, and assumed conductivity at the base of the crust. The continental plate is assumed to have heat production that decreases exponentially with depth and thermal conductivity that exponentially changes from a surface value to 3.6 watts per meter-Kelvin at the Moho. The oceanic plate cools as a half-space with a geotherm dependent on plate age. Under these conditions, and the application of observed surface heat production, predicted Moho temperatures match Moho temperatures inferred from seismic P-wave velocities, on average. As has been noted in previous studies, high crustal temperatures are found in the western United States, particularly beneath areas of recent volcanism. In the central and eastern United States, elevated temperatures are found from southeast Texas, into the Mississippi Embayment, and up through Wisconsin. A USGS ScienceBase data release that supports this report is available and consists of grids covering the NCM across the conterminous United States, for example, surface temperature and temperature gradient, that are needed to produce temperature profiles.
Citation Information
Publication Year | 2019 |
---|---|
Title | Temperature model in support of the U.S. Geological Survey National Crustal Model for seismic hazard Ssudies |
DOI | 10.3133/ofr20191121 |
Authors | Oliver S. Boyd |
Publication Type | Report |
Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
Series Title | Open-File Report |
Series Number | 2019-1121 |
Index ID | ofr20191121 |
Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
USGS Organization | Geologic Hazards Science Center |
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A 3D temperature model is constructed in order to support the estimation of physical parameters within the USGS National Crustal Model. The crustal model is defined by a geological framework consisting of various lithologies with distinct mineral compositions. A temperature model is needed to calculate mineral density and bulk and shear modulus as a function of position within the crust. These pro - Software
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This set of utilities is used to extract temperature profiles and maps from the NCM thermal model (Boyd, 2019). Running the code requires the NCM thermal model, NCM_TemperatureGrids.nc (https://doi.org/10.5066/P935DT1G), and the NCM spatial grid, NCM_SpatialGrid.nc (https://doi.org/10.5066/P9SBQENM). These codes and datasets are part of an effort to produce a three dimensional national crustal mod - Connect