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Abstract

A study of Rayleigh wave dispersion from earthquakes within the
New Guinea area has revealed two features of shear velocity distribution
not examined previously.
Variations in depth,to 300 km below the tectonically stable
platform of southern New Guinea were determined from recordings of fundamental
and higher mode Rayleigh waves. This average profile for paths
shorter than 2000 km, contains a low velocity zone reaching 4.2 km/sec. at
depths of 120 to 160 km, which is overlain by a relatively thick cap of
material with a velocity of 4.4 km/sec.
The lateral gross distribution of shear velocities beneath the
crust, emerged from examination of fundamental mode dispersion profiles.
Many of the phase velocity profiles were resolved from single station data
and techniques used to define the correct dispersion in such cases are
discussed. Although interpretations of these are strictly limited in
structurally heterogeneous regions such as New Guinea, phase velocities at
periods near 40 seconds are controlled mainly by shear velocities in the
uppermost 50 km of the mantle, in zones of greater homogeneity than the
crust.
Known geophysical data, existing hypotheses of geotectonic
development of the New Guinea region, the concept of sea floor spreading,
and observed characteristics of mineral assemblages under high temperatures
and pressures, provide a framework within which these data are examined.
Upper mantle Velocities are highest, about 4.7 km/sec., beneath
the crust of the Solomon Sea, lowest beneath the shield structure of southern New Guinea and appear to have intermediate values beneath the
cordilleran region. These differences are large enough to indicate that
regional variations exist in the mineralogy of the upper mantle.
The relatively low velocities underlying the southern New Guinea
crust may also imply a higher heat flow than normally expected in the most
ancient pre Cambrian shield regions of the world.
In general the results are not sufficiently detailed or comprehensive
to test existing hypotheses of geotectonic development of this
complex region and the study should rather be treated as a basic contribution
to knowledge of the New Guinea area.

Item Type:	Thesis - PhD
Authors/Creators:	Brooks, J A
Keywords:	Seismology
Copyright Holders:	The Author
Copyright Information:	Copyright 1969 the Author - The University is continuing to endeavour to trace the copyright owner(s) and in the meantime this item has been reproduced here in good faith. We would be pleased to hear from the copyright owner(s).
Additional Information:	Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of Tasmania, 1969. Bibliography: p. 157-64. Includes appendices with supplementary references p. 165-241. Appendix V. Seismic wave velocities in the New Guinea-Solomon Islands Region. Reprinted from Crust of the Pacific Basin, Geophysical Monograph No. 6, 1962
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