| 2021 Outstanding Student Presentation Award (OSPA)Highest honor for a student participating in the largest geoscience conference in the world. OSPAs are awarded to promote, recognize, and reward undergraduate, Master’s, and PhD students for quality research in Earth and space science and the ability to effectively communicate it. AGU Sections recruit judges to assess and score the presentations of students who have opted to participate in the program. | Award | 2022-02-20 | Jingchuan Wang |
| Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship (AGES)The new Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship recognizes outstanding academic achievement of students pursuing graduate studies in Alberta. It was established to incent the best and the brightest students, including international students, to study in Alberta.
| Award | 2021-11-19 | Wenhan Sun |
| American Geophysical Union (AGU) Travel AwardThis award is offered by the Institute for Geophysical Research at the University of Alberta | Award | 2020-11-06 | Jingchuan Wang |
| Award for Outstanding Course Work and Research ResultsJingchuan Wang (HQP) received 2018 Canadian Society of Exploration Geophysicists (CSEG) scholarship for his outstanding course work and research results. | Award | 2018-12-31 | Jingchuan Wang |
| Best Student Presentation AwardThis is the best student presentation award given to one recipient per year at the annual Geological Society of America (GSA) meeting, 2020 for his talk "Sequential Fault Reactivation and Secondary Triggering in the March 2019 Induced Earthquake Swarm Near Red Creek, Alberta". This award recognizes both research and presentation excellence. | Award | 2020-11-06 | Jingchuan Wang |
| Chevron Canada Outstanding Student Paper in SeismologyThis is the best student paper award offered to 1 student per year in Seismology by the Canadian Geophysics Union. This is the highest distinction for a student author who participates in the annual CGU meeting annually out of hundreds of participants. | Award | 2020-09-09 | Jingchuan Wang |
| PhD Thesis Award Yunfeng Chen, a former student and a close collaborator (see publication list) received the Faculty of Science PhD Thesis Award (2018). | Award | 2018-10-24 | Yunfeng Chen |
| Roy Dean Hibbs Memorial Scholarship (with Distinction)This is the highest student award from the Institute of Geophysics at the University of Alberta, recognizing the outstanding achievements of a MSc. or PhD student in Physics in both academics and research. | Award | 2021-05-17 | Jingchuan Wang |
| Microseismic monitoring at a shallow injection site, the CaMI Field Research Station in Newell County, AB, Geoconvention, Calgary. University of Calgary, University of Alberta | Publication | 2020-09-23 | "Savard G.", Gilbert, H., "Macquet M.", Donald Lawton, Gu, Y. |
| Preliminary seismic hazard analysis from wastewater disposal-induced seismicity near the Musreau Lake, AlbertaThis is the conference paper (4 pages) for a conference paper at the Geoconvention 2021 meeting (to be held in September, 2021) virtually. This study analyzed the seismic signals from a series of recent earthquakes near Musreau Lake region and provide a probablistic model based on seismic hazard simulations. The outcome of this research (which is spearheaded by coauthors at the Alberta Geological Survey) will directly impact regional seismic hazard regulations and mitigation. University of Alberta | Publication | 2021-04-16 | "Mauricio Canales", "Javad Yusifbayov", "Todd Shipman", Tianyang Li, Gu, Y., Jingchuan Wang, "Ruijia Wang" |
| Recent earthquakes induced by wastewater near Musreau Lake, AlbertaThis is an invited conference paper to the Geoconvention 2021 meeting to be held in September, 2021. This study provides conclusive evidence for the direct link between wastewater disposal in Alberta with known seismicity. This study represents the second clear case of disposal related events in Canada and will be highly impactful for future earthquake monitoring in Alberta. University of Alberta | Publication | 2021-04-16 | Tianyang Li, Gu, Y., Jingchuan Wang, "Ruijia Wang", "Javad Yosifbayov", "Mauricio Canales", "Todd Shipman" |
| 3D and 5D Multichannel Singular Spectrum Analysis (MSSA) and the reconstruction of P receiver functions We apply our 5D reconstruction method to the USArray data from the Yellowstone area. Our algorithm efficiently recovers the correct timing and polarity of mantle conversions from the 410- and 660-km discontinuities, consistent with earlier reports in this area. Overall, our analysis demonstrates that working with more spatial dimensions can significantly increase data redundancy, which are conducive to signal recovery. The preconditioning of the data greatly increases our ability to visualize and characterize both known and suspected mantle interfaces. University of Alberta | Activity | 2019-12-09 | Gonzalo Rubio, Sacchi, M., Gu, Y. |
| Aftershocks and fault aseismic deformation in Southern-central Alberta associated with a hydraulic-fracturing induced earthquake?This is an invited talk at the annual Geological Society of America meeting. An abstract was accepted under this title by the conference conveners. This study reveal silent noise sources near Red Deer Alberta, which we interpret as seismic creep events associated with an earlier moderate-sized earthquake. University of Alberta | Activity | 2020-10-26 | Gu, Y., Jingchuan Wang, Camryn Undershute, "Ryan Schultz" |
| Characterizing the recent increasing seismicity near Musreau Lake, AlbertaThis is an abstract submitted for a talk at the American Geophysical Union (AGU) annual meeting, 2020. In this study, we analyzed earthquakes in the Musreau Lake, Alberta and identified multiple faults and seismic clusters. Based on the spatiotemporal variations of the earthquakes we were able to link the seismic swarm to wastewater injection. These findings have direct impact on regional seismic hazard monitoring and future understanding of subsurface structures. University of Alberta | Activity | 2020-10-26 | Tianyang Li, Gu, Y., Jingchuan Wang, "Javad Yusifbayov", "Todd Shipman" |
| Crustal seismic attenuation of western Canada from Lg Q inversionsSouthwestern Canada has experienced major tectonic activities involving craton assembly and Cordilleran orogenesis. These processes have left crustal imprints that are observable from the propagation times, waveforms and amplitudes of seismic waves. So far, the majority of the crustal models of this region has been determined from elastic seismic wave-speeds, whereas anelasticity remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigate the lateral variations of crustal attenuation structure by measuring 1 Hz Lg Q (Q0) values using a standard two-station method. Fourier spectral amplitudes are measured from Lg waves windowed between 3.0 and 3.5 km/s. We utilize 148 regional earthquakes and 561 broadband stations from various regional seismic networks. The Q0 values are measured between ~130000 station pairs, resulting in a dense raypath coverage. In general, the Canadian Cordillera exhibits slightly higher Q0 values (~500) than the Alberta Basin (~300), which could potentially reflect the presence of a thick sedimentary cover in the latter region. The boundary between the two crustal regimes lies beneath the Rocky Mountainswhere elevated Q values are observed. Farther north, we identify extremely low Q0 values (~100) beneath the Buffalo Head Terrane, a Proterozoic domain with a proposed history of Paleoproterozoicpost-collisional magmatism and kimberlite intrusion. On the other hand, our Lg data set suggests high Q0 values in the Archean-aged Medicine Hat Block in southern Alberta, which is concordant with its proposed Archean origin. Overall, Lg wave attenuation offers new constraints on the temperature and composition of the continental crust/lithosphere beneath the western margin of North America.
University of Alberta | Activity | 2019-12-10 | Farhanah Mohammed, Gu, Y., Jingchuan Wang, "Brooklin Ngugen", "Ruijia Wang" |
| Micro-tremors and aftershocks following the March 2019 ML 4.2 earthquake near Red Deer, AlbertaThis was an abstract for a talk at the annual America Geophysical Union (AGU) meeting, 2020. The speaker was Jingchuan Wang, who analyzed both small earthquakes and micro-tremors near Red Deer, Alberta, in association with a moderate earthquake in 2019. University of Alberta | Activity | 2020-12-10 | Jingchuan Wang, Gu, Y., Camryn Undershute, Tianyang Li, "Ryan Schultz", "Javad Yusifbayov", "Miao Zhang" |
| Monitoring CO2 injection at the CaMI Field Research Station using noise source migration University of Alberta, University of Calgary | Activity | 2020-11-30 | "Li T.", Gu, Y., Donald Lawton, Gilbert, H., "Savard G.", "Macquet M.", Jingchuan Wang, Kris Innanen |
| Multi-dimensional reconstruction of virtual shot gathers University of Alberta | Activity | 2020-11-25 | Yunfeng Chen, Gu, Y., Sacchi, M. |
| Recovery of the upper crustal structures from forward modeling and inversions of receiver functions Secondary converted waves from receiver functions are highly sensitive to the physical properties below the Earth’s surface. When modeled properly, the waveforms of converted waves on the receiver functions offer direct constraints on the impedance contrast, depth, and P-to-S velocity ratio pertaining to crust and mantle interfaces. In this study we introduce a novel nonlinear waveform inversion algorithm that matches the first 5 seconds of receiver functions recorded in the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin (WCSB). Our algorithm searches for the optimal thickness of the sedimentary cover as well as shear velocities of appropriately selected layers within and below it. Combining inversions with forward simulations, we were able to determine the upper crustal stratigraphy from more than 30 regional broadband seismic stations in the WCSB. The inverted models show east tapering sedimentary layer thicknesses ranging from 6 km beneath the foothills of the Canadian Rocky Mountains to 2-3 km beneath the Alberta basin. This finding is consistent with the sedimentary strata determined from regional well-logging data. The sedimentary layer often contains a low velocity zone of variable thicknesses and amplitudes that, depending on the locations, may be caused by various mechanisms involving temperature, composition or deformation history. We further identify a low velocity zone at 10-15 km in central Alberta, which partially overlaps with recently reported mid-crustal granite intrusions. Our receiver-function based models offer new constraints on the shear velocities near the top of the basement, which are typically less well constrained due to the reliance of sonic logs or single (vertical) component seismic data. Our range of depths (0-15 km) effectively bridges the gap between the vertical scales of well logging and those of traditional broadband analysis involving receiver functions and surface waves.
University of Alberta | Activity | 2019-12-09 | "Cheng Zhang", Gu, Y., Yunfeng Chen |
| Lithospheric structure imaging of Alberta from regional broadband seismic networkThis is the PhD thesis of Yunfeng Chen whom I supervised at the University of Alberta. His work on the seismic imaging provided thought-provoking findings critical for the understanding of the tectonic history and energy potential in the Alberta basin and surrounding areas., His PhD thesis received the Outstanding PhD Thesis award in October, 2018. | Publication | 2018-09-25 | Yunfeng Chen |
| Multiscale Investigation of the Earth's Internal Structure and Processes Using Seismic Arrays | Publication | 2022-01-01 | Jingchuan Wang |
| Source Analysis of Induced Earthquakes in the Western Canada Sedimentary BasinThis is Ruijia Wang's PhD thesis work under my supervision at the University of Alberta. Her published peer-reviewed studies highly cited as some of the most important works regarding the seismic hazard mitigation in the western Canada Sedimentary Basin. | Publication | 2018-09-24 | "Ruijia Wang" |
| A Comprehensive Earthquake Catalogue for Southwestern Alberta, Canada, Between 2004 and 2015This study examines seismic data recorded during the time period of 2004/05-2015/01 by regional seismic networks in western Alberta, with the intention to establish an up-to-date regional seismicity catalogue. This study identifies 5 distinct clusters of events, some are known while a new cluster is discovered in central Alberta west of Edmonton. University of Alberta | Publication | 2020-03-12 | Gui-Chin Dinu Huang, "Honn Kao", Gu, Y. |
| Robust Sparse Recovery via Matching Pursuit Algorithms and Applications to Simultaneous-Source Seismic Data Processing | Publication | 2021-01-01 | Ji Li |
| 3-D and 5-D reconstruction of P receiver functions via singular spectrum analysisThis study demonstrates a new way to visualize, clean and process seismic data. The outcomes provides a blueprint for future data analysis and interpretation. This study utilized both local and international data to constrain structure in the mantle. University of Alberta | Publication | 2020-11-17 | Gonzalo Rubio, Yunfeng Chen, Sacchi, M., Gu, Y. |
| A new appraisal of lithospheric structures of the Cordillera-craton boundary region in western CanadaThis study provides a background survey of the Alberta basin by linking seismic velocity with gravity and xenoliths. The outcomes have significant impact on the cause of gravitation anomalies and the discoveries of crustal intrusions. University of Alberta | Publication | 2019-04-25 | Yunfeng Chen, Gu, Y., "Shu-Huei Hung" |
| Crustal attenuation beneath western North America: Implications for slab subduction, terrane accretion and arc magmatism of the CascadesIn this study, a new Lg attenuation model was developed for the crust in western North America.
We find that Q varies significantly from the Cascade arc (low) to the Canadian Shield (high), which variation is caused by combined effects of scattering and intrinsic attenuation. This study also reveals a sharp boundary that delineates the subsurface extent of the Siletzia terrane. University of Alberta | Publication | 2021-04-15 | Yunfeng Chen, Gu, Y., Farhanah Mohammed, Jingchuan Wang, Sacchi, M., "Ruijia Wang", Brooklin Davis Hoang Nguyen |
| Crustal shear structure of the Cordillera-Craton transition region in southwestern Canada and its tectonic implications This was an award-winning (Chevron Outstanding Paper award) offered by the Canadian Geophysical Union (CGU, 2020). Due to the outstanding research and presentation of this study, Jingchuan Wang (PhD student at the UofA) received this high honour from AGU, which is given to one out of tens of submissions. For this very reason, this study would be considered peer-reviewed and highlights the important crustal characteristic, particularly related to tectonically influenced fabrics, in southwestern Alberta. The finding directly impact the understanding of crustal processes and mountain building in North America. University of Alberta | Publication | 2021-09-09 | Jingchuan Wang, Gu, Y., Yunfeng Chen, Farhanah Mohammed |
| Earthquakes induced by wastewater disposal near Musreau Lake, Alberta, 2018-2020This study, which has been submitted to Geophysical Research Letters recently, not only provide conclusive evidence that link wastewater disposal with increased seismic events in central Alberta, it also develops a new Alberta-wide framework (ISO model) that allows future operators to predict the fault orientations based on a geographical location. University of Alberta | Publication | 2021-05-18 | Tianyang Li, Gu, Y., Jingchuan Wang, "Ruijia Wang", "Javad Yosifbayov", "Mauricio Canales", "Todd Shipman" |
| Earthquakes Induced by Wastewater Disposal near Musreau Lake, Alberta, 2018\textendash 2020 University of Alberta | Publication | 2021-11-01 | Tianyang Li, Gu, Y., Jingchuan Wang, Ruijia Wang, Javad Yusifbayov, Mauricio Reyes Canales, Todd Shipman |
| Non-double-couple components for induced earthquakesThis study highlight the sources associated with induced (fluid-injection) events. It has significant implications for seismic risk analysis in the Alberta basin where CO2 test site is located. University of Alberta | Publication | 2018-08-06 | "Rujia Wang", Gu, Y., "Ryan Schultz", Yunfeng Chen |
| Paleomagnetism of the Guanyang Devonian sedimentary successions in Guangxi province, South ChinaThis study analyzed paleomagnetic behavior of faults in southern China. It then uses the information and provides a new reference framework for seismic analysis and modeling. University of Alberta | Publication | 2021-05-04 | "Lei Wu", "Huaying Liang", "Brendan Murphy", "Uwe Kirscher", "Ross Mitchell", "Louise Hawkins", "Galen Halverson", Gu, Y., "Jian Zhang", "Xijun Liu" |
| Precambrian tectonic discontinuities in western Laurentia: Broadband seismological perspectives on the Snowbird and Great Falls tectonic zonesThis study analyzes the background crustal structure beneath the Alberta basin. The results show that past history can be very important for the present-day crustal seismic characterization. University of Alberta | Publication | 2018-04-20 | Gu, Y., Yunfeng Chen, Ramin H Dokht, "Ruijia Wang" |
| Reconciling seismic structures and Late Cretaceous kimberlite magmatism in northern Alberta, CanadaThis is the first study that clearly imaged a seismic velocity structure beneath northern Alberta kimberlite field, which provides a new theory regarding the formation of diamonds in Buffalo Head Hills, Mountain Lake and Birch Mountain fields. Subduction of oceanic plates during the late Cretaceous is the most plausible reason based on seismic, geochemical and paleomagnetic data. This study is published in Geology, which is a top tier journal in Earth Sciences. University of Alberta | Publication | 2020-04-07 | Yunfeng Chen, Gu, Y., "Larry Heaman", "Lei Wu", "Erdinc Saygin", "Shu-Huei Hung" |
| Seismic evidence for a mantle suture and implications for the origin of the Canadian CordilleraThis paper is a study of major impact that will shape the landscape in the understanding of the Canadian Rockies and Alberta basement. The methodologies and software (e.g., seismic tomography, resolution analysis) developed in this study will be employed in the CO2 project University of Alberta | Publication | 2019-03-23 | "Yunfeng Chen", Gu, Y., "Claire Currie", "Stephen Johnston", "Shu-Huei Hung", "Andrew Schaeffer", "Pascal Audet" |
| Sequential fault reactivation from secondary triggering in the March 2019 Red Deer induced earthquake swarmThis study analyzed a recent seismic swarm near Red Deer, Alberta, and reports a clear connection between earthquakes and human activities. The results of the study enable better monitoring of the subsurface faults and stresses beneath central Alberta Basin. University of Alberta | Publication | 2021-10-29 | Jingchuan Wang, Tianyang Li, Gu, Y., "Ryan Schultz", "Javad Yusifbayov", "Miao Zhang" |
| Shear Velocity and Radial Anisotropy beneath Southwestern Canada: Evidence for Crustal Extension and Thick-Skinned TectonicsThis is a shallow crustal survey of the Alberta basin using ambient seismic tomography, which is the key method to be used in the proposed project. Our study shows strong contrasts of seismic anisotropy between the basin and surrounding regions in the upper crust. This study is currently being revised and will be submitted within the next 3 weeks. University of Alberta | Publication | 2019-04-25 | Jingchuan Wang, Gu, Y., "Yunfeng Chen" |
| Shear Velocity and Radial Anisotropy beneath Southwestern Canada: Evidence for Crustal Extension and Thick‐Skinned TectonicsDeformation‐associated craton assembly and Cordilleran orogenesis played major roles during the crustal formation beneath the western margin of North America. To improve the understanding of the deformation history in this region, we investigate the crustal shear velocity and anisotropy by analyzing fundamental mode Rayleigh and Love waves from ambient seismic noise. Continuous recordings from 118 regional broadband stations reveal lateral variations in both velocity and anisotropy with strong spatial affinities to major geological domains. Strong variations in radial anisotropy, which dips westward and extends to at least midcrustal depths, suggest a “thick‐skinned” foreland thrust‐and‐fold belt beneath the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Our regional data also suggest increased horizontal shear velocities beneath the southern Canadian Cordillera, particularly near the Omineca Belt, which may have resulted from strong zonal deformation within the Cordilleran crust. This anisotropic anomaly migrates southward, and its spatial extent agrees well with the normal fault distribution to the west of the Rocky Mountain Trench. Our observations offer new evidence for the Eocene extension of the orogenic hinterland during the trans‐tensional motion of the Cordillera to the North American craton. University of Alberta | Publication | 2020-03-04 | Jingchuan Wang, Gu, Y., Yunfeng Chen |
| Shear wave splitting discloses two episodes of collision-related convergence in western North AmericaThis publication surveys the crustal and mantle seismic anisotropy beneath the Alberta basin. With highest density possible (without the proposed stations), It is the first of its kind and effectively measures the deformation history and stresses within and around the Alberta basin. University of Alberta | Publication | 2019-02-21 | "Lei Wu", Gu, Y., Yunfeng Chen, "Huaying Liang" |
| Spatiotemporal variations in crustal seismic anisotropy surrounding induced earthquakes near Fox Creek, AlbertaThe classic method that measures the travel time and polarization
differences between two polarized shear waves, known as “shear wave splitting,” is widely used to
determine directional‐dependent seismic wave speeds (i.e., anisotropy) at both global and exploration scales.
This study takes advantage of industry data to measure and characterize the seismic anisotropy surrounding
a hydraulic fracturing well near Fox Creek, Alberta. We analyze the induced seismicity and examine the
earthquake source types and anisotropy in the sedimentary strata. The source mechanism confirms the
previously reported N‐S striking, flower‐type fault system. The decreasing seismic anisotropy over time is
most likely caused by the closures of hydraulic fractures surrounding the hydraulic fracturing well. This
result is critical to the understanding of local seismic anisotropy, for both regulatory agencies and
the industry. University of Alberta | Publication | 2019-05-22 | "Tianyang Li", Gu, Y., "Zizhen Wang", "Ruijia Wang", Yunfeng Chen, Te-Ru A Song, "Ruihe Wang" |
| Monitoring CO2 injection at the CaMI Field Research Station using noise source migration, CaMI.Field Research Station (FRS) Research Report – vol 5. [Published, 4 pages] University of Alberta, University of Calgary | Publication | 2020-11-30 | "Li T.", Gu, Y., Donald Lawton, Gilbert, H., "Savard G.", "Macquet M.", Jingchuan Wang, Kris Innanen |
| Passive seismic imaging and monitoring using ambient noise body waves, CaMIField Research Station (FRS) research report– vol 5. [Published, 4 pages] University of Alberta, University of Calgary | Publication | 2020-11-30 | Yunfeng Chen, Gu, Y., Sacchi, M., "Macquet M.", Gilbert, H., Donald Lawton |
