This research is to utilize earthquake SV waves that have been largely ignored by seismologists in studies of gross earth structure and source parameter estimation even though these waveforms potentially contain as much information on source and structure as P or SH waves. Complications in wave propagation cause the teleseismic SV phase to be sensitive to source structure, receiver structure, and source parameters making inversion for any isolated set of parameters difficult. Based on success from a pilot study utilizing SV waves, two avenues of research involving near-source structure and near-receiver structure will be followed. A specific area of study for the former will be the Tibetan Plateau. This work has application to the study of structure in seismically active areas and is therefore a component of the National Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program.
