Efficient hybrid numerical modeling of the seismic wavefield in the presence of solid-fluid boundaries

Abstract Applying full-waveform methods to image small-scale structures of geophysical interest buried within the Earth requires the computation of the seismic wavefield over large distances compared to the target wavelengths. This represents a considerable computational cost when using state-of-the...

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Main Authors: Chao Lyu, Barbara Romanowicz, Liang Zhao, Yder Masson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-02-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56530-5
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author Chao Lyu
Barbara Romanowicz
Liang Zhao
Yder Masson
author_facet Chao Lyu
Barbara Romanowicz
Liang Zhao
Yder Masson
author_sort Chao Lyu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Applying full-waveform methods to image small-scale structures of geophysical interest buried within the Earth requires the computation of the seismic wavefield over large distances compared to the target wavelengths. This represents a considerable computational cost when using state-of-the-art numerical integration of the equations of motion in three-dimensional earth models. “Box Tomography” is a hybrid method that breaks up the wavefield computation into three parts, only one of which needs to be iterated for each model update, significantly saving computational time. To deploy this method in remote regions containing a fluid-solid boundary, one needs to construct artificial sources that confine the seismic wavefield within a small region that straddles this boundary. The difficulty arises from the need to combine the solid-fluid coupling with a hybrid numerical simulation in this region. Here, we report a reconciliation of different displacement potential expressions used for solving the acoustic wave equation and propose a unified framework for hybrid simulations. This represents a significant step towards applying ’Box Tomography’ in arbitrary regions inside the Earth, achieving a thousand-fold computational cost reduction compared to standard approaches without compromising accuracy. We also present examples of benchmarks of the hybrid simulations in the case of target regions at the ocean floor and the core-mantle boundary.
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spelling doaj-art-bcb8a05df07447ce984a403d4a36bc222025-08-20T02:15:11ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-02-0116111710.1038/s41467-025-56530-5Efficient hybrid numerical modeling of the seismic wavefield in the presence of solid-fluid boundariesChao Lyu0Barbara Romanowicz1Liang Zhao2Yder Masson3Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of CaliforniaDepartment of Earth and Planetary Science, University of CaliforniaKey Laboratory of Deep Petroleum Intelligent Exploration and Development, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of SciencesUniversity of Pau and Pays de l’AdourAbstract Applying full-waveform methods to image small-scale structures of geophysical interest buried within the Earth requires the computation of the seismic wavefield over large distances compared to the target wavelengths. This represents a considerable computational cost when using state-of-the-art numerical integration of the equations of motion in three-dimensional earth models. “Box Tomography” is a hybrid method that breaks up the wavefield computation into three parts, only one of which needs to be iterated for each model update, significantly saving computational time. To deploy this method in remote regions containing a fluid-solid boundary, one needs to construct artificial sources that confine the seismic wavefield within a small region that straddles this boundary. The difficulty arises from the need to combine the solid-fluid coupling with a hybrid numerical simulation in this region. Here, we report a reconciliation of different displacement potential expressions used for solving the acoustic wave equation and propose a unified framework for hybrid simulations. This represents a significant step towards applying ’Box Tomography’ in arbitrary regions inside the Earth, achieving a thousand-fold computational cost reduction compared to standard approaches without compromising accuracy. We also present examples of benchmarks of the hybrid simulations in the case of target regions at the ocean floor and the core-mantle boundary.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56530-5
spellingShingle Chao Lyu
Barbara Romanowicz
Liang Zhao
Yder Masson
Efficient hybrid numerical modeling of the seismic wavefield in the presence of solid-fluid boundaries
Nature Communications
title Efficient hybrid numerical modeling of the seismic wavefield in the presence of solid-fluid boundaries
title_full Efficient hybrid numerical modeling of the seismic wavefield in the presence of solid-fluid boundaries
title_fullStr Efficient hybrid numerical modeling of the seismic wavefield in the presence of solid-fluid boundaries
title_full_unstemmed Efficient hybrid numerical modeling of the seismic wavefield in the presence of solid-fluid boundaries
title_short Efficient hybrid numerical modeling of the seismic wavefield in the presence of solid-fluid boundaries
title_sort efficient hybrid numerical modeling of the seismic wavefield in the presence of solid fluid boundaries
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56530-5
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AT barbararomanowicz efficienthybridnumericalmodelingoftheseismicwavefieldinthepresenceofsolidfluidboundaries
AT liangzhao efficienthybridnumericalmodelingoftheseismicwavefieldinthepresenceofsolidfluidboundaries
AT ydermasson efficienthybridnumericalmodelingoftheseismicwavefieldinthepresenceofsolidfluidboundaries