On information to establish preference between isotropic and transversely isotropic inner core models

Mifflen-Mitchell, Luke (2015) On information to establish preference between isotropic and transversely isotropic inner core models. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

Forward modelling of traveltimes from an inner core with elliptical velocity dependence was performed, followed by inverse modelling based on both isotropic and elliptically anisotropic (transverse isotropic) traveltimes. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov (KS) test and Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC) were used for establishing model preference. BIC is a more robust method for studying anisotropy. If we start with an anisotropic model and a large variance of error (+/- 4%), with enough sampling of the anisotropy, even in the case of relatively few traveltimes measurements BIC is able to choose correctly the more complicated model as the preferred source model. It was determined that the KS test is unsuitable for studying inner core anisotropy but may be useful for studying anisotropy in exploration geophysical methods such as vertical seismic profiling.

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