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SUMMARY Taiwan, one of the most active orogenic belts in the world, undergoes orogenic processes that can be elucidated by the doubly vergent wedge model, explaining the extensive island-wide geological deformation. To provide a clearer depiction of its cross-island orogenic architecture, we apply ambient noise tomography across an east–west linear seismic array in central Taiwan, constructing the first high-resolution 2-D shear velocity model of the upper crust in the region. We observe robust fundamental- and higher-mode Rayleigh waves, with the latter being mainly present in the western Coastal Plain. We develop a multimode double-beamforming method to determine local phase velocities across the array between 2- and 5-s periods. For each location, we jointly invert all available fundamental- and higher-mode phase velocities using a Bayesian-based inversion method to obtain a 1-D model. All 1-D models are then combined to form a final 2-D model from the surface to ∼10 km depth. Our newly developed 2-D model clearly delineates major structural boundaries and fault geometries across central Taiwan, thereby corroborating the previously proposed pro-wedge and retro-wedge models while offering insight into regional seismic hazards. 

Abstract During February 2023, a total of 32 individual distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) systems acted jointly as a global seismic monitoring network. The aim of this Global DAS Month campaign was to coordinate a diverse network of organizations, instruments, and file formats to gain knowledge and move toward the next generation of earthquake monitoring networks. During this campaign, 156 earthquakes of magnitude 5 or larger were reported by the U.S. Geological Survey and contributors shared data for 60 min after each event’s origin time. Participating systems represent a variety of manufacturers, a range of recording parameters, and varying cable emplacement settings (e.g., shallow burial, borehole, subaqueous, and dark fiber). Monitored cable lengths vary between 152 and 120,129 m, with channel spacing between 1 and 49 m. The data has a total size of 6.8 TB, and are available for free download. Organizing and executing the Global DAS Month has produced a unique dataset for further exploration and highlighted areas of further development for the seismological community to address. 

Abstract The Formosa array, with 137 broadband seismometers and ∼5 km station spacing, was deployed recently in Northern Taiwan. Here by using eight months of continuous ambient noise records, we construct the first high‐resolution three‐dimensional (3‐D) shear wave velocity model of the crust in the area. We first calculate multi‐component cross‐correlations to extract robust Rayleigh wave signals. We then determine phase velocity maps between 3 and 10 s periods using Eikonal tomography and measure Rayleigh wave ellipticity at each station location between 2 and 13 s periods. For each location, we jointly invert the two types of Rayleigh wave measurements with a Bayesian‐based inversion method for a one‐dimensional shear wave velocity model. All piecewise continuous one‐dimensional models are then used to construct the final 3‐D model. Our 3‐D model reveals upper crustal structures that correlate well with surface geological features. Near the surface, the model delineates the low‐velocity Taipei and Ilan Basins from the adjacent fast‐velocity mountainous areas, with basin geometries consistent with the results of previous geophysical exploration and geological studies. At a greater depth, low velocity anomalies are observed associated with the Linkou Tableland, Tatun Volcano Group, and a possible dyke intrusion beneath the Southern Ilan Basin. The model also provides new geometrical constraints on the major active fault systems in the area, which are important to understand the basin formation, orogeny dynamics, and regional seismic hazard. The new 3‐D shear wave velocity model allows a comprehensive investigation of shallow geologic structures in the Northern Taiwan.