Pn anisotropy studies in northern Britain and the eastern and western United States

Summary. Available seismic refraction data from three different continental areas, northern Britain and the eastern and western United States, has been studied for possible P_n , velocity anisotropy using the methods described by Bamford. There are various deficiencies in the time—distance data used in each case but, while the uppermost mantle beneath northern Britain and the eastern United States seems to be isotropic within the limits of measurement error, there is a small but significant anisotropy beneath the western United States.
Both the amount (up to 3 per cent) and the direction (70–80° east of north) of this anisotropy are very similar to the results obtained in the Pacific Ocean off California. We tentatively conclude that this anisotropy is present as a consequence of the subduction of oceanic lithosphere beneath the western United States.     

Crustal and uppermost mantle structure in southern Africa revealed from ambient noise and teleseismic tomography

Rayleigh wave phase velocity maps in southern Africa are obtained at periods from 6 to 40 s using seismic ambient noise tomography applied to data from the Southern Africa Seismic Experiment (SASE) deployed between 1997 and 1999. These phase velocity maps are combined with those from 45 to 143 s period which were determined previously using a two-plane-wave method by Li & Burke. In the period range of overlap (25–40 s), the ambient noise and two-plane-wave methods yield similar phase velocity maps. Dispersion curves from 6 to 143 s period were used to estimate the 3-D shear wave structure of the crust and uppermost mantle on an 1°× 1° grid beneath southern Africa to a depth of about 100 km. Average shear wave velocity in the crust is found to vary from 3.6 km s^–1 at 0–10 km depths to 3.86 km s^–1 from 20 to 40 km, and velocity anomalies in these layers correlate with known tectonic features. Shear wave velocity in the lower crust is on average low in the Kaapvaal and Zimbabwe cratons and higher in the surrounding Proterozoic terranes, such as the Limpopo and the Namaqua-Natal belts, which suggests that the lower crust underlying the Archean cratons is probably less mafic than beneath the Proterozoic terranes. Crustal thickness estimates agree well with a previous receiver function study of Nair et al. . Archean crust is relatively thin and light and underlain by a fast uppermost mantle, whereas the Proterozoic crust is thick and dense with a slower underlying mantle. These observations are consistent with the southern African Archean cratons having been formed by the accretion of island arcs with the convective removal of the dense lower crust, if the foundering process became less vigorous in arc environments during the Proterozoic.     

Waveform modelling of teleseismic S, Sp, SsPmP, and shear-coupled PL waves for crust- and upper-mantle velocity structure beneath Africa

We describe a waveform modelling technique and demonstrate its application to determine the crust- and upper-mantle velocity structure beneath Africa. Our technique uses a parallelized reflectivity method to compute synthetic seismograms and fits the observed waveforms by a global optimization technique based on a Very Fast Simulated Annealing (VFSA). We match the S , Sp, SsPmP and shear-coupled PL phases in seismograms of deep (200–800 km), moderate-to-large magnitude (5.5–7.0) earthquakes recorded teleseismically at permanent broad-band seismic stations in Africa. Using our technique we produce P - and S -wave velocity models of crust and upper mantle beneath Africa. Additionally, our use of the shear-coupled PL phase, wherever observed, improves the constraints for lower crust- and upper-mantle velocity structure beneath the corresponding seismic stations. Our technique retains the advantages of receiver function methods, uses a different part of the seismogram, is sensitive to both P - and S -wave velocities directly, and obtains helpful constraints in model parameters in the vicinity of the Moho. The resulting range of crustal thicknesses beneath Africa (21–46 km) indicates that the crust is thicker in south Africa, thinner in east Africa and intermediate in north and west Africa. Crustal P - (4.7–8 km s⁻¹) and S -wave velocities (2.5–4.7  km s⁻¹) obtained in this study show that in some parts of the models, these are slower in east Africa and faster in north, west and south Africa. Anomalous crustal low-velocity zones are also observed in the models for seismic stations in the cratonic regions of north, west and south Africa. Overall, the results of our study are consistent with earlier models and regional tectonics of Africa.     

Heterogeneous structure around the Jemez volcanic field, New Mexico, USA, as inferred from the envelope inversion of active-experiment seismic data

We analyse active-experiment seismic data obtained by the 1993 Jemez Tomography Experiment (JTEX) programme to elucidate the heterogeneous structure of the Jemez volcanic field, which is located at the boundary between the Colorado Plateau and the Rio Grande Rift. Using a single isotropic scattering assumption, we first calculate the envelope Green's functions for the upper and lower crust and the uppermost mantle. By fitting the theoretical envelopes with the observed three-component data, we estimate depth-dependent features of the scattering coefficients around Valles Caldera. We estimate the ratios of scattering coefficients, rather than scattering coefficients themselves, because of the uncertainty of the seismic efficiency of the explosive sources and knowledge of absolute site-amplification factors. The strongest scattering coefficients are observed at a shallow depth beneath the Valles Caldera. This is considered to be related to the complex structure caused by two episodes of caldera formation and the ensuing resurgent uplift in the caldera, etc. The depth-dependent characters of the scattering coefficients for the Colorado Plateau and the Rio Grande Rift are similar to each other: a transparent upper crust and a heterogeneous lower crust (small and large scattering coefficients, respectively). However, the scattering coefficients beneath the Rio Grande Rift are several times larger than those beneath the Colorado Plateau. Depths of the lower crust and the Moho boundary beneath the Rio Grande Rift are shallower than those of the Colorado Plateau. From their geological settings and other geophysical results around the region, we infer that the larger scattering coefficients of the rift are associated with rift formation and volcanic activity, such as magma ascent from the upper mantle to the crust.     

Post-collisional extension of the East Greenland Caledonides: a geophysical perspective

Crustal extension during and following continental collision is well documented in the Arctic Caledonian fold belt. However, models for the post-collisional extension of the Caledonides are mainly based on geoscientific data from Scandinavia. For a more complete understanding of the evolution of the Caledonides, knowledge of the crustal structure of East Greenland is vital. Seismic and gravity studies have revealed a pronounced Moho topography and a west-dipping lower crustal reflector beneath the fjord region of East Greenland. These deep crustal structures are related to Late Caledonian extensional structures at the surface. The observations can be satisfactorily explained by applying simple shear or eduction models proposed for upper crustal extension in Scandinavia to the complementing lower crustal structures in East Greenland. However, exhumation of the Caledonian Northeast Greenland eclogite province cannot be accomplished by these models. Instead, a synthesis of geoscientific data has shown marked differences in the crustal structure of East Greenland north and south of about 76°N, indicating a different crustal evolution of the northern and southern parts of the East Greenland Caledonides.     

Determination of the three-dimensional seismic structure of the crust and upper mantle in the Central Midlands of England

Summary. Teleseismic P -wave residuals relative to CWF, a permanent shortperiod seismic station on Charnwood Forest in the Central Midlands of England, have been determined for two small aperture arrays deployed over the Precambrian block of Charnwood and its surrounding Phanerozoic sediments. The data have been inverted to produce a block model of the P -wave velocity variations in the crust and upper mantle beneath the study region. The results are consistent with significant variations penetrating to a depth of at least 50 km. Low velocities are associated with two upper crustal intrusive bodies, the Caledonian Mountsorrel granodiorite and the South Leicestershire diorites. A longer-wavelength variation at lower crustal/upper mantle depths could arise from the Moho dipping to the south-west beneath the study region, and whose strike sub-parallels the dominant Charnian trend of the major basement structures in this part of Central England.     

Teleseismic delay-time tomography of the upper mantle beneath southeastern India: imprint of Indo–Antarctica rifting

A 3-D P -velocity map of the crust and upper mantle beneath the southeastern part of India has been reconstructed through the inversion of teleseismic traveltimes. Salient geological features in the study region include the Archean Dharwar Craton and Eastern Ghat metamorphic belt (EGMB), and the Proterozoic Cuddapah and Godavari basins. The Krishna–Godavari basin, on the eastern coastal margin, evolved in response to the Indo–Antarctica breakup. A 24-station temporary network provided 1161 traveltimes, which were used to model 3-D P -velocity variation. The velocity model accounts of 80 per cent of the observed data variance. The velocity picture to a depth of 120 km shows two patterns: a high velocity beneath the interior domain (Dharwar craton and Cuddapah basin), and a lower velocity beneath the eastern margin region (EGMB and coastal basin). Across the array velocity variations of 7–10 per cent in the crust (0–40 km) and 3–5 per cent in the uppermost mantle (40–120 km) are observed. At deeper levels (120–210 km) the upper-mantle velocity differences are insignificant among different geological units. The presence of such a low velocity along the eastern margin suggests significantly thin lithosphere (<100 km) beneath it compared to a thick lithosphere (>200 km) beneath the eastern Dharwar craton. Such lithospheric thinning could be a consequence of Indo–Antarctica break-up.     

Basement faulting and the focal depths of the larger earthquakes in the Zagros mountains (Iran)

Summary. The present day seismicity of the Zagros seems to occur on high angle reverse faults distributed across the whole width of the belt. It does not indicate activity on a single inclined thrust surface and there do not seem to have been any well located events at intermediate depths. Modelling of the long period teleseismic body waves of seven large earthquakes presented here shows their focal depths to be in the range 8–15 km. This is thought to indicate faulting in the uppermost basement beneath the sedimentary cover, though the absence of published seismic refraction results renders the sediment thickness uncertain. Faulting of this type and depth may occur on inherited normal faults which have subsequently been reactivated as thrusts. Such reactivation allows considerable shortening to take place in the early stages of continental collision without the subduction or excessive thickening of continental crust.     

A relative P-wave delay study between Eskdalemuir and Charnwood Forest

Summary. The relative P-wave delay between CWF, a permanent seismic station on the Precambrian rocks of Charnwood Forest in the English Midlands and EKA, the Eskdalemuir Seismological Array, shows a large azimuthal variation of 1.3 s. This is examined and is consistent with a thinning of the crust from EKA to CWF, together with a considerable thickness of high velocity (most probably greater than 7.0 km s⁻¹) lower crust beneath CWF. The Southern Uplands Fault, approximately 42 km to the north-west at its closest approach to EKA, seems to be associated with a large anomaly in the relative P -wave delay. Raypaths from events originating between azimuths 260 to 350° from EKA apparently pass through anomalously high velocity material entering the crust just to the south of the fault.     

A three-dimensional image of shallow subduction: crustal structure of the Raukumara Peninsula, New Zealand

Earthquake arrival time data from a 36-station deployment of portable seismographs on the Raukumara Peninsula have been used to determine the 3-D Vp and Vp/Vs structure of this region of shallow subduction. A series of inversions have been performed, starting with an inversion for 1-D structure, then 2-D, and finally 3-D. This procedure ensures a smooth regional model in places of low resolution. The subducted plate is imaged as a northwest-dipping feature, with Vp consistently greater than 8.5  km  s⁻¹ in the uppermost mantle of the plate. Structure in the overlying plate changes significantly along strike. In the northeast, there is an extensive low-velocity zone in the lower crust underlying the most rapidly rising part of the Raukumara Range. It is bounded on its arcward side by an upwarp of high velocity. A viable explanation for the low-velocity zone is that it represents an accumulation of underplated subducted sediment, while serpentinization of the uppermost mantle may be responsible for the adjacent high-velocity region. The low-velocity zone decreases and the adjacent high-velocity region is less extensive in the southwest. This change is interpreted to be related to a change in the thickness of the crust of the overlying plate. In the northeast the crust is thinner, and subducted sediment ponds against relatively strong uppermost mantle, while in the southwest the crust is thicker, and the relatively weak lower crust allows sediment subduction to greater depths. A narrow zone of high Vp/Vs parallels the shallow part of the plate interface. This suggests elevated fluid pressures, with the distribution of earthquakes about this zone further suggesting that these pressures may be close to lithostatic. The plate interface at 20  km depth beneath the Raukumara Peninsula may thus be a closed system for fluid flow, similar to that seen at much shallower depths in other subduction décollements.     

Flexural uplift of the Stara Planina range, central Bulgaria

The Stara Planina is an E–W-trending range within the Balkan belt in central Bulgaria. This topographically high mountain range was the site of Mesozoic through early Cenozoic thrusting and convergence, and its high topography is generally thought to have resulted from crustal shortening associated with those events. However, uplift of this belt appears to be much younger than the age of thrusting and correlates instead with the age of Pliocene–Quaternary normal faulting along the southern side of the range. Flexural modelling indicates the morphology of the range is consistent with flexural uplift of footwall rocks during Pliocene–Quaternary displacement on S-dipping normal faults bounding the south side of the mountains, provided that the effective elastic plate thickness of 12  km under the Moesian platform is reduced to about 3  km under the Stara Planina. This small value of elastic plate thickness under the Stara Planina is similar to values observed in the Basin and Range Province of the western United States, and suggests that weakening of the lithosphere is due to heating of the lithosphere during extension, perhaps to the point that large-scale flow of material is possible within the lower crust. Because weakening is observed to affect the Moesian lithosphere for ≈10  km beyond (north of) the surface expression of extension, this study suggests that processes within the uppermost mantle, such as convection, play an active role in the extension process. The results of this study also suggest that much of the topographic relief in thrust belts where convergence is accompanied by coeval extension in the upper plate (or 'back arc'), such as in the Apennines, may be a flexural response to unloading during normal faulting, rather than a direct response to crustal shortening in the thrust belt.     

Wide-angle deep crustal reflections in the northern Appalachians

Summary. Seismic refraction data collected in the northern Appalachians provide an unusual opportunity to use wide-angle reflections to examine the lower crust and upper mantle. The PmP phase, clearly identified on several hundred records, has been used to construct an isopach map of the crust which shows a stepwise regional thickening of the crust beneath the axis of the Appalachians. The data have been examined to times of up to 40 s two-way travel time to investigate the possibility of coherent upper-mantle reflections such as those recently observed by BIRPS on near-vertical data northwest of Britain. Although substantial coherent energy appears after the PmP phase, synthetic seismogram modelling shows that all of these arrivals are explicable by S-phases, converted phases and multiples from within the crust. We conclude that in this region of the northern Appalachians we have not detected any significant regionally extensive reflecting horizons within the upper mantle.     

Crustal structure across the Grand Banks–Newfoundland Basin Continental Margin – II. Results from a seismic reflection profile

New multichannel seismic reflection data were collected over a 565 km transect covering the non-volcanic rifted margin of the central eastern Grand Banks and the Newfoundland Basin in the northwestern Atlantic. Three major crustal zones are interpreted from west to east over the seaward 350 km of the profile: (1) continental crust; (2) transitional basement and (3) oceanic crust. Continental crust thins over a wide zone (∼160 km) by forming a large rift basin (Carson Basin) and seaward fault block, together with a series of smaller fault blocks eastwards beneath the Salar and Newfoundland basins. Analysis of selected previous reflection profiles (Lithoprobe 85-4, 85-2 and Conrad NB-1) indicates that prominent landward-dipping reflections observed under the continental slope are a regional phenomenon. They define the landward edge of a deep serpentinized mantle layer, which underlies both extended continental crust and transitional basement. The 80-km-wide transitional basement is defined landwards by a basement high that may consist of serpentinized peridotite and seawards by a pair of basement highs of unknown crustal origin. Flat and unreflective transitional basement most likely is exhumed, serpentinized mantle, although our results do not exclude the possibility of anomalously thinned oceanic crust. A Moho reflection below interpreted oceanic crust is first observed landwards of magnetic anomaly M4, 230 km from the shelf break. Extrapolation of ages from chron M0 to the edge of interpreted oceanic crust suggests that the onset of seafloor spreading was ∼138 Ma (Valanginian) in the south (southern Newfoundland Basin) to ∼125 Ma (Barremian–Aptian boundary) in the north (Flemish Cap), comparable to those proposed for the conjugate margins.     

Nontypical BIRPS on the margin of the northern North Sea: The SHET Survey

Summary. Striking similarities in the reflectivity of the crust and upper mantle on BIRPS profiles has led to the development of the "typical BIRP", a model seismic section for the British continental lithosphere. The SHET survey, collected in the region of the Shetland Islands and the northern North Sea, fits the general pattern to a certain extent. Caledonian structures and Devonian or younger basins are imaged in the otherwise acoustically transparent upper crust. An unexpected and exciting feature imaged on SHET is a short wavelength structure on the Moho or abrupt Mono offset beneath the strike-slip Walls Boundary Fault. SHET differs markedly from the SWAT typical BIRP, however, by showing a poorly reflective lower crust. Only a narrow zone (∼1 s) at the base of the crust contains high-amplitude reflections. The SHET survey therefore highlights the wide variation in lower crustal reflectivity within the total BIRPS data set rather than the similarities.     

Seismic P-wave anisotropy in the subcrustal lithosphere of north-west Australia

Summary. Reduced P_n travel times from the Archaean Pilbara Craton of north-west Australia show a strong correlation with azimuth, which could be used as evidence of anisotropy. However, the azimuthal correlation could also be explained by a southerly dip of between 1 and 2° on the crust–mantle boundary, although the models from several reversed seismic profiles across the craton suggest a smaller dip.
A time-term analysis of the P_n date yielded several models. The preferred solution, in which the dip on the crust–mantle boundary is similar to that in the models from the reversed profiles, has approximately 2 per cent anisotropy in the uppermost mantle, with the direction of maximum velocity 30° east of north. One possible cause of the anisotropy is that olivine crystals were aligned by syntectonic recrystallization and/or power law creep in the tensional environment caused at the base of the lithosphere by flexure during loading of the lithosphere by the strata of the Hamersley Basin which overlies the Pilbara Craton.
A seismic discontinuity occurs about 15 km below the crust–mantle boundary under the craton. A qualitative analysis of all available seismic data suggests that the velocity below the boundary is probably also anisotropic, with the direction of maximum velocity between north and 40° west of north. The direction of minimum velocity below the sub-Moho boundary correlates loosely with the direction of basement lineaments in the Proterozoic Capricorn Orogenic Belt to the south of the craton, suggesting that the anisotropy under the boundary may be younger than that immediately under the crust/mantle boundary. This is consistent with the notion that the Archaean lithosphere was thinner than the present lithosphere.     

Three-dimensional seismic structure beneath the Australasian region from refracted wave observations

The earthquakes in the seismicity belt extending through Indonesia, New Guinea, Vanuatu and Fiji to the Tonga–Kermadec subduction zone recorded at the 65 portable broad-band stations deployed during the Skippy experiment from 1993–1996 provide good coverage of the lithosphere and mantle under the Australian continent, Coral Sea and Tasman Sea.
The variation in structure in the upper part of the mantle is characterized by deter-mining a suite of 1-D structures from stacked record sections utilizing clear P and S arrivals, prepared for all propagation paths lying within a 10° azimuth band. The azimuth of these bands is rotated by 20° steps with four parallel corridors for each azimuth. This gives 26 separate azimuthal corridors for which 15 independent 1-D seismic velocity structures have been derived, which show significant variation in P and S structure.
The set of 1-D structures is combined to produce a 3-D representation by projecting the velocity values along the ray path using a turning point approximation and stacking into 3-D cells (5° by 50 km in depth). Even though this procedure will tend to underestimate wave-speed perturbations, S -velocity deviations from the ak135 reference model exceed 6 per cent in the lithosphere.
In the uppermost mantle the results display complex features and very high S -wave speeds beneath the Precambrian shields with a significant low-velocity zone beneath. High velocities are also found towards the base of the transition zone, with high S -wave speeds beneath the continent and high P -wave speeds beneath the ocean. The wave-speed patterns agree well with independent surface wave studies and delay time tomography studies in the zones of common coverage.     

Seismic tomographic imaging of P- and S-waves velocity perturbations in the upper mantle beneath Iran

The inverse tomography method has been used to study the P - and S -waves velocity structure of the crust and upper mantle underneath Iran. The method, based on the principle of source–receiver reciprocity, allows for tomographic studies of regions with sparse distribution of seismic stations if the region has sufficient seismicity. The arrival times of body waves from earthquakes in the study area as reported in the ISC catalogue (1964–1996) at all available epicentral distances are used for calculation of residual arrival times. Prior to inversion we have relocated hypocentres based on a 1-D spherical earth's model taking into account variable crustal thickness and surface topography. During the inversion seismic sources are further relocated simultaneously with the calculation of velocity perturbations. With a series of synthetic tests we demonstrate the power of the algorithm and the data to reconstruct introduced anomalies using the ray paths of the real data set and taking into account the measurement errors and outliers. The velocity anomalies show that the crust and upper mantle beneath the Iranian Plateau comprises a low velocity domain between the Arabian Plate and the Caspian Block. This is in agreement with global tomographic models, and also tectonic models, in which active Iranian plateau is trapped between the stable Turan plate in the north and the Arabian shield in the south. Our results show clear evidence of the mainly aseismic subduction of the oceanic crust of the Oman Sea underneath the Iranian Plateau. However, along the Zagros suture zone, the subduction pattern is more complex than at Makran where the collision of the two plates is highly seismic.     

Deep seismic reflection studies in Israel - an update

Summary. The results of three deep crustal reflection lines are presently available from Israel. A 90 km line from near the Dead Sea rift to the Mediterranean coast was carried out for deep study. Two other lines in the Mediterranean coastal area were derived by recorrelation of oil exploration lines. The data shows a division between continental inner Israel and the coastal plain. In the first area a reflective lower crust is apparent with transparent upper crust and almost transparent upper mantle. Near the coast, in an area which was previously suggested as underlain by an ancient fossil oceanic crust, strong reflections characterize the uppermost mantle. Comparison between the reflection pattern and previous deep refraction and MT data indicates some agreement away from the coast and lack of correlation in the area of possible fossil oceanic crust near the coast.     

Contribution of serpentinized ultramafics to marine magnetic anomalies at slow and intermediate spreading centres: insights from the shape of the anomalies

Detailed characteristics of marine magnetic anomalies 33r and 20r suggest that the magnetization of the deeper magnetic layers, including the lower crust and possibly the uppermost mantle, is horizontally displaced with respect to that of the upper crust. We examine the possibility that serpentinization of ultramafics in the lower crust and possibly the uppermost mantle delays the acquisition of magnetization and introduces a shift between the upper- and lower-crustal magnetization patterns. Thermal evolution models and the resulting magnetization patterns of the oceanic lithosphere are calculated for a wide range of physical parameters such as the Nusselt number and the depth of hydrothermal circulation in the crust, and the temperature range of serpentinization. The models with moderate hydrothermal cooling of the whole crust and serpentinization temperatures ranging between 200 and 300 C successfully explain the anomalous skewness and the 'hook shape' of observed sea-level magnetic anomalies created at slow and intermediate spreading rates.     

Crustal and upper-mantle structure in the Eastern Mediterranean from the analysis of surface wave dispersion curves

The dispersive properties of surface waves are used to infer earth structure in the Eastern Mediterranean region. Using group velocity maps for Rayleigh and Love waves from 7 to 100 s, we invert for the best 1-D crust and upper-mantle structure at a regular series of points. Assembling the results produces a 3-D lithospheric model, along with corresponding maps of sediment and crustal thickness. A comparison of our results to other studies finds the uncertainties of the Moho estimates to be about 5 km. We find thick sediments beneath most of the Eastern Mediterranean basin, in the Hellenic subduction zone and the Cyprus arc. The Ionian Sea is more characteristic of oceanic crust than the rest of the Eastern Mediterranean region as demonstrated, in particular, by the crustal thickness. We also find significant crustal thinning in the Aegean Sea portion of the backarc, particularly towards the south. Notably slower S -wave velocities are found in the upper mantle, especially in the northern Red Sea and Dead Sea Rift, central Turkey, and along the subduction zone. The low velocities in the upper mantle that span from North Africa to Crete, in the Libyan Sea, might be an indication of serpentinized mantle from the subducting African lithosphere. We also find evidence of a strong reverse correlation between sediment and crustal thickness which, while previously demonstrated for extensional regions, also seems applicable for this convergence zone.