Lg Coda Q Variations across South America and their Relation to Crustal Evolution |
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Authors: | J L de Souza B J Mitchell |
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Institution: | 1. Observatório Nacional, Departamento de Geofísica, R: Gal. José Cristino, 77, S?o Cristov?o, Rio de Janeiro, 20921-400, Brazil 2. Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Saint Louis University, 3507 Laclede Avenue, St. Louis, Missour, USA
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Abstract: | Nine broadband seismograph stations in South America have provided 389 recordings of Lg coda with paths that cover most of
the continent. Lg coda Q (Q0v) and frequency dependence <(eta)> values at 1 Hz, obtained from these records, were inverted
using back-projection tomography to obtain regionalized maps of Q0 and <eta>. The entire western margin of the continent (the
active Andean mountain belt) is typified by low Q0 (250–450), whereas broad regions of high Q0 (700–1100) span the central
Brazilian shield and contiguous regions to the north and south. Intermediate Q0 (450–700) characterizes the northern Patagonia
platform and most of the Atlantic shield. Reduced Q0 in the Atlantic shield may be related to tectonic or igneous activity
that occurred during the breakup of Gondwanaland during the Jurassic period. This Q distribution is generally consistent with
earlier studies where Q0 was found to be directly proportional to the time that has elapsed since the most recent episode
of major tectonic or orogenic activity in any region. Reduced Q0 in the Patagonian platform may, however, be due to young
sediments there.
Q0 is slightly higher in two portions of the Andean belt (between latitudes 2.0°N and 10.0°S, and between latitudes 24.0°S
and 34.0°S) than in other portions of the belt. These variations are consistent with results of earlier studies of body-wave
attenuation and heat flow in the Andean mountain belt.
Spatial variations of <eta> generally vary inversely with Q0v, being low (0.0–0.2) throughout a broad region centered in the
central Brazil shield and extending to the northeastern coast. All surrounding regions except that to the northeast exhibit
intermediate to high (0.4–0.8 and possibly higher) <eta> values. Possible biasing of Lg coda Q measurements by proximity to
the transition between the South American and Pacific plates was examined using records from a station near that boundary
and was found to be small. |
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Keywords: | Lg coda Q South America crust attenuation |
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