| Abstract: | The phase velocity of Rayleigh waves across the Arabian Peninsula has been measured for profiles SHI-HLW, JER-SHI in the northern part and SHI-AAE in the southern part of the peninsula. The phase velocities for the Arabian stable shelf are lower than those for the Canadian shield and higher than those for the Gulf coastal plain of the United States. Shear-velocity models obtained from the inversion of these experimental data show a pronounced low-velocity channel for S-waves which is found throughout the region with a velocity of S in the channel of 4.25–4.45 km/sec. The top of the channel is at 100–140 km depth. This structure differs from those under the Canadian shield and the Gulf Coast. Crustal thickness is 35 ± 8 km. |
