Publication Date:
2017-06-13
Description:
The presented study aims to resolve the upper
mantle structure around the Trans-European Suture Zone
(TESZ), which is the major tectonic boundary in Europe. The
data of 183 temporary and permanent seismic stations operated
during the period of the PASsive Seismic Experiment
(PASSEQ) 2006–2008 within the study area from Germany
to Lithuania was used to compile the data set of manually
picked 6008 top-quality arrivals of P waves from teleseismic
earthquakes. We used the TELINV nonlinear teleseismic tomography
algorithm to perform the inversions. As a result,
we obtain a model of P wave velocity variations up to about
�3% with respect to the IASP91 velocity model in the upper
mantle around the TESZ. The higher velocities to the east
of the TESZ correspond to the older East European Craton
(EEC), while the lower velocities to the west of the TESZ
correspond to younger western Europe.We find that the seismic
lithosphere–asthenosphere boundary (LAB) is more distinct
beneath the Phanerozoic part of Europe than beneath
the Precambrian part. To the west of the TESZ beneath the
eastern part of the Bohemian Massif, the Sudetes Mountains
and the Eger Rift, the negative anomalies are observed from
a depth of at least 70 km, while under the Variscides the average
depth of the seismic LAB is about 100 km.We do not observe
the seismic LAB beneath the EEC, but beneath Lithuania
we find the thickest lithosphere of about 300 km or more.
Beneath the TESZ, the asthenosphere is at a depth of 150–
180 km, which is an intermediate value between that of the
EEC and western Europe. The results imply that the seismic
LAB in the northern part of the TESZ is in the shape of a
ramp dipping to the northeasterly direction. In the southern
part of the TESZ, the LAB is shallower, most probably due
to younger tectonic settings. In the northern part of the TESZ
we do not recognize any clear contact between Phanerozoic
and Proterozoic Europe, but further to the south we may refer
to a sharp and steep contact on the eastern edge of the TESZ.
Moreover, beneath Lithuania at depths of 120–150 km, we
observe the lower velocity area following the boundary of
the proposed paleosubduction zone.
Repository Name:
EPIC Alfred Wegener Institut
Type:
Article
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isiRev
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