Publication Date:
2015-12-09
Description:
We derive the 3D crustal structure (S wave velocity) underneath Italy and the Alpine region, expanding and exploiting the database of ambient noise Rayleigh-wave phase- and group-velocity of verbeke et al . [2012]. We first complement the database of verbeke et al . [2012] with a dense set of new ambient-noise-based phase-velocity observations. We next conduct a suite of linear least squares inversion of both phase- and group-velocity data, resulting in 2D maps of Rayleigh-wave phase and group velocity at periods between 5 and 37 s. At relatively short periods, these maps clearly reflect the surface geology of the region, e.g. low velocity zones at the Po Plain; at longer periods, deeper structures such as Moho topography under Alps and Apennines, and lower-crust anomalies are revealed. Our phase- and group-velocity models are next inverted via the Neighbourhood Algorithm to determine a set of one-dimensional shear-velocity models (one per phase/group-velocity pixel), resulting in a new three-dimensional model of shear velocity ( υ S ) parameterized in the same way as the European reference crustal model EPcrust [ Molinari and Morelli, 2011]. We also show how well υ S is constrained by phase and group dispersion curves. The model shows the low velocity area beneath the Po Plain and the Molasse basin; the contrast between the low-velocity crust of the Adriatic domain and the high-velocity crust of the Tyrrhenian domain is clearly seen, as well as an almost uniform crystalline crust beneath the Alpine belt. Our results are discussed from the geological/geodynamical standpoint, and compared to those of other, interdisciplinary studies. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Electronic ISSN:
1525-2027
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
,
Geosciences
,
Physics
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