Open AccessCrustal Structure in East Antarctica from Surface Wave Dispersion *
Author(s) -
Dewart Gilbert,
Toksöz M. Nafi
Publication year - 1965
Publication title -
geophysical journal of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.302
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1365-246X
pISSN - 0016-8009
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-246x.1965.tb03056.x
Subject(s) - geology , crust , rayleigh wave , mantle (geology) , geophysics , surface wave , love wave , seismology , rayleigh scattering , seismogram , dispersion (optics) , wave propagation , longitudinal wave , mechanical wave , physics , optics , telecommunications , quantum mechanics , computer science
Summary The structure of the Earth's crust and the upper mantle in East Antarctica are investigated using the dispersion properties of both the Love and the Rayleigh waves. The group velocities of surface waves between 15 and 70 sec periods are measured over several paths crossing Antarctica from Sandwich Arc and Drake Passage to stations of Wilkes and Mirny. Theoretical dispersion curves are computed for various crust and upper mantle models. The structure that fits the Rayleigh and Love wave data equally well is charactized by a 42 km thick crust and low (7.85 km/sec) sub‐Moho velocities. The average thickness of the ice layer over East Antarctica, between Princess Martha Coast and Wilkes Station, is determined to be about 3 km. The general problem of non‐uniqueness in group velocity inversion is also discussed.