Open AccessLarge‐scale P‐velocity structures in the Euro‐Mediterranean area
Author(s) -
Granet M.,
Trampert J.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
geophysical journal international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.302
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1365-246X
pISSN - 0956-540X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-246x.1989.tb02043.x
Subject(s) - geology , mediterranean climate , seismology , partition (number theory) , scale (ratio) , ray tracing (physics) , geodesy , block (permutation group theory) , domain (mathematical analysis) , mediterranean area , geometry , geography , physics , mathematics , cartography , optics , mathematical analysis , archaeology , combinatorics
SUMMARY The 3‐D velocity structure beneath the Euro‐Mediterranean domain is investigated down to 1200 km by using teleseismic P‐arrival times collected by the Euro‐Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) in Strasbourg. The Simultaneous Iterative Reconstruction Technique (SIRT) is used to invert the data, while the direct problem is formulated by using a spherical block partition of the model space and an analytical ray tracing so that the whole ray path lies in the investigated 3‐D model box. Only events located within epicentral distances of 30°‐70° are considered in this study. After reviewing the SIRT method, a synthetic test has shown the reliability of the results for structures beneath the lithosphere, while for shallower parts of the model and depths larger than 900 km, limited reliability is achieved. For the upper mantle, the model shows clear correlations with major known surface tectonic features, in particular a well marked sub‐vertical slab in the Calabrian Arc and the presence of a roughly North orientated slab in the Aegean area. At greater depths, our model shows slow velocities around 600 km beneath the two main hercynian massifs in Europe.