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Inversion of long period regional body waves for crustal structure
Author(s) -
Wallace Terry C.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/gl013i008p00749
Subject(s) - geology , seismology , crust , inversion (geology) , waveform , geodesy , earth structure , mantle (geology) , geophysics , physics , tectonics , quantum mechanics , voltage
Long‐period regional distance (2° < Δ < 12°) body waves are strongly influenced by the waveguide nature of the crust. If the seismic source is known, it is possible to parameterize the waveforms in terms of gross structural properties of crustal thickness and Pn velocity. Since the regional distance waveforms are a product of interference of multiple reflected, and mode converted phases, changes in crustal thickness or Pn velocity changes the relative timing of the various phases. Approximate Green's function for a suite of crustal structures can be constructed by stretching or squeezing the Green's function of an average crustal model, which is the basis of an interative, least squares inversion procedure for crustal structure. The crustal structure of the western U.S. is inverted as a test of the technique.