Abstract
Based on the long period digital surface wave data recorded by 11 CDSN stations and 11 IRIS stations, the dispersion curves of the group velocities of fundamental mode Rayleigh waves along 647 paths, with the periods from 10 s to 92 s, were measured by multi-filter. Their distribution at 25 central periods within the region of 18°–54°N, 70°–140°E was inverted by Dimtar-Yanovskaya method. Within the period from 10 s to 15.9 s, the group velocity distribution is laterally inhomogeneous and is closely related to geotectonic units, with two low velocity zones located in the Tarim basin and the East China Sea and its north regions, respectively. From 21 s to 33 s, the framework of tectonic blocks is revealed. From 36.6 s to 40 s, the lithospheric subdivision of the Chinese mainland is obviously uncovered, with distinct boundaries among the South-North seismic belt, the Tibetan plateau, the North China, the South China and the Northeast China. Four cross-sections of group velocity distribution with period along 30°N, 38°N, 90°E and 120°E, are discussed, respectively, which display the basic features of the crust and upper mantle of the Chinese mainland and its neighboring regions. There are distinguished velocity differences among the different tectonic blocks. There are low-velocity-zones (LVZ) in the middle crust of the eastern Tibetan plateau, high velocity featured as stable platform in the Tarim basin and the Yangtze platform, shallow and thick low-velocity-zone in the upper mantle of the North China. The upper mantle LVZ in the East China Sea and the Japan Sea is related to the friction heat from the subduction of the Philippine slab and the strong extension since the Himalayan orogenic period.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
AN Chang-qing, SONG Zhong-he, CHEN Guo-ying, et al. 1993. 3-D shear velocity structure in north-west China [J]. Acta Geophysica Sinica, 36(3): 317–325 (in Chinese).
CHEN Guo-ying, SONG Zhong-he, AN Chang-qiang, et al. 1991. Three dimensional crust and upper mantle structure of the North China region [J]. Acta Geophysica Sinica, 34(2): 172–181 (in Chinese).
Ditmar P G, Yanovskaya T B. 1987. An extension of the Backus-Gilbert technique for estimating lateral variations of surface wave velocities [J]. Izv Akad Nauk SSSR, Fiz Zemli, (6): 30–60 (in Russian).
Dziewonski A, Bloch S, Landisman M. 1969. A technique for the analysis of transient seismic signals [J]. Bull Seism Soc Amer, 59: 427–444.
FENG Rui, ZHU Jie-shou, DING Yun-yu, et al. 1981. Crustal structure in China from surface wave [J]. Acta Seismologica Sinica, 3(4): 335–350 (in Chinese).
HE Zheng-qin, ZENG Rong-sheng, CHEN Guo-ying. 1990. The group velocity of Rayleigh waves and crust structure in north-south seismic zone [J]. Northwestern Seismological Journal, 12(3): 19–22 (in Chinese).
HE Zheng-qin, DING Zhi-feng, YE Tai-Ian, et al. 2001. Surface wave tomography of the crust and upper mantle of Chinese mainland and its neighboring region [J]. Acta Seismologica Sinica, 14(6): 634–641.
Ritzwoller M H, Levshin A. 1998. Eurasian surface wave tomography, group velocities [J]. J Geophys Res, 103(B3): 4 839–4 878.
SONG Zhong-he, CHEN Guo-ying, AN Chang-qiang, et al. 1993. The 3-D structure of crust and mantle in continental China and adjacent seas [J]. Science in China (Series B), 23(2): 180–188 (in Chinese).
Wu F T, Levshin A. 1994. Surface-wave group velocity, tomography of East Asia [J]. Phys of Earth and Planet Inr, 84: 59–77.
Wu F T, Levshin A, Kozhevnikov V M. 1997. Rayleigh wave group velocity tomography of Siberia, China and the vicinity [J]. Pure Appl Geophys, 149: 447–473.
XU Guo-ming, LI Guang-ping, WANG Shan-en, et al. 2000. The 3-D structure of shear waves in the crust and mantle of east continental China inverted by Rayleigh wave data [J]. Acta Geophysica Sinica, 43(3): 366–375 (in Chinese).
Yanovskaya T B, Ditmar P G. 1990. Smoothness criteria in surface wave tomography [J]. Geophys J Int, 102: 63–72.
YAO Zhen-xing, LI Bai-ji, LIANG Shang-hong, et al. 1981. On the group velocity or Rayleigh waves and the crustal structure of Qinghai-Xizang plateau [J]. Acta Geophysica Sinica, 24(3): 287–295 (in Chinese).
ZHENG Yue-jun, HUANG Zhong-xian, LIU Fu-tian, et al. 2000. Rayleigh wave velocity and structure of the crust and upper mantle beneath the seas in eastern China [J]. Acta Geophysica Sinica, 43(4): 480–487 (in Chinese).
ZHOU Bing, ZHU Jie-shou, QIN Jian-ye. 1991. Three-dimensional shear velocity structure beneath Qinghai-Tibet and its adjacent area [J]. Acta Geophysica Sinica, 34(4): 426–441 (in Chinese).
ZHU Pei-ding, LIANG Shang-hong, LI Bai-ji, et al. 1982. Use of Rayleigh waves to study the layered crustal structure and Q R values of Tarim basin in Xinjiang [J]. Acta Geophysica Sinica, 25(4): 332–342 (in Chinese).
ZHUANG Zhen, FU Zhu-wu, Lü Zi-ling, et al. 1992. 3-D shear velocity model of crust and upper mantle beneath the Tibetan plateau and its adjacent regions [J]. Acta Geophysica Sinica, 35(6): 694–708 (in Chinese).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Foundation item: Climb Project “Continental Dynamics of East Asia” and Joint Seismological Science Foundation of China (9507413).
Contribution No. 02FE2014, Institute of Geophysics, China Seismological Bureau.
About this article
Cite this article
He, Zq., Ding, Zf., Ye, Tl. et al. Group velocity distribution of Rayleigh waves and crustal and upper mantle velocity structure of the Chinese mainland and its vicinity. Acta Seimol. Sin. 15, 269–275 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11589-002-0059-1
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11589-002-0059-1