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The Caucasus and the Caspian Basin: Topography of Deep Seismic Boundaries

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Abstract

Simultaneous inversion of P and S receiver functions and of dispersion curves of Rayleigh waves for 16 seismograph stations provides insight into structure beneath the Caucasus and the Caspian Basin up to a depth of 700 km. Crustal thickness of the Caucasus ranges from 30 to 50 km. An anomalously high velocity ratio of the P and S waves (2.0 and more) is observed systematically in the upper crust. The upper mantle at most locations can be split into the upper high S wave velocity layer (4.5–4.8 km/s, litospheric mantle) and the underlying low S velocity (4.0–4.2 km/s) asthenosphere. The depth to the lithosphere—asthenosphere boundary (LAB) ranges from 90 to 145 km. Under the East Caucasus the depth to the 410 km boundary is close to the standard (IASP91) value, whereas the 660 km boundary is lowered on the average by 10 km. The sinking of the 660 km boundary may be caused by cooling and/or hydration of the lower transition zone by the subducted Neo-Tethys plate. Under the western margin of the Caspian Basin structure of the upper mantle resembles a subduction zone: the low-velocity (Vs < 4.2 km/s) asthenosphere which lies immediately beneath the Moho boundary is underlain at a depth of 140 km by a layer of (subducted) high-velocity lithosphere. The S wave receiver functions indicate that the 410 km boundary beneath the Caspian Basin is lowered by about 10 km. This may be an effect of elevated by 100°C temperature. An uplift of the 410 km boundary is found beneath the Scythian platform.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This study was support by the Program of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Seismograms of stations AKH, BGD, DDFL, GNI, GUDG, KZRT, LGD, ONI, TBLG and TRLG are obtained from IRIS DMC. Seismograms of stations SOC, ANN, KIV, MAK, NCK and VLK are obtained from OBGSR (Geophysical Service of Russia, Obninsk). We are grateful to R.A. Dyagilev for his help in obtaining these records and to A.L. Levshin and M.P. Barmin for the data on the Rayleigh waves velocities. The seismograms were analyzed using the Seismic Handler software by K. Stammler.

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This study was supported by the Program of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Schmidt Institute of Physics of the Earth, Russian Academy of Sciences, 123242, Moscow, Russia

    L. P. Vinnik, G. L. Kosarev, L. I. Makeyeva & S. I. Oreshin

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  1. L. P. Vinnik
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  2. G. L. Kosarev
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  3. L. I. Makeyeva
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  4. S. I. Oreshin
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Correspondence to L. P. Vinnik.

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Vinnik, L.P., Kosarev, G.L., Makeyeva, L.I. et al. The Caucasus and the Caspian Basin: Topography of Deep Seismic Boundaries. Izv., Phys. Solid Earth 57, 479–491 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1069351321040108

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1069351321040108

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