Surface waveform tomography of the Turkish-Iranian plateau

Maggi, A. and Priestley, K. F. (2005) Surface waveform tomography of the Turkish-Iranian plateau. Geophysical Journal International, 160 (3). pp. 1068-1080. DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-246X.2005.02505.x

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Abstract

The Middle East is a tectonically complex region consisting of terrains as diverse as Precambrian shields and young orogens. The dominant tectonic feature is the Turkish-Iranian plateau, a recently elevated, seismically active region along the Zagros-Bitlis suture, which results from the collision of the Arabian Plate with Eurasia. In this study, we use surface waveform tomography to elucidate the upper-mantle shear wave velocity structure beneath the Turkish-Iranian plateau and adjacent regions. The main large-scale feature in the tomographic model is a low shear wave velocity anomaly in the uppermost mantle beneath the plateau. This low-velocity feature correlates with a long-wavelength free-air gravity anomaly and with recent volcanism whose geochemistry has a lower lithospheric mantle signature. Seismology, gravity and volcanism all suggest the presence of a thin lithosphere and warm upper mantle beneath the Turkish-Iranian plateau. The upper-mantle low shear wave velocity zone, the high free-air gravity and the deep lithospheric source depth for the basaltic volcanism are all consistent with a partial delamination of the lithosphere as a result of earlier lithospheric thickening resulting from the continental collision.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	2005 PUBL 2005 AREP IA46 IA47
Subjects:	02 - Geodynamics, Geophysics and Tectonics
Divisions:	02 - Geodynamics, Geophysics and Tectonics
Journal or Publication Title:	Geophysical Journal International
Volume:	160
Page Range:	pp. 1068-1080
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-246X.2005.02505.x
Depositing User:	Sarah Humbert
Date Deposited:	15 Feb 2011 14:45
Last Modified:	23 Jul 2013 09:59
URI:	http://eprints.esc.cam.ac.uk/id/eprint/1737

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