Ambient noise surface wave tomography of the Iberian Peninsula: Implications for shallow seismic structure

Antonio Villaseñor*, Yingjie Yang, Michael H. Ritzwoller, Josep Gallart

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

87 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

We have obtained high resolution group velocity maps of Rayleigh waves at periods from 8 to 25 seconds across the Iberian Peninsula by cross-correlating four months of ambient noise data recorded by 40 permanent broadband stations. Group velocity maps accurately image the main structural elements of the Iberian upper crust, including the Iberian Massif, Alpine orogens and major sedimentary basins. The Pyrenees and the Iberian Chain are imaged as relatively high group velocities, in contrast with the Betic Cordillera, which is characterized by low velocities. We explain these low velocities in the Betics by the presence of widespread intramontane basins created in an extensional episode simultaneous with north-south convergence between the African and Eurasian plates. The most prominent low velocity anomalies in the Iberian Peninsula are related to the Guadalquivir Basin, the flysch units of the Campo de Gibraltar, and the sediments of the Gulf of Cadiz.

Original languageEnglish
Article numberL11304
Pages (from-to)1-5
Number of pages5
JournalGeophysical Research Letters
Volume34
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 16 Jun 2007
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Copyright 2007 by the American Geophysical Union. Originally published in Geophysical research letters, Vol. 34, L11304. Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.

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