High-Resolution Moho Depth Mapping Beneath the Italian Peninsula and Carpatho-Pannonian Region Using P-Wave Coda Autocorrelation
Description:
Peninsular Italy, renowned for its intricate tectonic history involving subduction and continental collision, has been a focal point for significant seismic activity, particularly along NW-SE trending normal fault systems. Recent destructive earthquakes in the Central Apennines emphasize the imperative for a comprehensive understanding of the region's crustal structure, earthquake mechanics, and high-resolution seismic monitoring. Meanwhile, the Carpatho-Pannonian region (CPR), has exhibited heightened seismicity in certain areas, necessitating focused attention due to its hazard implications. This study utilizes P-wave coda autocorrelation to image crustal discontinuities, including the Moho, in both Peninsular Italy and the CPR, contributing valuable insights to the understanding of their geodynamics.
Our results, derived from 251 broadband stations, present a Moho depth range of 20-60 km beneath the Italian peninsula. The SE-NW profile across the Po Plain delineates a shallower Moho towards the Tyrrhenian Sea and a deepening trend towards the northern Apennines. Central Italy exhibits a shallower Moho adjacent to both the Tyrrhenian and Adriatic seas, with a significant thickening up to 60 km in the central region. The substantial thickening of the Moho in central Italy suggests localized crustal uplift and compression, possibly linked to tectonic forces associated with the convergence of the aforementioned plates. Sicily's Moho depth ranges from 30-40 km, with a relatively thicker Moho observed in central Sicily. We observe the thicker Moho in a region where previous studies reported a higher strain rate. This further supports the notion that regions with increased geological activity exhibit a thicker crust. This correlation underscores the importance of considering crustal thickness variations in seismic hazard assessments, as areas with a thicker crust may potentially experience more significant seismic activity. This methodology will be extended to the Carpatho-Pannonian Region for a comprehensive analysis of crustal discontinuities and Moho depth.
Session: Earth’s Structure from the Crust to the Core [Poster Session]
Type: Poster
Date: 5/2/2024
Presentation Time: 08:00 AM (local time)
Presenting Author: Hari
Student Presenter: No
Invited Presentation:
Authors
Hari Thapa Presenting Author Corresponding Author hthapa@nccu.edu North Carolina Central University |
Gordana Vlahovic gvlahovic@nccu.edu North Carolina Central University |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
High-Resolution Moho Depth Mapping Beneath the Italian Peninsula and Carpatho-Pannonian Region Using P-Wave Coda Autocorrelation
Category
Earth’s Structure from the Crust to the Core