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Ambient Noise Tomography Along the Mexican Volcanic Belt

Description: 

The Mexican Subduction Zone is a geologically intriguing segment of the Cocos plate due to its drastic variations in slab geometry. Previous studies utilizing dense seismic arrays, such as the MASE and VEOX arrays, have provided detailed insights into the slab's dip angle changes in the central flat-subduction segment and the eastern steep-dipping region, respectively. These arrays featured high spatial resolution, with an inter-station distance of 5 km.

In this study, we present results from an ambient noise tomography analysis using a new and complementary array located along the west flank of the subduction zone. This array consists of 10 seismic stations arranged in a linear profile perpendicular to the trench, with a spacing of 30 km. The west flank is notable for its Holocene large monogenetic volcanic field and recent episodes of pulsing seismic swarms. To investigate this region's subsurface characteristics, we performed a joint multimodal inversion of dispersion curves and H/V ratios, revealing lateral variations in shear wave velocity across the profile, where the slab angle changes abruptly.

Our findings highlight the presence of low-velocity zones, which we interpret as regions of hot, partially molten material rising from the mantle. These results provide new insights into the geodynamic processes occurring along the western segment of the Mexican Subduction Zone.

Session: Earth’s Structure from the Crust to the Core - III

Type: Oral

Date: 4/16/2025

Presentation Time: 02:15 PM (local time)

Presenting Author: Luis

Student Presenter: No

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