3D crustal structure in the neotectonic basin of the Gulf of Saronikos (Greece)

Abstract

An on-/offshore seismic network consisting of 36 three-component stand-alone digital stations was deployed in the area of the Saronikos Gulf, in the vicinity of Athens (Greece), in the fall of 2001. In the present study, from an initial set of more than 1000 micro-earthquakes, 374 were selected and 6666 P- and S-wave arrivals were inverted, based on a 3D linearized tomography algorithm, in order to determine the 3D velocity structure of the region. The resulting 3D velocity distribution, in agreement to the micro-seismicity distribution, reflects the Saronikos structure down to a depth of 12 km. So, the neotectonic basin of the Saronikos Gulf is divided in two parts by a central platform, which implies the existence of a NNE–SSW-trending rupture zone. This zone is probably the offshore extension of a large thrust belt dominating the adjacent onshore areas. Due to their different structure, the two basins are dominated by different velocity values in comparison to the central platform. The western part is characterised by higher seismic activity than the eastern one. Furthermore, the western Saronikos Gulf is divided in a northern and a southern part by a well-defined rupture zone trending E–W. This seems to be the extension of the Corinthiakos Gulf fault zone. At the depth of 17 km, the velocity increases considerably and the crustal thickness is restricted down to 20 km. This ‘unexpected’ low thickness in the region of Saronikos Gulf seems to be the result of the extensional stress field, which dominates the region, as well as of the emergence of the mantle material along the volcanic arc, which clearly appears at the depth of 12 km. Yet the lack of deep events and, hence, the poor resolution below the depth of 17 km does not support a definite conclusion about the crust–mantle boundary in this region.