3D Velocity Structure of the Albania Region Obtained by Inversion of Local Earthquake Data

Abstract

The ‘minimum 1-D’ velocity model (Ormeni 2011) was used as initial model and, therefore, a reliable velocity model for the region was derived. Interesting features and details of the Albania upper and middle crust can be recognized in the final tomographic images. The results show that the velocity distribution is influenced from the geology and the seismotectonic regime of the region. At shallow depths (less than 4 km) the velocity increases gradually with respect to the depth without any sharp variation. On the contrary, the lateral variation of velocity seems to be affected from the geological regime of the region. Our new velocity model solving low-velocity features at shallow depths in the basins and some high-velocity features in the uppercrust.