A three-dimensional model of the Baltic Shield crust from data of deep seismic studies

Abstract

A 3-D velocity structure of the crust has been constructed for almost the entire Baltic Shield area from data of extensive deep seismic studies on the shield. The construction involved a revision of all primary data (record sections and observed traveltime curves) obtained in this region over 50 years of research. Comparative analysis of wave fields revealed that three reference reflectors traceable throughout the shield area are K1 (a boundary velocity of 6.4–6.5 km/s), K2 (∼6.8 km/s), and the mantle surface M (8.0–8.2 km/s). The resulting 3-D velocity structure is represented in the form of structural maps of these surfaces and a velocity distribution scheme in the upper crust. Using this general basic model, seismic cross sections are constructed by means of mathematical modeling along all profiles. They showed that, in addition to the main layers and reflectors above the K1 boundary, a lower velocity layer is traceable almost everywhere and the majority of deep faults flatten out toward this layer. On the whole, lateral variations in the velocity structure of the crust are small up to a depth of 40 km. The variations are most significant in the M topography: its average depth being 40–45 km, two deep (down to 50–60 km) depressions exist in southern Finland and the Baltic region. The origin of this depression filled with high velocity (7.2–7.4 km/s) rocks remains unclear.