Depth of mid-crustal discontinuity from reflected seismic waves on local earthquake seismograms recorded at Shillong Plateau, Northeast India

Abstract

In this study, an attempt is made to estimate the depth of mid-crustal discontinuity beneath the Shillong Plateau in northeast India region using broadband seismogram of local earthquakes. Principle of the technique is to relate the seismic travel times of the reflected phases (SxS) with the crustal thickness above the discontinuity. Though mid-crustal discontinuity (or Conrad discontinuity) is reported in some parts of the world, no such study was undertaken in the present study area due to complexity in analogue seismograms recorded before 2001. The digital waveforms of the local seismic events recorded by broadband digital network in the study area, however, make it possible precise detection of the seismic phases that are reflected at this discontinuity. The results show that the mid-crustal discontinuity exists at a depth 18±0.5 km beneath the Shillong Plateau, which provide a better understanding of the crustal velocity structure of the region for future study.