Forward modelling receiver functions for crustal structure beneath station TBZ (Trabzon, Turkey)

Abstract

We use teleseismic three‐component digital data from the Trabzon, Turkey broadband seismic station TBZ to model the crustal structure by the receiver function method. The station is located at a structural transition from continental northeastern Anatolia to the oceanic Black Sea basin. Rocks in the region are of volcanic origin covered by young sediments. By forward modelling the radial receiver functions, we construct 1‐D crustal shear velocity models that include a lower crustal low‐velocity zone, indicating a partial melt mechanism which may be the source of surfacing magmatic rocks and regional volcanism. Within the top 5 km, velocities increase sharply from about 1.5 to 3.5 km s−1. Such near‐surface low velocities are caused by sedimentation, extending from the Black Sea basin. Velocities at around 20 km depth have mantle‐like values (about 4.25 km s−1 ), which easily correlate to magmatic rocks cropping out on the surface. At 25 km depth there is a thin low‐velocity layer of about 4.0 km s−1. The average Moho velocity is about 4.6 km s−1, and its depth changes from 32 to 40 km. Arrivals on the tangential components indicate that the Moho discontinuity dips approximately southwards, in agreement with the crustal thickening to the south. We searched for the solution of receiver functions around the regional surface wave group velocity inversion results, which helped alleviate the multiple solution problem frequently encountered in receiver function modelling. Station TBZ is a recently deployed broadband seismic station, and the aim of this study is to report on the analysis of new receiver function data. The analysis of new data in such a structurally complex region provides constraining starting models for future structural studies in the region.