Shallow Crustal Structure of S-Wave Velocities in the Coastal Area of South China Constrained by Receiver Function Amplitudes

Abstract

As a traditional method, passive seismic exploration is used to construct the body-wave velocity structure of the upper crust, but it is cost-ineffective and depth-limited when applied to large areas. In this study, we use another more economical method to determine the S-wave velocity (SWV) of the upper crust based on the principle that the amplitude of the direct P-wave on the teleseismic receiver function is sensitive to the upper crust. Using the amplitudes of the massive receiver functions from permanent broadband seismic stations, the SWV structure of the upper crust is obtained in the coastal area of South China (CASC). A pattern of high to low SWVs is exhibited across the study area, with SWVs varying about 2.5–3.7 km/s from west to east. In the profile parallel to the coastline, lateral variations in the SWV correspond to the fault zone, indicating that the cutting depth of most coastal faults is approximately 10 km. Referring to previous studies, we deduce that the low SWV in most sub-areas can be interpreted as the joint effect of the sedimentary layer of the alluvial plain and the accumulation of underground heat flows, in addition to multistage fracturing tectonism. Moreover, the gradual change in the SWV in each profile from the surface to approximately 10 km is correlated with multiple invasions and the coverage of volcanic rocks, to a certain extent.