Transitional continental-oceanic structure beneath the Norwegian Sea from inversion of surface wave group velocity data

Abstract

SUMMARY We have analysed the fundamental mode of Love and Rayleigh waves generated by 12 earthquakes located in the mid-Atlantic ridge and Jan Mayen fracture zone. Using the multiple filter analysis technique, we isolated the Rayleigh and Love wave group velocities for periods between 10 and 50 s. The surface wave propagation paths were divided into five groups, and average group velocities calculated for each group. The average group velocities were inverted and produced shear wave velocity models that correspond to a quasi-continental oceanic structure in the Greenland‐Norwegian Sea region. Although resolution is poor at shallow depth, we obtained crustal thickness values of about 18 km in the Norwegian Sea area and 9 km in the region between Svalbard and Iceland. The abnormally thick crust in the Norwegian Sea area is ascribed to magmatic underplating and the thermal blanketing eVect of sedimentary layers. Maximum crustal shear velocities vary between 3.5 and 3.9 km s’1 for most paths. An average lithospheric thickness of 60 km was observed, which is lower than expected for oceanic-type structure of similar age. We also observed low shear wave velocities in the lower crust and upper mantle. We suggest that high heat flow extending to depths of about 30 km beneath the surface can account for the thin lithosphere and observed low velocities. Anisotropy coeYcients of 1‐5 per cent in the shallow layers and >7 per cent in the upper mantle point to the existence of polarization anisotropy in the region.