Upper crustal structure across the Xiaojiang fault system revealed by ambient noise tomography from a dense short-period array

Abstract

The Central Yunnan block (CYB) plays a key role in accommodating the crustal tectonic deformation of the southeastern Tibet, but its exact mechanism is poorly understood. Here we obtained a fine S-wave velocity structure of the upper crust across the Xiaojiang fault system in CYB, using the ambient noise tomography with a linear dense short-period array. The result shows a strong S-wave velocity variation along the profile, which is consistent with geomorphology and hypocenters occurred in this area. The velocity variations along the profile correspond well to the major faults seen on the surface and are consistent with the transition from surface erosion, to ductile basement and to rigid basement in the greater depth. Combining the upper crustal structure from our image with the location of hypocenters, we propose that most faults of Xiaojiang fault system cut through the upper crust steeply and control the tectonic deformation of the upper crust in the CYB.