TY - JOUR
T1 - EUNAseis
T2 - A seismic model for Moho and crustal structure in Europe, Greenland, and the North Atlantic region
AU - Artemieva, Irina M.
AU - Thybo, Hans
PY - 2013/12/8
Y1 - 2013/12/8
N2 - We present a new digital crustal model for Moho depth and crustal structure in Europe, Greenland, Iceland, Svalbard, European Arctic shelf, and the North Atlantic Ocean (72W-62E, 30N-84N). Our compilation is based on digitization of original seismic profiles and Receiver Functions from ca. 650 publications which provides a dense regional data coverage. Exclusion of non-seismic data allows application of the database to potential field modeling. EUNAseis model includes Vp velocity and thickness of five crustal layers, including the sedimentary cover, and Pn velocity. For each parameter we discuss uncertainties associated with theoretical limitations, regional data quality, and interpolation.By analyzing regional trends in crustal structure and links to tectonic evolution illustrated by a new tectonic map, we conclude that: (1) Each tectonic setting shows significant variation in depth to Moho and crustal structure, essentially controlled by the age of latest tectono-thermal processes; (2) Published global averages of crustal parameters are outside of observed ranges for any tectonic setting in Europe; (3) Variation of Vp with depth in the sedimentary cover does not follow commonly accepted trends; (4) The thickness ratio between upper-middle (Vp. <. 6.8. km/s) and lower (Vp. >. 6.8. km/s) crystalline crust is indicative of crustal origin: oceanic, transitional, platform, or extended crust; (5) Continental rifting generally thins the upper-middle crust significantly without changing Vp. Lower crust experiences less thinning, also without changing Vp, suggesting a complex interplay of magmatic underplating, gabbro-eclogite phase transition and delamination; (6) Crustal structure of the Barents Sea shelf differs from rifted continental crust; and (7) Most of the North Atlantic Ocean north of 55°N has anomalously shallow bathymetry and anomalously thick oceanic crust. A belt of exceptionally thick crust (ca. 30. km) of probable oceanic origin on both sides of southern Greenland includes the Greenland-Iceland-Faeroe Ridge in the east and a similar "Baffin Ridge" feature in the west.
AB - We present a new digital crustal model for Moho depth and crustal structure in Europe, Greenland, Iceland, Svalbard, European Arctic shelf, and the North Atlantic Ocean (72W-62E, 30N-84N). Our compilation is based on digitization of original seismic profiles and Receiver Functions from ca. 650 publications which provides a dense regional data coverage. Exclusion of non-seismic data allows application of the database to potential field modeling. EUNAseis model includes Vp velocity and thickness of five crustal layers, including the sedimentary cover, and Pn velocity. For each parameter we discuss uncertainties associated with theoretical limitations, regional data quality, and interpolation.By analyzing regional trends in crustal structure and links to tectonic evolution illustrated by a new tectonic map, we conclude that: (1) Each tectonic setting shows significant variation in depth to Moho and crustal structure, essentially controlled by the age of latest tectono-thermal processes; (2) Published global averages of crustal parameters are outside of observed ranges for any tectonic setting in Europe; (3) Variation of Vp with depth in the sedimentary cover does not follow commonly accepted trends; (4) The thickness ratio between upper-middle (Vp. <. 6.8. km/s) and lower (Vp. >. 6.8. km/s) crystalline crust is indicative of crustal origin: oceanic, transitional, platform, or extended crust; (5) Continental rifting generally thins the upper-middle crust significantly without changing Vp. Lower crust experiences less thinning, also without changing Vp, suggesting a complex interplay of magmatic underplating, gabbro-eclogite phase transition and delamination; (6) Crustal structure of the Barents Sea shelf differs from rifted continental crust; and (7) Most of the North Atlantic Ocean north of 55°N has anomalously shallow bathymetry and anomalously thick oceanic crust. A belt of exceptionally thick crust (ca. 30. km) of probable oceanic origin on both sides of southern Greenland includes the Greenland-Iceland-Faeroe Ridge in the east and a similar "Baffin Ridge" feature in the west.
KW - Crustal evolution
KW - Crustal thickness
KW - Crystalline crust
KW - Moho
KW - Pn velocity
KW - Sedimentary cover
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84889097740&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.tecto.2013.08.004
DO - 10.1016/j.tecto.2013.08.004
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:84889097740
SN - 0040-1951
VL - 609
SP - 97
EP - 153
JO - Tectonophysics
JF - Tectonophysics
ER -