Imaging crustal structure in South-Central Costa Rica with Receiver Functions.

Dzierma, Yvonne, Thorwart, Martin, Rabbel, Wolfgang, Flueh, Ernst R., Alvarado, G.E. and Mora, M.M. (2010) Imaging crustal structure in South-Central Costa Rica with Receiver Functions. Open Access Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 11 (8). Q08S26. DOI 10.1029/2009GC002936.

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Abstract

An array of broadband seismometers transecting the Talamanca Range in southern Costa Rica was operated from 2005 until 2007. In combination with data from a short‐period network near Quepos in central Costa Rica, this data is analyzed by the receiver function method to image the crustal structure in south‐central Costa Rica. Two strong positive signals are seen in the migrated images, interpreted as the Moho (at around 35 km depth) and an intra‐crustal discontinuity (15 km depth). A relatively flat crustal and Moho interface underneath the north‐east flank of the Talamanca Range can be followed for a lateral
distance of about 50 km parallel to the trench, with only slight changes in the overall geometry. Closer to the coast, the topography of the discontinuities shows several features, most notably a deeper Moho underneath the Talamanca Mountain Range and volcanic arc. Under the highest part of the mountain ranges, the Moho reaches a depth of about 50 km, which indicates that the mountain ranges are approximately isostatically compensated. Local deviations from the crustal thickness expected for isostatic equilibrium occur under the active volcanic arc and in south Costa Rica. In the transition region between the active volcanic arc and the Talamanca Range, both the Moho and intracrustal discontinuity appear distorted,
possibly related to the southern edge of the active volcanic zone and deformation within the southern part
of the Central Costa Rica Deformed Belt. Near the volcanoes Irazu and Turrialba, a shallow converter occurs, correlating with a low‐velocity, low‐density body seen in tomography and gravimetry. Applying a grid search for the crustal interface depth and vp/vs ratio cannot constrain vp/vs values well, but points to generally low values (<1.7) in the upper crust. This is consistent with quartz‐rich rocks forming the mountain range.

Document Type: Article
Keywords: Geodynamics; seismology; receiver functions; Costa Rica; crustal structure; Talamanca
Research affiliation: OceanRep > SFB 574
OceanRep > SFB 574 > A2
Kiel University
OceanRep > GEOMAR > FB4 Dynamics of the Ocean Floor > FB4-GDY Marine Geodynamics
Refereed: Yes
Open Access Journal?: No
Publisher: AGU (American Geophysical Union)
Projects: Future Ocean
Contribution Number:
Project
Number
SFB 574
184
Expeditions/Models/Experiments:
Date Deposited: 13 Jul 2010 13:36
Last Modified: 23 Sep 2019 22:20
URI: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/8643

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