Lithospheric structure imaging of Alberta from regional broadband seismic network

• Author / Creator

  Chen, Yunfeng

• The development of dense, broadband seismic network provides a solid foundation for the implementation of a variety of seismic imaging methods. The integration of receiver function method and finite-frequency traveltime tomography offers high-resolution images of the crust and upper mantle structures in Alberta. The shear velocities from receiver function modeling provide compelling evidence for a crustal low velocity zone beneath the central Alberta. The P velocity model of the upper mantle recovered from body-wave traveltime inversion reveals 1) a well-defined Cordillera-craton transition coincides with the Cordillera deformation front, and 2) Archean-aged cratonic lithosphere under Medicine Hat Block and Loverna Block. These findings contribute to better understandings of the tectonic structure and evolution history of western Laurentia.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Seismic tomography
  • Receiver function
  • Crustal structure
  • Lithospheric structure

• Graduation date

  Fall 2014

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3D10X

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.