TY - JOUR

T1 - Crustal structure of northwestern Iran on the basis of regional seismic tomography data

AU - Talebi, Amir

AU - Medved, Irina

AU - Koulakov, Ivan

N1 - The work was supported by the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia. The studies were carried out within research projects of NSU and IPGG SB RAS. The work on seismic tomography of the region was supported by the state assignment according to the research project FSUS 2022-0019. The work on interpretation of the results was supported by the state assignment according to the research project FWZZ-2022-0017.

PY - 2025

Y1 - 2025

N2 - This study presents a 3D seismic velocity model of the crust beneath northwestern Iran. The data include arrival times of 76,589 P-waves and 10,796 S-waves from 7245 events recorded by 233 stations. The seismic velocity model presented in this research provides a detailed understanding of the crustal structure and tectonic processes shaping northwestern Iran. The interplay between volcanism, fault activity and mantle dynamics has produced a complex velocity structure. The findings in the region offer new insights into the geodynamic evolution of this tectonically active area. Understanding these features is crucial for assessing the region’s seismic hazard and geothermal potential, particularly in light of its active tectonic faults and volcanic systems. Moreover, the crust of northwestern Iran represents a two-layered structure: a high P-velocity upper crust and low-velocity lower crust. The authors documented a similar structure on the basis of tomographic data of different collision regions, such as Eastern Anatolia, Tien Shan and Pamir–Hindu Kush. The structure concerned is supposed to be due to delamination processes in the upper mantle.

AB - This study presents a 3D seismic velocity model of the crust beneath northwestern Iran. The data include arrival times of 76,589 P-waves and 10,796 S-waves from 7245 events recorded by 233 stations. The seismic velocity model presented in this research provides a detailed understanding of the crustal structure and tectonic processes shaping northwestern Iran. The interplay between volcanism, fault activity and mantle dynamics has produced a complex velocity structure. The findings in the region offer new insights into the geodynamic evolution of this tectonically active area. Understanding these features is crucial for assessing the region’s seismic hazard and geothermal potential, particularly in light of its active tectonic faults and volcanic systems. Moreover, the crust of northwestern Iran represents a two-layered structure: a high P-velocity upper crust and low-velocity lower crust. The authors documented a similar structure on the basis of tomographic data of different collision regions, such as Eastern Anatolia, Tien Shan and Pamir–Hindu Kush. The structure concerned is supposed to be due to delamination processes in the upper mantle.

U2 - 10.3390/geosciences15020055

DO - 10.3390/geosciences15020055

M3 - Article

VL - 15

JO - Geosciences (Switzerland)

JF - Geosciences (Switzerland)

SN - 2076-3263

IS - 2

M1 - 55

ER -