Crustal Structure in East Antarctica from Surface Wave Dispersion

• Published in: Geophysical Journal International
• Main Authors: Dewart, Gilbert, Toksöz, M. Nafi
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: Royal Astronomical Society 1965
• Subjects: Geochemistry and Petrology; Geophysics; Antarctic; Drake Passage; East Antarctica; Mirny; Princess Martha Coast; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-246x.1965.tb03056.x

The structure of the Earth's crust and the upper mantle in East Antarctica are investigated using the dispersion properties of both the Love and the Rayleigh waves. The group velocities of surface waves between 15 and 70 sec periods are measured over several paths crossing Antarctica from Sandwich Arc and Drake Passage to stations of Wilkes and Mirny. Theoretical dispersion curves are computed for various crust and upper mantle models. The structure that fits the Rayleigh and Love wave data equally well is charactized by a 42 km thick crust and low (7.85 km/sec) sub-Moho velocities. The average thickness of the ice layer over East Antarctica, between Princess Martha Coast and Wilkes Station, is determined to be about 3 km. The general problem of non-uniqueness in group velocity inversion is also discussed. © 1965 Royal Astronomical Society. This research was supported by contract AF-49(638)-1337 of the Air Force Office of Scientific Research as part of the Advanced Research Projects Agency Project Vela and grants from the National Science Foundation under their Antarctic Research programme. Published - 10-2-127.pdf