La estructura cortical del arco de las Antillas Menores estimada a partir de la técnica de funciones receptoras

  • Mariano S. Arnaiz-Rodríguez Departamento de Geofísica, Escuela de Geología, Minas y Geofísica, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas, Av. Los Ilustres, Los Chaguaramos, Caracas, DC, Venezuela. State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resource and Prospecting, and Unconventional Natural Gas Institute, China University of Petroleum at Beijing, Changping, Beijing, China.
  • Michael Schmitz Departamento de Geofísica, Escuela de Geología, Minas y Geofísica, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas, Av. Los Ilustres, Los Chaguaramos, Caracas, DC, Venezuela. Fundación Venezolana de Investigaciones Sismológicas, Av. Guaicaipuro con calle Tiuna, prolongación calle Mara, Quinta Funvisis, El Llanito, Caracas, DC, Venezuela.
  • Franck Audemard Fundación Venezolana de Investigaciones Sismológicas, Av. Guaicaipuro con calle Tiuna, prolongación calle Mara, Quinta Funvisis, El Llanito, Caracas, DC, Venezuela. Departamento de Geología, Escuela de Geología, Minas y Geofísica, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas, Av. Los Ilustres, Los Chaguaramos, Caracas, DC, Venezuela.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.22201/cgeo.20072902e.2016.3.440
Keywords: Lesser Antilles, receiver functions, crustal thickness, Poisson's ratio.

Abstract

By applying receiver functions technique we studied the crustal thickness and mechanical properties of the Lesser Antilles Arc. We gathered teleseismic data recorded from broadband stations deployed along the arc by different networks. The analysis of P-to-S conversion and crustal reverberations allowed us to estimate the Moho depth and the average crustal Vp/Vs ratio under nine stations. The results were corroborated with forward gravimetric modeling of the long wavelength component of the Complete Bouguer Anomaly along the structure. The Moho depth ranges between 22 and 32.4 km. The distribution of thick and thin crust is closely related to variations of the convergence rate of the subducted lithosphere at the Tiburón fault system. Poisson's ratio ranges between 0.266 (Vp/Vs = 1.777) and 0.3 (Vp/Vs = 1.870). Higher values are consistent with a Mesozoic basement, related to the Greater Antilles Arc, found in the northern section of the Lesser Antilles Arc.

Published
2016-12-14
Issue
Vol 33 No 3 (2016)
Section
Regular Papers

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