Crustal Structure across the Appalachian Orogen in Pennsylvania from P-wave receiver functions

Abstract:

Crustal structure across the Appalachian Orogen from eastern Ohio to New Jersey is investigated using P-wave receiver functions to estimate Moho depths and crustal Vp/Vs ratios. Data for this study comes from the PASEIS and the USArray Transportable Array. The PASEIS seismic network includes 22 broadband seismic stations throughout Pennsylvania that were in installed in February 2013.

Preliminary results from H-K stacking show that Moho depth varies greatly across the Appalachians, ranging from 53 km in northern Pennsylvania to only 32 km just west of the New Jersey border. The thickest crust can be found nearest to Lake Erie, and a relatively thick crust is maintained in northeastern Pennsylvania and along the Pennsylvania-Ohio border. Crustal thickness decreases to the southeast, and a rather sharp decrease can be seen well before the start of the Allegheny Front. Crustal thickness remains relatively uniform between 43 and 45km in the Appalachian Mountains, and decreases to 33-38km in the Piedmont province. Vp/Vs values range from 1.75 to 1.83, with no observable pattern to the variation.