Global lithospheric imaging using teleseismic receiver functions

Abstract:

Project GLImER (Global Lithospheric Imagining using Earthquake Recordings) aims to conduct a global survey of lithospheric interfaces using converted teleseismic body waves. Data from permanent and temporary seismic networks worldwide will be processed automatically to produce global maps of key interfaces (Moho, intra-lithospheric interfaces, lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary). In this presentation, we discuss the challenges associated with automating the analysis of converted waves and the potential of the resulting data products to be used in novel imaging approaches. With regards to automation, we address in particular the search for an optimal deconvolution method in receiver function analysis. To do so, we carry out a systematic comparison of various commonly used deconvolution methods and find that all methods produce equally robust receiver functions provided that a suitable regularization parameter is found. We further note that a suitable regularization can be found objectively for most approaches, thus challenging the belief that only time-domain deconvolution is a viable option for receiver function automation. With regards to imaging applications, we investigate how the resulting global database of receiver functions will be amenable to existing processing approaches as well as new approaches adapted from seismic exploration, including industry-based interpretation tools.