Crustal thickening and uplift of the Tibetan Plateau inferred from receiver function analysis. (1st March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: He, Chuansong; Santosh, M.; Dong, Shuwen; Wang, Xingchen
• Is Part Of: Journal of Asian earth sciences. Volume 99(2015)
• Page Start: 112
• Page End: 124
• Publication Date: 2015-03-01
• Subjects: H–k stacking of receiver function -- Lower crustal delamination -- Mantle upwelling -- Tectonics -- Tibet; Earth sciences -- Asia -- Periodicals; Sciences de la terre -- Asie -- Périodiques; Earth sciences; Asia; Periodicals; 555.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jseaes.2014.12.011
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1367-9120

Abstract

Highlights: Higher Vp / Vs ratio overlaps with thinning crust in the western part of Tibet. The crustal thickening is inhomogeneous in Tibet. Shallower domain in the region of 410 and 660 km discontinuities in southern part of Tibet. Abstract: The India–Eurasia collision, crustal thickening and northward convergence leading to uplift of the Tibetan Plateau have been topics of multidisciplinary studies. Here we employ the H – k stacking technique and depth domain receiver function to constrain the crustal thickness and P - and S -wave velocity ratio as well as the upper mantle discontinuity. Our results identify the signature of slab break-off and lower crustal delamination in southern Tibet, which might have induced the mantle upwelling and crustal melting. The convergence of the Indian plate inducing northward crustal flow might be a major factor that contributes to the uplift and crustal thickening of Tibet. We also evaluate the E–W trending cumulative compression as another dominant factor that contributes to the increase in crustal thickness in the northern Tibet.