A tectonic analysis on the central region of the Himalaya collision zone using double difference tomography

Chanel A Perez, University of Texas at El Paso

Abstract

The Himalaya mountain range remains the only place on Earth undergoing continuous effects from the continental-continental collision between India and Asia. Because of this, the Himalayas have been subjected to extensive deformation and transpression, and contain five major shear zones. Extensive seismic analysis of the region, however, is lacking due to sparse seismograph coverage and complexity of the crustal structure. I examined seismic event data from two temporary seismic networks deployed in the central Himalaya, the HIMNT deployment from 2001-2003, and the Bhutan deployment from 2002-2003. Using this data I develop a 3-D earth model for the region using double-difference tomography, TomoFDD. I specifically focused on 223 regional events surrounding the thirty-four stations that comprise both networks. All events are located between 82° and 98°E longitude, and 22° and 34°N latitude, and with depths between 10 and 700 km. Prior analysis of both datasets consisted of event location, relocation, and 1D velocity modeling. Using TomoFDD I performed event relocations and developed a 3-D model that resolves the velocity structure of some areas of the central Himalaya between 25km and 150km. I also find that the velocity model for 45 km and 60 km may be consistent with the proposed model of channel flow beneath the Himalayas.

Subject Area

Geophysics

Recommended Citation

Perez, Chanel A, "A tectonic analysis on the central region of the Himalaya collision zone using double difference tomography" (2015). ETD Collection for University of Texas, El Paso. AAI1591985.
https://scholarworks.utep.edu/dissertations/AAI1591985

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