Joint inversion for 3-dimensional S-velocity mantle structure along the Tethyan margin

For purposes of studying the lateral heterogeneity as well as for ultimately predicting seismograms for the region which extends from the western Mediterranean region to the Hindu Kush, we construct a new 3-D S-velocity model by jointly inverting regional waveforms, surface wave group velocity measurements, teleseismic S arrival times, and crustal thickness estimates from receiver functions, refraction lines, and gravity surveys. We can expect better resolution for the resulting model than when using individual data set, because these data types have complementary resolving power for crust and mantle structures, vertical and lateral variations, shallow and deep mantle features, local and global structure, and are jointly inverted to image the complexity of this tectonically diverse area. We have fitted the waveforms of regional S and Rayleigh waves from over 3800 seismograms using Partitioned Waveform Inversion. We have accumulated over 3000 crustal thicknesses from receiver functions, gravity measurements, and refraction profiles. We have measured Rayleigh wave group velocities for hundreds of new paths recorded at the MIDSEA stations and combined them with thousands of existing paths transecting the region. We have over 5000 teleseismic S arrival times measured through cross correlation and 200,000 more from picks originally reported to the ISC. We scale the resulting S-velocity model to a P-velocity model using observed relations between S and P delay times as well as mineral physics. We then update the P-model using P delay times and compare the result to existing P-velocity models of the region. We discuss features of our new model, which includes oceanic structure, cratons, subducting slabs that penetrate into the lower mantle and others that do not, low-velocity mantle plumes, rifts, plateaus, and basins.