The lithosphere and asthenosphere system in Italy as inferred from the Vp and Vs 3D velocity model and moho map

We present an updated high resolution tomographic P- and S-wave velocity model of the lithosphere and asthenosphere system in Italy, obtained by adding the observations from 7.200 earthquakes to the previously inverted dataset (165,000 P-wave arrivals) and by including S-waves readings from 10 years of seismic data recorded at three components seismic stations. The main strength of this research is the use of a method able to model P- and S- seismic phases refracted at the Moho discontinuity. We use a new and original map of the 3D Moho geometry obtained by integrating selected high quality controlled source seismic and teleseismic receiver function data. Resolution strongly benefits also from the fast increase in number and quality of INGV National Seismic Network since year 2003 and from its integration with several permanent regional seismic networks. This study confirms the main structural features in the best resolved parts of the inverted volume and much better image details in some of the previously less resolved areas, due to both the larger number of inverted phases and the more even distribution of seismic stations. Surface basins and relationships between the Adriatic, Tyrrhenian, and Adria plates are better imaged. The investigation of the physical properties of the lithosphere-asthenosphere system if improved by the use of a large dataset of good quality S-readings.