Shear wave velocity variation across the Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand, from receiver function inversion

Geophysical Journal International
By: , and 

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Abstract

The Taupo Volcanic Zone (TVZ), New Zealand is a region characterized by very high magma eruption rates and extremely high heat flow, which is manifest in high-temperature geothermal waters. The shear wave velocity structure across the region is inferred using non-linear inversion of receiver functions, which were derived from teleseismic earthquake data. Results from the non-linear inversion, and from forward synthetic modelling, indicate low S velocities at ∼6–16 km depth near the Rotorua and Reporoa calderas. We infer these low-velocity layers to represent the presence of high-level bodies of partial melt associated with the volcanism. Receiver functions at other stations are complicated by reverberations associated with near-surface sedimentary layers. The receiver function data also indicate that the Moho lies between 25 and 30 km, deeper than the 15 ± 2 km depth previously inferred for the crust–mantle boundary beneath the TVZ. 

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Shear wave velocity variation across the Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand, from receiver function inversion
Series title Geophysical Journal International
DOI 10.1111/j.1365-246X.2004.02384.x
Volume 159
Issue 1
Year Published 2004
Language English
Publisher Oxford Academic
Contributing office(s) Volcano Hazards Program
Description 20 p.
First page 291
Last page 310
Country New Zealand
Other Geospatial Taupo volcanic zone
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