Work

High‐Resolution Tomography for the Upper‐Mantle Structure in North China by Full‐Waveform Inversion of Teleseismic P Wave and Its Codas

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: We investigate the structure and tectonic environment in the crust and upper mantle beneath the North China Craton (NCC) by conducting a full‐waveform inversion of teleseismic P and its coda waves from densely distributed broadband seismic stations. A high‐resolution model involving P‐ and S‐wave velocities as well as density is constructed by utilizing intermediate‐period (100–10 s) vertical‐ and radial‐component records in a three‐stage inversion from longer to shorter period bands. By leveraging the rich structural information embedded in coda waves, we are able to resolve more structural details at lithospheric and asthenospheric depths with a limited number of teleseismic events than existing larger‐scale studies. Our model reveals a sharp east‐to‐west variation in crustal thickness across NCC from ∼25 to ∼40 km, and demonstrates significant elevation of the Lithosphere‐asthenosphere boundary beneath the Datong volcano group (DVG). Furthermore, we identify prominent low‐velocity anomalies beneath the DVG, which may correspond to two channels of upwelling hot materials.

Source: Geophysical Research Letters

DOI: 10.1029/2025gl120963

Authors: Xuan Zhao, Yi Wang, Jia Yi, Qiwen Zhu, Li Zhao