Crustal Structure in East Antarctica from Surface Wave Dispersion

Abstract

The structure of the Earth's crust and the upper mantle in East Antarctica are investigated using the dispersion properties of both the Love and the Rayleigh waves. The group velocities of surface waves between 15 and 70 sec periods are measured over several paths crossing Antarctica from Sandwich Arc and Drake Passage to stations of Wilkes and Mirny. Theoretical dispersion curves are computed for various crust and upper mantle models. The structure that fits the Rayleigh and Love wave data equally well is charactized by a 42 km thick crust and low (7.85 km/sec) sub‐Moho velocities. The average thickness of the ice layer over East Antarctica, between Princess Martha Coast and Wilkes Station, is determined to be about 3 km. The general problem of non‐uniqueness in group velocity inversion is also discussed. Copyright © 1965, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved