Crustal structure beneath al-refaei seismic station – central mesopotamia, Iraq, using receiver function technique

Abstract

Al-Refaei district is one of the largest towns in Thi-Qar, southern Iraq. Tectonically, it is located in the central Mesopotamian zone of the Arabian plate. The crustal structure of this area was estimated to understand the geological and tectonic setting. From the data of the broadband seismic station (NSR1), which is part of the Iraqi Seismic Observatory the crustal velocity model was derived using the inversion of P-wave receiver functions (RFs). Data from this station was analyzed using the Computer Programs in Seismology. The results show two distinct discontinuities; these are the basement rock at a depth of 8km (Vs 2.63 km/s) and the Moho discontinuity at an approximate depth of 46 km (Vs 3.79 km/s). The calculated velocity model can be used to locate earthquakes and build accurate Green Functions for the region in future studies.