CRUSTAL STRUCTURE OF THE TIBETAN PLATEAU AND SURROUNDING AREA
This project aims to answer some of these questions, including: How is the 2000+ km of crust accommodated? How has the Tibetan Plateau reached its current height? How has the surrounding area been deformed?
In order to answer these questions and investigate the crustal structure of the area, two datasets have been examined. The first is a deep seismic profile running northeast across the northeastern flank of the Tibetan Plateau and into the Ordos Block, part of the Sino-Korean Terrain. The profile is modeled using the reflectivity method. The second dataset compiles existing data points that comprise velocity-depth information for mid-Asia.
We found that the crust increases in thickness from 40km in surrounding areas, to 60km under Tibet. Beneath the Tibetan Plateau p is lower than under the surrounding areas and global averages. The upper crust is much thicker than normal (between 40% and 100% thicker). There is no increase in lower crustal thickness, in places there is no crust with 'normal' lower crustal velocities. The Moho is a complex interface, suggestive of an undulating boundary. Thickness changes are more sudden along the southern margin of the plateau