Thermal structure of the Panama Basin by analysis of seismic attenuation

Using recordings of earthquakes on Oceanic Bottom Seismographs and onshore stations on the coastal margins of Colombia, Panama, and Ecuador, we estimate attenuation parameters in the upper lithosphere of the Panama Basin. The tomographic images of the derived coda-Q values are correlated with estima...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Tectonophysics 2018-04, Vol.730, p.81-99
Main Authors: Vargas, Carlos A., Pulido, José E., Hobbs, Richard W.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anelasticity
Anomalies
Attenuation
Basins
Composition
Curie point depth
Curie temperature
Earthquakes
Elasticity
Fracture zones
Heat flow
Heat transfer
Heat transmission
Hydrothermal activity
Interactions
Lithosphere
Panama Basin
Parameter estimation
Q values
Seismic activity
Seismic analysis
Seismic attenuation
Seismographs
Seismology
Thermal structure
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Summary:Using recordings of earthquakes on Oceanic Bottom Seismographs and onshore stations on the coastal margins of Colombia, Panama, and Ecuador, we estimate attenuation parameters in the upper lithosphere of the Panama Basin. The tomographic images of the derived coda-Q values are correlated with estimates of Curie Point Depth and measured and theoretical heat flow. Our study reveals three tectonic domains where magmatic/hydrothermal activity or lateral variations of the lithologic composition in the upper lithosphere can account for the modeled thermal structure and the anelasticity. We find that the Costa Rica Ridge and the Panama Fracture Zone are significant tectonic features probably related to thermal anomalies detected in the study area. We interpret a large and deep intrinsic attenuation anomaly as related to the heat source at the Costa Rica Ridge and show how interactions with regional fault systems cause contrasting attenuation anomalies. •Records of earthquakes in the Panama Basin were used to estimate seismic attenuation.•Tomographic images of the derived coda-Q values are correlated with estimates of Curie Point Depth and measured heat flow.•Three tectonic domains can account for the modeled thermal structure and the anelasticity in the upper lithosphere.•The Costa Rica Ridge and the Panama Fracture Zone are tectonic features related to thermal anomalies in the study area.•Large and deep intrinsic attenuation anomaly is related to the heat source at the Costa Rica Ridge.
ISSN:0040-1951
1879-3266
DOI:10.1016/j.tecto.2018.02.017