scholarly journals Moho depth of the British Isles: a probabilistic perspective

2020 ◽  
Vol 221 (2) ◽  
pp. 1384-1401
Author(s):  
A Licciardi ◽  
R W England ◽  
N Piana Agostinetti ◽  
K Gallagher

SUMMARY We present a new Moho depth model of the British Isles and surrounding areas from the most up-to-date compilation of Moho depth estimates obtained from refraction, reflection and receiver function data. We use a probabilistic, trans-dimensional and hierarchical approach for the surface reconstruction of Moho topography. This fully data-driven approach allows for adaptive parametrization, assessment of relative importance between different data-types and uncertainties quantification on the reconstructed surface. Our results confirm the first order features of the Moho topography obtained in previous work such as deeper Moho (29–36 km) in continental areas (e.g. Ireland and Great Britain) and shallower Moho (12–22 km) offshore (e.g. in the Atlantic Ocean, west of Ireland). Resolution is improved by including recent available data, especially around the Porcupine Basin, onshore Ireland and Great Britain. NE trending features in Moho topography are highlighted above the Rockall High (about 28 km) and the Rockall Trough (with a NE directed deepening from 12 to about 20 km). A perpendicular SE oriented feature (Moho depth 26–28 km) is located between the Orkney and the Shetland, extending further SW in the North Sea. Onshore, our results highlight the crustal thinning towards the N in Ireland and an E–W oriented transition between deep (34 km) and shallow (about 28 km) Moho in Scotland. Our probabilistic results are compared with previous models showing overall differences around ±2 km, within the posterior uncertainties calculated with our approach. Bigger differences are located where different data are used between models or in less constrained areas where posterior uncertainties are high.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Syaiful Bahri ◽  
Wiwit Suryanto ◽  
Drajat Ngadmanto

Abstract The Earth's crust layer and sediment in Western Indonesia has been studied using the inversion of teleseismic receiver function from BMKG’s seismic network. Earthquake events were analyzed in this study with a moment magnitude greater than 6.0 with epicentral distances of 30° to 90°. A total of 60 earthquake events were observed and recorded by 91 stations around the study area. Furthermore, an inversion process was carried out using the initial velocity model from the modification of the AK135f velocity model to obtain the shear wave velocity structure below each stations. The velocity model from the azimuthally stacked vertical receiver function showed that the sediment layer had a relatively medium shear wave velocity value with an average of 2.1 km/s, while the crust layer had 4.60 km/s. The sedimentary layer thickness in this region also varies between 2 km to 10 km. A relatively thick sediment layer of about 8 km to 10 km was observed in two locations, in East Kalimantan associated with the Kutai Basin and Northern part of Sumatera in the North Sumatera Basin, a two major oil producer basinal area in Indonesia. The Moho discontinuity was also found at depths that vary between 16 km to 50 km. In addition, the most shallow Moho depth is 16 km below the North Kalimantan and North part of West Java, while the deeper Moho depth of 50 km is located below East Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, North Sumatera and South Sumatera.


1959 ◽  
Vol 79 ◽  
pp. 132-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
James J. Tierney

It has long been recognised as a puzzling fact that in Ptolemy's map of the British Isles Great Britain is turned abruptly to the east from about latitude 55° north (corresponding roughly to the area of Scotland) so as to make a right angle approximately with the southern part of the country. It may be of interest to review briefly various tentative explanations of this peculiar fact which have been advanced during the last three-quarters of a century, and to add yet another to the list.In 1885 H. Bradley suggested that either Ptolemy or one of his predecessors had before him three sectional maps representing respectively England, Scotland, and Ireland, and that in fitting the three maps together Ptolemy or his predecessor fell into the mistake of turning the oblong map of Scotland the wrong way. T. G. Rylands next put forward his view that the error was due to a faulty observation of a lunar eclipse at Duncansby Head causing an error of longitude, together with a faulty gnomonic observation at the same place causing an error of latitude. In 1894 H. Kiepert was clearly getting nearer the truth when he wrote: ‘The only coherent, though often deficient source for the knowledge of the [British] islands that has come down to us from the most flourishing period of the Empire, is the map of Ptolemy, the result of a combination of the lines of roads and of the coasting expeditions during the first century of Roman occupation. One great fault, however, has crept into the map by his having made use also of a totally different source, namely the astronomical fixations of latitude executed by Pytheas in the time of the earliest Greek mercantile expeditions to these regions of high latitudes.’ In a footnote to this observation he added: ‘These fixations stop at a borderline at the highest point reached in the north, which according to the itinerary sources would have been crossed in a northward direction, and thus the Alexandrian scholar was forced to give the northern half of the island a bend towards the east, the only possible direction, in consequence of which all the localities of Caledonia have been shifted from their proper positions by about a quarter of a circle.’


1840 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 467-487
Author(s):  
David Milne

Previously to the 25th and 26th November 1838, there had prevailed in Great Britain and Ireland, for more than a week, a steady wind from the NE., accompanied with frosts, a progressively rising barometer, and tolerably clear weather. The same sort of weather existed on the Continent, and over a large portion of northern Europe, both on sea and land.This state of things was changed, by the arrival of two storms from southern latitudes, which passed over the British isles during the last week of November. These two storms, until they reached this part of the globe, were separate. The first one reached the British seas, about thirty-six hours before the other. But the second moved with about double the velocity of the first, and overtook the first somewhere about the north of Ireland and south-west of Scotland. Accordingly, in the southern parts of England, there were distinct indicia of two different storms, each having its own period of arrival, veering, and cessation;—whilst towards the north, these indicia became gradually less distinguishable, and were at length significant of only a general gale.


Solid Earth ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 971-984 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Kind ◽  
T. Eken ◽  
F. Tilmann ◽  
F. Sodoudi ◽  
T. Taymaz ◽  
...  

Abstract. We analyze S-receiver functions to investigate variations of lithospheric thickness below the entire region of Turkey and surrounding areas. The teleseismic data used here have been compiled combining all permanent seismic stations which are open to public access. We obtained almost 12 000 S-receiver function traces characterizing the seismic discontinuities between the Moho and the discontinuity at 410 km depth. Common-conversion-point stacks yield well-constrained images of the Moho and of the lithosphere–asthenosphere boundary (LAB). Results from previous studies suggesting shallow LAB depths between 80 and 100 km are confirmed in the entire region outside the subduction zones. We did not observe changes in LAB depths across the North and East Anatolian faults. To the east of Cyprus, we see indications of the Arabian LAB. The African plate is observed down to about 150 km depth subducting to the north and east between the Aegean and Cyprus with a tear at Cyprus. We also observed the discontinuity at 410 km depth and a negative discontinuity above the 410, which might indicate a zone of partial melt above this discontinuity.


1994 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Megna ◽  
A. Morelli

We applied the receiver function technique to retrieve Moho depth and dip beneath the MEDNET very-broadband seismographic station at l'Aquila, in the Central Apennines. Broadband data available for teleseismic events recorded in two years of operation were sufficient to delineate a rather simple structure consisting of a 32-34 km thick crust, in agreement with previous studies based on refraction seismics. In addition, the data show relatively large variation in the amplitude of the converted P-to-S phase generated at the crust-mantle interface as a function of azimuth. These variations are consistent with synthetic receiver functions generated for an incident P wave interacting with an interface dipping ~ 8° to the north. Observations of amplitude ratios of converted phases, polarity of first-motion in the SH directíon, and relative travel time delay are all consistent with a model assuming a Moho discontinuity about 33 km deep gently dipping towards north. The receiver function technique has shown to be an efficient tool for investigating deep crustal structure, giving localized but reliable information.


2016 ◽  
pp. ggw483 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.C. Root ◽  
J. Ebbing ◽  
W. van de rWal ◽  
R.W. England ◽  
L.L.A. Vermeersen

Archaeologia ◽  
1817 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
pp. 340-343
Author(s):  
Edward Daniel Clarke

It is not attaching too high a degree of importance to the study of Celtic antiquities, to maintain, that, owing to the attention now paid to it in this country, a light begins to break in upon that part of ancient history, which, beyond every other, seemed to present a forlorn investigation. All that relates to the aboriginal inhabitants of the north of Europe, would be involved in darkness but for the enquiries now instituted respecting Celtic sepulchres. From the information already received, concerning these sepulchres, it may be assumed, as a fact almost capable of actual demonstration, that the mounds, or barrows, common to all Great Britain, and to the neighbouring continent, together with all the tumuli fabled by Grecian and by Roman historians as the tombs of Giants, are so many several vestiges of that mighty family of Titan-Celts who gradually possessed all the eastern shores of the Mediterranean, and who extended their colonies over all the countries where Cyclopéan structures may be recognized; whether in the walls of Crotona, or the temple at Stonehénge; in the Cromlechs of Wales, or the trilithal monuments of Cimbrica Chersonesus; in Greece, or in Asia-Minor; in Syria, or in Egypt. It is with respect to Egypt alone, that an exception might perhaps be required; but history, while it deduces the origin of the worship of Minerva, at Sais, from the Phrygians, also relates of this people, that they were the oldest of mankind. The Cyclopéan architecture of Egypt may therefore be referred originally to the same source; but, as in making the following Observations brevity must be a principal object, it will be necessary to divest them of every thing that may seem like a Dissertation; and confine the statement, here offered, to the simple narrative of those facts, which have led to its introduction.


1906 ◽  
Vol 10 (40) ◽  
pp. 50-51

No fewer than seven nations tried to win the Gordon Bennett Cup in the race which started from the Tuileries Gardens, in Paris, on September 30th. But the wind was in an unfavourable direction for the accomplishment of a long distance record. To some, the English Channel barred the way, to some, the North Sea.The cup offered for the greatest distance covered has been accorded to the American aeronaut, Mr. Frank P. Lahm, who descended 15 miles north of Scarborough.It will be seen in another part of this Journal that in December next, Members of the Aëronautical Society of Great Britain will hear an account of the Gordon-Bennett race from Colonel J. E. Capper, who took part in the race, having accompanied Mr. Rolls in the “ Britannia.” In this account, therefore, it will suffice to merely tabulate the competitors and results.


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