Seismic velocity structure at the southeastern margin of the Arabian Peninsula

The lithospheric structure in Oman has been determined by analyzing teleseismic P-receiver functions recorded at broad-band and short-period seismic stations of the Oman Seismological Network. Lithospheric structure is obtained by jointly inverting receiver functions and Rayleigh wave group velocities derived from continental-scale surface wave tomography of Pasyanos. We observe relatively thick crust (40-48 km) within the ophiolite formed mountains in northern Oman. The crustal thickness is about 35 km within the passive continental margin of the southern Oman region. Uppermost (<5 km) crustal shear wave velocities are faster in the northern ophiolite regions compared to the southern Oman region, while shear velocities in the middle crust are faster in the Southern Oman region compared to the ophiolite region. This observation coincides well with cretaceous to Eocene marine platform sequences overlying Precambrian to Cambrian basement of the southern part. Joint inversion analysis shows that the Moho depth of Oman varies from 34 km in the southern region to 48 km in the northern part.