Estimating the mechanical anisotropy of the Iranian lithosphere using the wavelet coherence method

We calculated anisotropic wavelet coherence between Bouguer anomaly and topography in order to map the anisotropy of the effective elastic thickness of the Iranian lithosphere (Te). An orthotropic elastic plate model is used for inverting the anisotropic wavelet coherence to compute the mechanical a...

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Main Authors: Zamani, A., Samiee, J., Kirby, Jonathan
Format: Journal Article
Published: Elsevier Science BV 2013
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/10426
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author Zamani, A.
Samiee, J.
Kirby, Jonathan
author_facet Zamani, A.
Samiee, J.
Kirby, Jonathan
author_sort Zamani, A.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description We calculated anisotropic wavelet coherence between Bouguer anomaly and topography in order to map the anisotropy of the effective elastic thickness of the Iranian lithosphere (Te). An orthotropic elastic plate model is used for inverting the anisotropic wavelet coherence to compute the mechanical anisotropy through the weak axis of the Te. Anisotropy of the Te-weak axis and the strength of the anisotropic parameter, namely the anisotropic coherence effect over the study area are estimated by restricting the rotated Morlet wavelet (fan wavelet) geometry over an azimuthal range of 90°. Large-scale Te variations have been shown to be associated with phenomena, such as mountain belts, subduction zones, craton boundaries, fault zones, and seismogenic regions. Although the correlation between the major tectonic features of the Iranian lithosphere and the distribution of the Te-weak axis is not general or precise, in some regions, such as the Central Iran Blocks, and the Alborz, Kopeh Dagh, Zagros, and Makran orogenic belts, the weak axis has a uniform or slowly varying pattern which changes over their boundaries. A perpendicular alignment between seismic anisotropy measurements in Iran and the Te-weak directions suggests a lithospheric origin for anisotropy. The correlation between averaged stress directions and the weak axis of the Te in Iran indicates that the present day stress field and the fossil strain are still related. Correlation between these factors suggests vertically coherent deformation of the lithosphere in Iran resulting from the multiply convergent orogenic processes. The complex mechanical anisotropy pattern of the Iranian lithosphere results from the interaction of many pre-existent structures which dominantly control the mechanical anisotropy of the lithosphere.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-104262019-02-19T05:34:46Z Estimating the mechanical anisotropy of the Iranian lithosphere using the wavelet coherence method Zamani, A. Samiee, J. Kirby, Jonathan Iran Fan wavelet Flexural rigidity Elastic thickness Topography Gravity anomaly We calculated anisotropic wavelet coherence between Bouguer anomaly and topography in order to map the anisotropy of the effective elastic thickness of the Iranian lithosphere (Te). An orthotropic elastic plate model is used for inverting the anisotropic wavelet coherence to compute the mechanical anisotropy through the weak axis of the Te. Anisotropy of the Te-weak axis and the strength of the anisotropic parameter, namely the anisotropic coherence effect over the study area are estimated by restricting the rotated Morlet wavelet (fan wavelet) geometry over an azimuthal range of 90°. Large-scale Te variations have been shown to be associated with phenomena, such as mountain belts, subduction zones, craton boundaries, fault zones, and seismogenic regions. Although the correlation between the major tectonic features of the Iranian lithosphere and the distribution of the Te-weak axis is not general or precise, in some regions, such as the Central Iran Blocks, and the Alborz, Kopeh Dagh, Zagros, and Makran orogenic belts, the weak axis has a uniform or slowly varying pattern which changes over their boundaries. A perpendicular alignment between seismic anisotropy measurements in Iran and the Te-weak directions suggests a lithospheric origin for anisotropy. The correlation between averaged stress directions and the weak axis of the Te in Iran indicates that the present day stress field and the fossil strain are still related. Correlation between these factors suggests vertically coherent deformation of the lithosphere in Iran resulting from the multiply convergent orogenic processes. The complex mechanical anisotropy pattern of the Iranian lithosphere results from the interaction of many pre-existent structures which dominantly control the mechanical anisotropy of the lithosphere. 2013 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/10426 10.1016/j.tecto.2013.05.005 Elsevier Science BV fulltext
spellingShingle Iran
Fan wavelet
Flexural rigidity
Elastic thickness
Topography
Gravity anomaly
Zamani, A.
Samiee, J.
Kirby, Jonathan
Estimating the mechanical anisotropy of the Iranian lithosphere using the wavelet coherence method
title Estimating the mechanical anisotropy of the Iranian lithosphere using the wavelet coherence method
title_full Estimating the mechanical anisotropy of the Iranian lithosphere using the wavelet coherence method
title_fullStr Estimating the mechanical anisotropy of the Iranian lithosphere using the wavelet coherence method
title_full_unstemmed Estimating the mechanical anisotropy of the Iranian lithosphere using the wavelet coherence method
title_short Estimating the mechanical anisotropy of the Iranian lithosphere using the wavelet coherence method
title_sort estimating the mechanical anisotropy of the iranian lithosphere using the wavelet coherence method
topic Iran
Fan wavelet
Flexural rigidity
Elastic thickness
Topography
Gravity anomaly
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/10426