Moho and basement depth in the NE Atlantic Ocean based on seismic refraction data and receiver functions

Abstract

Seismic refraction data and results from receiver functions were used to compile the depth to the basement and Moho in the NE Atlantic Ocean. For interpolation between the unevenly spaced data points, the kriging technique was used. Free-air gravity data were used as constraints in the kriging process for the basement. That way, structures with little or no seismic coverage are still presented on the basement map, in particular the basins off East Greenland. The rift basins off NW Europe are mapped as a continuous zone with basement depths of between 5 and 15 km. Maximum basement depths off NE Greenland are 8 km, but these are probably underestimated. Plate reconstructions for Chron C24 (c. 54 Ma) suggest that the poorly known Ammassalik Basin off SE Greenland may correlate with the northern termination of the Hatton Basin at the conjugate margin. The most prominent feature on the Moho map is the Greenland-Iceland-Faroe Ridge, with Moho depths .28 km. Crustal thickness is compiled from the Moho and basement depths. The oceanic crust displays an increased thickness close to the volcanic margins affected by the Iceland plume.Gold Open Access: This article is published under the terms of the CC-BY 3.0 license.

A review of the NE Atlantic conjugate margins based on seismic refraction data

“…The mid-Norwegian margin is densely sampled by seismic refraction lines (see figure 2 in Funck et al 2016) but individual profiles are rather short and do not cover the entire margin from the proximal to the distal domain. Hence, composite profiles were constructed to illustrate the crustal structure of the three margin segments (Fig.…”

“…Conjugate margin transects are compiled to present the full rift system and to check for any inconsistencies in the models or interpretations. A full listing of the available seismic refraction lines in the study region is given in Funck et al (2016, their fig. 2 and table 1).…”

Seamounts and oceanic igneous features in the NE Atlantic: a link between plate motions and mantle dynamics

“…5), and the seafloor spreading rates and asymmetry (Fig. 4), are described in detail in Funck et al (2016) and Gaina et al (this volume, in review).…”

“…These conditions would suggest that the identified bathymetric features might be oceanic core complexes (OCC). Oceanic core complexes are bathymetric features composed (1) the magnetic anomaly grid (Gaina et al, this volume, in review); (2) the crustal thickness derived from seismic refraction data (Funck et al 2016); (3) the crustal thickness from gravity inversion (Haase et al, this volume, in press); (4) half seafloor spreading rates; and (5) seafloor spreading asymmetry (Gaina et al, this volume, in review of mantle rocks exposed on the seafloor by large detachment faulting. These tectonic features can have lengths up to 150 km and widths up to 15 km, with a height of between 500 and 1500 km (MacLeod et al 2009).…”

The NE Atlantic region: a reappraisal of crustal structure, tectonostratigraphy and magmatic evolution – an introduction to the NAG-TEC project

“…Funck et al (2016a) undertook a review and compilation of all existing refraction profiles in the NE Atlantic. The resulting seismic refraction database, combined with results from receiver functions and gravity information, was then used to compile various maps, such as the top-basement and Moho depths (Funck et al 2016b), from which a crustal thickness map was derived, providing a consistent comparison of conjugate and alongstrike variations in structure.…”