Crustal structure in the Gangetic Plains of the Indian sub-continent from body waves

Abstract

Crustal structure in the Gangetic Plains of India has been investigated using body-wave data of earthquakes. A three-layered crust has been interpreted, consisting of a top layer of 2.7-km/sec P-wave velocity and 3.7-km thickness, an intermediate layer of 5.64-km/sec velocity and 15.2-km thickness and a bottom layer of 6.49-km/sec velocity and 21.4-km thickness. The average depth of the M discontinuity obtained is 40.3 km. The shear-wave velocities for the Sg, S*, Sn phases are 3.45, 3.85 and 4.61 km/sec, respectively. The velocities of both P and S waves are lower than those obtained for the Peninsular Shield of India.