Evidence of crustal thickening beneath the central Apennines (Italy) from teleseismic receiver functions

Abstract

We computed receiver functions of teleseismic events that occurred within a distance of 35–90° and were recorded in central Italy by 15 temporary stations and 1 permanent station. In the receiver functions we identified the P-to-S phase converted at the Moho discontinuity beneath each station and estimated crustal thickness from the time delay of this phase with respect to the direct P arrival. For the temporary stations this relatively simple approach is justified given their limited recording period. To the permanent station we also applied the slant stacking technique to try to constrain the bulk crustal Vp/Vs and validate our estimate of crustal thickness. Our results show that, in central Italy, the Moho is shallow (∼22 km) beneath the Tyrrhenian margin of the peninsula and deepens toward the east. Beneath the central Apennines, Moho depth ranges from 39 to 47 km. The thickest crust matches the highest topography. At the Tremiti islands, in the Adriatic Sea, crustal thickness is 33 km. While our Moho depths beneath the Tyrrhenian side of the peninsula and the Adriatic Sea are in agreement with previous results, a new result of this study is the crustal thickening beneath the central Apennines. This leads to the conclusion that the central Apennine topography is supported by a significant crustal root.