Receiver function study of the crustal structure of Northeast China:Seismic evidence for a mantle upwelling beneath the eastern flank of the Songliao Basin and the Changbaishan region

Northeast China is a unique place to study intra-plate volcanism. We analyzed P-wave receiver function data recorded by 111 permanent broadband seismic stations in Northeast China. The results show that the crustal thickness varies from 27.9 km beneath the eastern flank of the Songliao Basin to 40.7 km beneath the Great Xing＇an Range region. The large depth variations of the Moho can be largely but not completely explained by surface topography. The residual Moho depth calculated based on the Airy＇s isostasy model indicates that the Moho is dynamically uplifted by 〈3 km beneath the eastern flank of the Songliao Basin and the Changbaishan region. We suggest that a mantle upwelling, which has been proposed by several recent seismic studies, might have caused the uplift.

Abstract Northeast China is a unique place to study intra-plate volcanism. We analyzed P-wave receiver function data recorded by 111 permanent broadband seismic stations in Northeast China. The results show that the crustal thickness varies from 27.9 km beneath the eastern flank of the Songliao Basin to 40.7 km beneath the Great Xing＇an Range region. The large depth variations of the Moho can be largely but not completely explained by surface topography. The residual Moho depth calculated based on the Airy＇s isostasy model indicates that the Moho is dynamically uplifted by 〈3 km beneath the eastern flank of the Songliao Basin and the Changbaishan region. We suggest that a mantle upwelling, which has been proposed by several recent seismic studies, might have caused the uplift.