Mapping the Moho depth of the South China Sea Basin: Analysis of earth’s structure and evolution based on gravity inversion constrained by seismic profiles

In this study, the latest satellite gravity data of the South China Sea Basin region, combined with the latest seafloor bathymetry data, sediment thickness data of the South China Sea Basin region, and oceanic crust age data, were used to obtain the residual gravity anomalies generated by the undulation of the Moho surface. In addition, the seismic profile data with good continuity of reflection strength in the South China Sea Basin area are collected, and the more reliable depth of Moho surface in the South China Sea Basin and its neighboring areas are obtained by using machine learning method through these data. The results show that the crustal thickness in most of the northern part of the eastern sub-basin of the South China Sea is greater than that in the geologically similar area south of the mid-ocean ridge, showing a north-south asymmetry.