Understanding the 3D geometry of deep urban sedimentary basins is crucial for seismic hazard assessment in tectonically active regions. We applied an integrated framework combining ambient noise, inter-event interferometry, and local earthquake data to construct a high-resolution 3D Vs model of Tehran’s shallow crust. This approach leverages dense city-wide recordings and overcomes resolution limitations of single-method studies, imaging structures to 5 km depth. Our analysis using Rayleigh and Love waves reveals that Tehran basin comprises three distinct, fault-bounded sub-basins with variable depth and rigidity, refining existing low-resolution models. We observe negative radial anisotropy (ξ < 0) in deep depocenters with fine-grained sediments (Vs < 2.0 km/s) in Sub-basin II (Southern Tehran), while positive anisotropy (ξ ≥ 0) characterizes consolidated bedrock near basin margins. Integrated cross-sections confirm asymmetric basin geometry and provide structural evidence that the Pardisan system likely represents segments of deeper blind faults beneath the city. Quality control tests (e.g., Checkerboard, etc.) validate the resolved structures. This multi-source interferometric approach offers a practical framework for subsurface imaging in densely urbanized regions, with direct applications for ground-motion modeling and seismic hazard assessment.
Motavalli-Anbaran et al. (Sun,) studied this question.