Lithospheric temperature estimates from seismic attenuation across range fronts in southern and central Eurasia

Research Article| May 01, 1999 Lithospheric temperature estimates from seismic attenuation across range fronts in southern and central Eurasia Golam Sarker; Golam Sarker 1Department of Geology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geoffrey A. Abers Geoffrey A. Abers 1Department of Geology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Golam Sarker 1Department of Geology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, USA Geoffrey A. Abers 1Department of Geology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1999) 27 (5): 427–430. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1999)027<0427:LTEFSA>2.3.CO;2 Article history First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Golam Sarker, Geoffrey A. Abers; Lithospheric temperature estimates from seismic attenuation across range fronts in southern and central Eurasia. Geology 1999;; 27 (5): 427–430. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1999)027<0427:LTEFSA>2.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Seismic attenuation (1/Q) changes abruptly between the stable Eurasian craton and adjacent mountain belts associated with the Alpine-Himalayan collision. New attenuation measurements on local body and coda waves provide quantitative constraints on this contrast, near the Caucasus, Kopet Dagh, and Tien Shan mountains. The 1/Q estimates from all range fronts are similar, the mountains being two to three times more attenuative than adjacent stable platforms. These 1/Q variations are a reasonable proxy for temperature variations, and reveal crustal heating on the order of 100 °C but probably not melting beneath the mountain ranges. Attenuation (1/Q) is high wherever high topography is seen, implying that active mountains are typically hot. Hence, processes that generate or transport heat dominate advective cooling due to lithospheric thickening, even over the 10–20 m.y. lifetimes of these young mountain belts. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.