Estimating a continuous Moho surface for the California Unified Velocity Model

Carl H. Tape, Andreas Plesch, John H. Shaw, & Hersh Gilbert

Published 2012, SCEC Contribution #1534

The objective of this paper is to estimate a detailed Moho surface, from all available data, for onshore and offshore California; currently, no such map exists. Our motivation is to obtain a continuous, smooth surface that can be implemented within 3D structural models that are used for simulations of seismic-wave propagation, such as the California Community Velocity Model (CVM-H) of the Southern California Earthquake Center. We first document the available datasets for estimating the Moho surface in California and its adjacent regions; we refer to this surface as the California Moho Model version 1.0 (CMM-1.0). We then describe the least-squares estimation problem of using spherical wavelets to estimate a continuous surface from the discrete data points, and we also discuss the implementation of the surface within CVM-H. We also discuss relevant codes and plotting tools for utilizing the model, and the plans for future updates to the Moho surface model.

Citation
Tape, C. H., Plesch, A., Shaw, J. H., & Gilbert, H. (2012). Estimating a continuous Moho surface for the California Unified Velocity Model. Seismological Research Letters, 83(4), 728-735. doi: 10.1785/0220110118.