The crustal and uppermost mantle dynamics of the Tengchong–Baoshan region revealed by P-wave velocity and azimuthal anisotropic tomography

Abstract

SUMMARY The Tengchong–Baoshan region (TBR) is located at the margin of the southeastern Tibetan Plateau (SETP) and is subject to the complex interaction among multiple tectonic blocks. Therefore, the TBR is approximate for investigating the mechanism responsible for the interaction among the SETP and its surrounding blocks. Based on eikonal equation-based seismic tomography, we obtain high-resolution P-wave velocity and azimuthal anisotropy at depths of 0–40 km beneath the TBR. We discover a large magma reservoir (with horizontal scale of ∼50 km and vertical scale of ∼15 km) in the middle-lower crust beneath the Tengchong volcanic zone, which is directly fed by hot materials from the uppermost mantle. We also detect a shallow magma chamber in the uppermost crust above the large reservoir. These magma reservoirs at different depths constitute a multiscale magma system. Furthermore, we observe a low-velocity belt beneath the Weixi–Qiaohou–Weishan and Nantinghe faults and postulate that it corresponds to lower crustal flow and hot mantle upwelling. Additionally, we infer that two M > 7.0 earthquakes that have occurred in Baoshan block nucleated in the transition zone between low- and high-velocity anomalies. Based on the azimuthal anisotropy tomography results, we consider that incoherent deformation in the crust causes the uneven accumulation of stress, which facilitated the occurrence of these two events. The 2021 Ms 6.4 Yangbi earthquake also occurred in the transition zone between low- and high-velocity anomalies. Based on the P-wave velocity tomography results, we suggest that hot material decreases the fault strength and leads to the instability of the fault.