3-D P-wave Velocity Structure in Western Greece Determined from Tomography Using Earthquake Data Recorded at the University of Patras Seismic Network (PATNET)

The 3-D P-wave velocity structure of the upper crust in the region of western Greece is investigated by inversion of about 1500 residuals of P-wave arrival times from local earthquake data recorded in the year 1996 by the newly established University of Patras Seismic Network (PATNET). The resulting velocity structure shows strong horizontal variations due to the complicated structure and the variation of crustal thickness. Relatively low-velocity contours are observed in the area defined by Cephallonia—Zakynthos Islands and northwestern Peloponnesos. This is in addition to some well localized peaks of relatively higher values of P-wave velocity may be related to the zone of Triassic evaporites in the region and correspond to diapirism that breaks through to the uppermost layer. Finally, a low P-velocity ‘deeping’ zone extending from Zakynthos to the Gulf of Patras is correlated with Bouguer anomaly map and onshore and offshore borehole drillings which indicate that thick sediments overly the evaporites which exist there at depth greater than 2 km.