UBC Theses and Dissertations

UBC Theses Logo

UBC Theses and Dissertations

A refraction survey across the Canadian cordillera Forsyth, David A.G.

Abstract

Record sections from partially reversed refraction lines in northern British Columbia show that the amplitudes of upper mantle arrivals vary smoothly with distance. The pattern of crustal arrival amplitudes is not smooth. Normalization of the seismograms to remove the amplification caused by shot size and instrument response show the effects of recording sites on Pn amplitudes are minimal. Models derived from ray theory indicate a crust which thins from about 40 km in the Omineca Crystalline Belt to about 25 km in the Insular Trough. The average Pn velocity is 8.06 km/s. The average crustal velocity is 6.4 km/s. The secondary energy would indicate the models are greatly simplified. A time-term profile between the Omineca Crystalline Belt and the Coast Mountains suggests a Mohorovicic transition which is characterized by two significant topographic wavelengths. The shorter (200 km) wavelength correlates roughly with the Cordilleran structural elements of Wheeler et al. (1972). The larger (800 km) wavelength may have tectonic significance.

Item Media

Item Citations and Data

Rights

For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.