The crustal structure of the Anatolian Plate from receiver functions and implications for the uplift of the central and eastern Anatolian plateaus

SUMMARY Understanding the crustal structure of Anatolian Plate has important implications for its formation and evolution, including extent to which high elevation is maintained isostatically. However, numerous teleseismic receiver function studies from Moho depths have been obtained return results that differ by ≤21 km at some seismograph stations. To address this issue, we determine depth bulk VP/VS ratio (κ) 582 broad-band stations, ∼100 H–κ not reported previously. We use a modified stacking method in final solution selected suite up 1000 repeat measurements, each calculated using randomly functions input parameters. Ten quality control criteria variously assess numerical result, data set, are clustered tightly, used station quality. By refining constraints, identifying 182 analysed previously, where yields unreliable (particularly Eastern Anatolia rapidly uplifting Taurides), our new model (ANATOLIA-HK21) provides fresh insight into topography. Changes within occur on shorter length-scale than sometimes previously assumed. For example, thickness decreases abruptly >40 northern Kirsehir block <32 beneath Central Volcanic Province Tuz Golu basin. increases 30–35 Arabian 35–40 across East Fault Anatolia, support structural geological observations Arabia–Anatolia shortening was accommodated primarily Anatolian, Arabian, Plate. there no consistent changes North Fault, whose development along Intra-Pontide İzmir-Ankara-Erzincan suture zones more likely result contrasts mantle lithospheric, crustal, structure. While crust thins ∼45 below uplifted Plateau ∼25 lower-lying western generally correlated poorly with elevation. Residual topography calculations confirm requirement contribution uplift, localized asthenospheric upwellings response slab break-off and/or lithospheric dripping/delamination example candidate driving mechanisms.