Application of teleseismic receiver functions and gravity for Moho depth mapping: a case study of the Western Himalayas

In order to determine the thickness of the crust, this study offers the coherently stacked P-wave receiver functions and Bouguer anomaly mapping of the Western Himalayas (longitude 71–74E and latitude 31–34N). Gravity data is taken from Topex, which is in the public domain and is open for research, whereas the information utilized for the P-wave receiver function is taken from the local seismic network of Pakistan. By coherently stacking the Ps, PpPs, PpSs + PsPs phases of 15 seismic stations, it is possible to determine the crust thickness and average crust Vp/Vs ratio at each station in the network. The events selected for this study were those with magnitudes ≥ 6 and epicentral distances of 300 to 950. Data were gathered from 2012 to 2019. The Moho depth beneath the broadband seismic stations employed for the study varies significantly. Moho depths range from 36 km in the south to an average of 46 km in the middle and 52 km in the study area’s northernmost seismic station. In the research area, the crust generally dips from south to north. Residual calculation of Bouguer anomaly data was also performed in order to validate this inferred argument of moho-depth variation from the P-Wave receiver function. These gravity residuals from the investigated area’s anomalous data ranging from − 89 to 193 mGal have shown a promising association and supported the theory of crustal dipping put forth by the P-wave function from the seismic network. The tendency supports the theory that the collision of the Indian and Asian plates is what is causing the thickening and shortening of the crust.