Imaging a relic of complex tectonics: the lithosphere-asthensphere structure in the Eastern Mediterranean

The crust and upper mantle structure of the Eastern Mediter- ranean is investigated through the nonlinear inversion of Raleigh wave dispersion curves extracted from broadband records in the region along two profiles crossing the Hellenic and Cyprian arcs. Corresponding density models are con- structed, consistent with the observed gravity anomalies. The modelled profiles exhibit a continental crust type overlain by a thick sedimentary cover and underlain by a thick lithospheric mantle. The lithosphere-asthenosphere system exhibits fea- tures, which suggest the presence of upducted asthenosphere exhumed to the north of the Hellenic arc, where the slab extension is limited to depths of about 220 km.