Uncertainty Quantification in Radial Anisotropy Models Based on Transdimensional Bayesian Inversion of Receiver Functions and Surface-Wave Dispersion: Case Study Sri Lanka

ABSTRACT In geophysical inference problems, quantification of data uncertainties is required to balance the data-fitting ability of the model and its complexity. The transdimensional hierarchical Bayesian approach is a powerful tool to evaluate the level of uncertainty and determine the complexity of the model by treating data errors and model dimensions as unknown. In this article, we take account of the uncertainty through the whole procedure, thus developing a two-step fully Bayesian approach with coupled uncertainty propagation to estimate the crustal isotropic and radial anisotropy (RA) model based on Rayleigh and Love dispersion as well as receiver functions (RFs). First, 2D surface-wave tomography is applied to determine period-wise ambient noise phase velocity maps and their uncertainty for Rayleigh and Love waves. Probabilistic profiles of the isotropic average VS and RA as a function of depth are then derived at station sites by inverting the local surface-wave dispersion and model errors and RFs jointly. The workflow is applied to a temporary seismic broadband array covering all of Sri Lanka. The probabilistic results enable us to effectively quantify the uncertainty of the final RA model and provide robust inferences. The shear-wave velocity results show that the range of Moho depths is between 30 and 40 km, with the thickest crust (38–40 km) beneath the central Highland Complex. Positive RA (VSH>VSV) observed in the upper crust is attributed to subhorizontal alignment of metamorphic foliation and stretched layers resulting from deformation. Negative RA (VSV>VSH) in the midcrust of central Sri Lanka may indicate the existence of melt inclusions and could result from the uplift and folding process. The positive RA in the lower crust could be caused by crustal channel flow in a collision orogeny.