Seismic crustal structure beneath Jeju Volcanic Island, South Korea from teleseismicP-receiver functions

Jeju Volcanic Island, South Korea, harbors a complex and extensive residual magma plumbing system beneath its crust, as revealed by seismic analysis. Researchers identified two major seismic discontinuities: one marking the upper boundary of a mid-to-lower crustal low-velocity zone (LVZ) and another defining the Moho transition zone. The LVZ, varying in depth from 8–30 km across the island, suggests magma batches stalled at different levels with diverse crystallization states, correlating with the chemical diversity of Jeju magmas. The Moho transition zone exhibits significant depth variations, shallowest (26–29 km) beneath central Jeju, hinting at possible mafic cumulates or partial melting. This study used teleseismic P-to-S converted phases (receiver functions) from 23 seismic stations to map these structures, providing critical insights into the island's volcanic evolution and crustal heterogeneity.

Kang, H., Kim, Y., Rhie, J., Kang, T.-S., & Brenna, M. (2021). Seismic crustal structure beneath Jeju Volcanic Island, South Korea from teleseismicP-receiver functions. Geophysical Journal International, 227(1), 58–75. https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggab211