Receiver function

The receiver function technique is a way to image the structure of the Earth and its internal boundaries by using the information from teleseismic earthquakes recorded at a three-component seismograph.

These phases include: PpPmp PpSmp, PpPms, and PpSms, as well as PsPmp, PsSmp, PsPms and PsSms.

are dominantly recorded on the vertical component of the seismograph, whereas the phases for which the last "leg" is an S-wave (Ps, Pp, Sms, etc.)

[4] The primary method for creating a receiver function is based on analyzing the product of waves that pass from the mantle through the Moho boundary.

[4] The method is also most effective when the seismic event causing the waves occurs significantly below the Moho, which is important to avoid surface interference.

By visual inspection, or more commonly by deconvolution of the two waveforms, it is possible to identify each of the relevant phases of the P wave conversions.

Receiver functions contain detailed information on the average seismic velocities within the crust and on the depth of the Moho at a specific location.

The dipping top surfaces of subducting lithosphere is often sufficiently sharp to generate P-to-S converted phases that can be detected at depths up to 100 km or more.