Continental Crustal Structure of Northern Morocco from Teleseismic Receiver Functions:Insights into Structural Variations and Compositional Properties

Summary Northern Morocco lies at the westernmost edge of the Mediterranean, near the African-Eurasian plate boundary, where compressional and extensional processes linked to the Alpine orogeny have shaped its lithosphere. This study investigates the crustal structure and seismic properties of northern Morocco using teleseismic P-wave receiver functions (PRFs). By analyzing high-quality broadband seismic data, we refine estimates of seismic discontinuities, such as crustal thickness, composition, and velocity contrasts, to better understand mineral composition and regional seismotectonics. Receiver functions were extracted by deconvolving the vertical component of teleseismic waveforms from the radial or tangential components to isolate signals from subsurface discontinuities. Our analysis reveals Moho depth variations ranging from 22.7 km in the east to 51.7 km in the west, indicating a transition from mafic to felsic compositions. These findings suggest a heterogeneous lithospheric evolution influenced by mantle-crust interactions. This study provides new constraints on northern Morocco’s crustal architecture and its geodynamic evolution. The observed variations in Moho depth and Vp/Vs ratios contribute to a better understanding of regional tectonic processes and have significant implications for future geophysical studies in the Western Mediterranean.