Abstract:
Seismic wave propagation exhibits traveltime reciprocity; thus, the traveltime remains unchanged when the positions of the source and receiver are interchanged. This study proposes a traveltime reciprocity tomography method designed for regions without or with sparse seismic station coverage. Moreover, the method utilizes traveltime data recorded at distant seismic stations, combined with theoretical propagation paths and traveltime estimations, to invert the crust–mantle velocity structure within and around the earthquake source region. We selected 40 earthquakes and 121 seismic stations within a
3000-km radius in the Pamir Plateau region to perform traveltime reciprocity tomography inversion. The impacts of different traveltime estimation approaches and variations in the study area boundaries were evaluated. Furthermore, the traveltime reciprocity tomography results were compared with those obtained from traditional local earthquake tomography to verify the accuracy and reliability of the inversion. The tests demonstrated that velocity structure features derived from different estimation methods are highly consistent. In addition, major structural units can be recovered under varying study area boundaries, indicating strong regional adaptability. Compared with traditional local earthquake tomography, the traveltime reciprocity tomography produced reliable inversion results. In addition, it yielded a slightly broader crust–mantle structural image extending beyond the source region, making it suitable for seismic source zones that lack station coverage or have limited observational conditions. This study provides a practical and feasible alternative approach for deep structure imaging, with promising potential for practical applications and broader dissemination.