Abstract:

In this article, we review the development of seismic tomography theory in the past 30 years. We analyze the existing problems of this method and propose some ways to resolve them. Then we summarize and discuss the research results in China obtained by using seismic tomography in the following topics: structure heterogeneity of the crust and mantle; deep structural environment affecting the generation of large earthquakes; deep structure and origin of active volcanoes; seismic structure of the orogenic belts and the platecollision zones. The studies so far indicate that highresolution images of the Earths interior structure obtained by using seismic tomography have provided crucial scientific foundation for improving our understanding of the evolution of lithosphere, plate motion and interactions, as well as deep structural environment that controls the generation of large earthquake and the formation of active volcanoes.

Key words:

 seismic tomography; traveltimes of bodywave; velocity structure of crust and mantle