Roisenberg, Henrique BergerMagrini, FabrizioMolinari, IreneBoschi, LapoCammarano, Fabio2025-06-122025-06-122045-2322PubMed:39587266ORCID:/0000-0003-2417-2686/work/177977238http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85210081220&partnerID=8YFLogxKhttps://hdl.handle.net/1885/733759959We use seismic ambient noise data from 724 publicly available broadband seismic stations across central Europe to create detailed phase velocity and attenuation maps of Rayleigh waves, focusing on short periods down to 3 s. We interpret these maps in terms of the underlying physical processes relevant to the nature of continental crust. Through a regionalized interpretation based on tectonic settings, we highlight the significant role of fluid-filled fractures in the attenuation of surface waves. Our findings indicate a close connection between the time elapsed since the last tectonic activity in the European crust and the attenuation coefficient values. Additionally, we observe a pronounced decrease in attenuation coefficient values at periods below 6 s. The anti-correlation between attenuation coefficient and phase velocity in recently active tectonic regions suggests that fluid-filled fractures are likely the dominant factor governing seismic attenuation in the European crust.H.R. and F.C acknowledge the Grant of Excellence Departments, MIUR-Italy (ARTICOLO 1, COMMI 314-337 LEGGE 232/2016). I.M. carried out this work within the project INGV Pianeta Dinamico 2023-2025 (grant no. CUP D53J19000170001) supported by the Italian Ministry of University and Research (\u201CFondo finalizzato al rilancio degli investimenti delle amministrazioni centrali dello Stato e allo sviluppo del Paese, legge 145/2018\u201D) - Project MT_ADRIABRIDGE.9enPublisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2024.European crustRayleigh wave attenuationSeismic tomography202410.1038/s41598-024-80729-z85210081220