Lithospheric structure across the central Tien Shan constrained by gravity anomalies and joint inversions of receiver function and Rayleigh wave dispersion

•High-resolution lithospheric structure beneath a seismic profile across the central Tien Shan is defined.•Significant lateral variability in crustal thickness is revealed.•Low Vs in the middle crust and upper mantle beneath the middle Tien Shan are observed.•The results confirm the presence of mafic lowermost crust layer beneath the seismic profile.