Open AccessNew details on transition zone below western United States
Author(s) -
Balcerak Ernie
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
eos, transactions american geophysical union
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.316
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 2324-9250
pISSN - 0096-3941
DOI - 10.1002/2013eo250007
Subject(s) - transition zone , classification of discontinuities , geology , mantle (geology) , geophysics , seismology , seismic wave , structure of the earth , phase transition , physics , condensed matter physics , mathematical analysis , mathematics
At certain depths in Earth's mantle, increased pressures cause minerals to undergo phase changes, transforming to different crystal structures. Seismic waves change speed at these discontinuities, so analyzing seismic waves at various depths gives scientists information about the structure of the mantle.