z-logo
Premium
Comparing P and S wave heterogeneity in the mantle
Author(s) -
Saltzer R. L.,
Hilst R. D.,
Kárason H.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2000gl012339
Subject(s) - subduction , mantle (geology) , geology , slab , mantle convection , seismology , geophysics , hotspot (geology) , mantle wedge , seismic tomography , tectonics
From the reprocessed data set of Engdahl and co‐workers we have carefully selected matching P and S data for tomographic imaging. We assess data and model error and conclude that our S model uncertainty is twice that of the P model. We account for this in our comparison of the perturbations in P and S‐wavespeed. In accord with previous studies we find that P and S perturbations are positively correlated at all depths. However, in the deep mantle systematic differences occur between regions that have undergone subduction in the last 120 million years and those that have not. In particular, below 1500 km depth ∂ln V s /∂ln V p is significantly larger in mantle regions away from subduction than in mantle beneath convergent margins. This inference is substantiated by wavespeed analyses with random realizations of the slab/non‐slab distribution. Through much of the mantle there is no significant correlation between bulk sound and S‐wave perturbations, but they appear to be negatively correlated between 1700 and 2100 km depth, which is also where the largest differences in ∂ln V s /∂ln V p occur. This finding supports convection models with compositional heterogeneity in the lowermost mantle.

This content is not available in your region!

Continue researching here.

Having issues? You can contact us here