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SS ‐wave sensitivity to upper mantle structure: Implications for the mapping of transition zone discontinuity topographies
Author(s) -
Zhao Li,
Chevrot Sébastien
Publication year - 2003
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 - 10.1029/2003gl017223
Subject(s) - classification of discontinuities , discontinuity (linguistics) , geology , transition zone , geophysics , mantle (geology) , differential (mechanical device) , geodesy , seismology , physics , mathematical analysis , mathematics , thermodynamics
Studies of the depths of the upper mantle discontinuities have relied on the differential travel times between the SS wave and its precursors. We examine the effect of velocity heterogeneities on these differential travel time data. Ray‐theory, which is used to correct these data for the effect of velocity heterogeneities, is shown to be inaccurate if the characteristic heterogeneity length scales are similar to those seen in regional models or if the station is near the SS wave radiation nodal plane.