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1.
Summary. Lateral heterogeneity exists in the Earth's mantle, and may result in seismic velocity anomalies up to several per cent. If convection cells and plumes extend down to the core, then these features may be associated with local inhomogeneities observed in the lower mantle.
Published data for direct and core-reflected P -wave residuals are used to delineate velocity anomalies in the middle—lower mantle under the North Atlantic. Differential ( PcP — P ) residuals indicate travel-time anomalies near the core—mantle transition, and may be due to core topography or lateral variations in velocity. It is assumed that the anomalies occur near the midpoints of the ray paths. The main source of error in the data set may arise from phases which have been identified incorrectly. Hence trend-surfaces are fitted to the residual data to show only the large-scale trends in anomaly values, with wavelengths of the order of 1000 km.
The Azores and Colorado hot spots occur in a region covered by the data. A possible interpretation of the trend maps is that an anomalous zone extends from a relatively fast region at the core boundary at 35° N, 50° W up to these hot spots, at about 30 degrees from the vertical. This may agree with the suggestion of Anderson that plumes are chemical rather than thermal in origin. If inclined plumes do exist, the deviation from the ideal vertical plume or convection cell boundary may imply that lateral shear or other distortion effects exist in the mantle.  相似文献   

2.
Burgess  & Moresi 《Basin Research》1999,11(4):305-314
Dynamic topography formed over subducting oceanic lithosphere has been proposed as a mechanism to explain certain otherwise anomalous long-wavelength patterns of subsidence inferred from ancient strata. Forward modelling of mantle flow in response to a subducting slab predicts amplitudes and distributions of dynamic topography that may occur due to various subducting slab geometries and histories. Plotting calculated dynamic topographies at a point against time produces tectonic subsidence curves. These subsidence curves show features such as evolution from convex to concave shape, amplitudes up to ~2000 m, subsidence rates up to ~220 m Myr−1, and a general decrease in subsidence amplitude away from the subduction zone, over a distance of ~2000 km. On many convergent continental margins, dynamic topography is likely to be superimposed on other subsidence mechanisms. In back-arc basins, subsidence due to dynamic topography should be distinguishable from that due to extensional tectonics based simply on the temporal subsidence evolution expressed in the subsidence curve shapes. In a foreland basin setting, comparing dynamic topography models with forward models of flexural loading suggest the two processes can generate similar temporal subsidence patterns, but that dynamic topography causes subsidence over significantly greater wavelengths. Matches between calculated subsidence due to dynamic topography and backstripped subsidence patterns from Upper Cretaceous strata of the Western Interior Basin, USA, support the hypothesis that a long-wavelength 'background subsidence' was caused by dynamic topography.  相似文献   

3.
We measure the degree of consistency between published models of azimuthal seismic anisotropy from surface waves, focusing on Rayleigh wave phase-velocity models. Some models agree up to wavelengths of ∼2000 km, albeit at small values of linear correlation coefficients. Others are, however, not well correlated at all, also with regard to isotropic structure. This points to differences in the underlying data sets and inversion strategies, particularly the relative 'damping' of mapped isotropic versus anisotropic anomalies. Yet, there is more agreement between published models than commonly held, encouraging further analysis. Employing a generalized spherical harmonic representation, we analyse power spectra of orientational (2Ψ) anisotropic heterogeneity from seismology. We find that the anisotropic component of some models is characterized by stronger short-wavelength power than the associated isotropic structure. This spectral signal is consistent with predictions from new geodynamic models, based on olivine texturing in mantle flow. The flow models are also successful in predicting some of the seismologically mapped patterns. We substantiate earlier findings that flow computations significantly outperform models of fast azimuths based on absolute plate velocities. Moreover, further evidence for the importance of active upwellings and downwellings as inferred from seismic tomography is presented. Deterministic estimates of expected anisotropic structure based on mantle flow computations such as ours can help guide future seismologic inversions, particularly in oceanic plate regions. We propose to consider such a priori information when addressing open questions about the averaging properties and resolution of surface and body wave based estimates of anisotropy.  相似文献   

4.
summary . A formulation is given for the seismic-wave scattering by a rough solid—liquid interface, in analogy to results derived for a solid—solid interface and a heterogeneous volume. Using Kennett's approach and the reciprocity theorem, the scattering is formulated as the excitation by an equivalent dislocation. Using interface parameters relevant to the core—mantle boundary (CMB), computational results for several types of body-wave scattering are given and compared to scattering by a heterogeneous volume. In an application to the generation of PKP precursors it is concluded that, whereas some data groups point to heterogeneity (which may not be small) in the lower mantle above CMB, in other cases a rough CMB may be considered equally feasible. Scattering at the source or receiver side of the core by both a slightly rough CMB (radial variations up to a few hundred metres) and a slightly heterogeneous lower mantle (relative variations in physical parameters up to a few per cent) produces the energy level that is observed in most of the PKP precursors; also the relevant scale lengths of variation are about the same ie both mechanisms (10–20 km with possibly somewhat higher values at relatively long epicentral distances).  相似文献   

5.
Long-period geomagnetic data can resolve large-scale 3-D mantle electrical conductivity heterogeneities which are indicators of physiochemical variations found in the Earth's dynamic mantle. A prerequisite for mapping such heterogeneity is the ability to model accurately electromagnetic induction in a heterogeneous sphere. A previously developed finite element method solution to the geomagnetic induction problem is validated against an analytic solution for a fully 3-D geometry: an off-axis spherical inclusion embedded in a uniform sphere. Geomagnetic induction is then modelled in a uniform spherical mantle overlain by a realistic distribution of oceanic and continental conductances. Our results indicate that the contrast in electrical conductivity between oceans and continents is not primarily responsible for the observed geographic variability of long-period geomagnetic data. In the absence of persistent high-wavenumber magnetospheric disturbances, this argues strongly for the existence of large-scale, high-contrast electrical conductivity heterogeneities in the mid-mantle. Lastly, for several periods the geomagnetic anomaly associated with a mid-mantle spherical inclusion is calculated. A high-contrast inclusion can be readily detected beneath the outer shell of oceans and continents. A comparison between observed and computed c responses suggests that the mid-mantle contains more than one order of magnitude of lateral variability in electrical conductivity, while the upper mantle contains at least two orders of magnitude of lateral variability in electrical conductivity.  相似文献   

6.
Post-glacial rebound and transient lower mantle rheology   总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1  
Summary. Although post-glacial rebound data have been conventionally interpreted as being governed by the steady state component of the mantle viscosity spectrum, the radial profile of this parameter, which is then inferred by fitting a model to observations, is characterized by the fact that it exhibits rather slight variation with depth. This disagrees with expectations based upon microphysical models of the solid state creep process. It also disagrees with very recent inferences of the viscosity stratification based on isostatic geoid anomalies expected on the basis of the internal lateral heterogeneity of mantle density obtained from seismic tomographic analyses. The new calculations of the signatures of post-glacial rebound reported here show that these two types of information are easily reconciled if the previously inferred value of the lower mantle viscosity is interpreted as a transient value, as originally suggested by Weertman on the basis of qualitative considerations. In these new models considered here the steady state creep resistance of the lower mantle is not constrained at all by post-glacial rebound observations. It can be fixed only by an appeal to other geophysical data. Whether such models are actually required by the data should become clear in the very near future.  相似文献   

7.
Seismic imaging of the laterally varying D" region beneath the Cocos Plate   总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1  
We use an axisymmetric, spherical Earth finite difference algorithm to model SH -wave propagation through cross-sections of laterally varying lower mantle models beneath the Cocos Plate derived from recent data analyses. Synthetic seismograms with dominant periods as short as 4 s are computed for several models: (1) a D" reflector 264 km above the core–mantle boundary with laterally varying S -wave velocity increases of 0.9–2.6 per cent, based on localized structures from a 1-D double-array stacking method; (2) an undulating D" reflector with large topography and uniform velocity increase obtained using a 3-D migration method and (3) cross-sections through the 3-D mantle S -wave velocity tomography model TXBW. We apply double-array stacking to assess model predictions of data. Of the models explored, the S -wave tomography model TXBW displays the best overall agreement with data. The undulating reflector produces a double Scd arrival that may be useful in future studies for distinguishing between D" volumetric heterogeneity and D" discontinuity topography. Synthetics for the laterally varying models show waveform variability not observed in 1-D model predictions. It is challenging to predict 3-D structure based on localized 1-D models when lateral structural variations are on the order of a few wavelengths of the energy used, particularly for the grazing geometry of our data. Iterative approaches of computing synthetic seismograms and adjusting model characteristics by considering path integral effects are necessary to accurately model fine-scale D" structure.  相似文献   

8.
Summary. An approximate analytical solution for flow in a mantle plume of constant radius, viscosity, and density contrast is obtained in cylindrical coordinates. the differential equations for vertical velocity of the mantle surrounding the plume and for topography are homologous to the equation for flexure of an elastic plate. Although the model is too simple to be fully applicable to the Earth, one can conclude that the vertical velocity in the mantle changes significantly away from plumes, that the viscosity of the plume is important for controlling flow rate, and that the long-wavelength geoid anomalies are sensitive to the viscosity of the surrounding mantle. the first induced upwelling away from a plume is quite weak and unlikely to control the spacing of plumes.  相似文献   

9.
A spectral method is employed to study the response to surface loads of a Maxwell earth including lateral viscosity variations. In particular, we focus on the effects of lithospheric cratons on the long-wavelength time-dependent displacement field for simple earth models. The viscosity contrast of the craton with respect to the surrounding mantle is kept fixed, whereas its thickness is allowed to vary. We show that the long-wavelength vertical displacement is not greatly affected by the presence of a lithospheric craton, while the tangential displacement is severely modified for the case of a homogeneous mantle. With increasing harmonic degree and thickness of the craton, the load-deformation coefficients deviate from those pertaining to a homogeneous mantle with a viscosity of 1021 Pa s. These deviations are particularly enhanced on timescales larger than a few hundred years. These findings indicate that the interpretation of the viscosity structure of the mantle inferred from postglacial rebound signatures based on radially stratified models is affected by the presence of lateral viscosity variations.  相似文献   

10.
Spatial variance is an important characteristic of spatial random variables. It describes local deviations from average global conditions and is thus a proxy for spatial heterogeneity. Investigating instability in spatial variance is a useful way of detecting spatial boundaries, analysing the internal structure of spatial clusters and revealing simultaneously acting geographic phenomena. Recently, a corresponding test statistic called ‘Local Spatial Heteroscedasticity’ (LOSH) has been proposed. This test allows locally heterogeneous regions to be mapped and investigated by comparing them with the global average mean deviation in a data set. While this test is useful in stationary conditions, its value is limited in a global heterogeneous state. There is a risk that local structures might be overlooked and wrong inferences drawn. In this paper, we introduce a test that takes account of global spatial heterogeneity in assessing local spatial effects. The proposed measure, which we call ‘Local Spatial Dispersion’ (LSD), adapts LOSH to local conditions by omitting global information beyond the range of the local neighbourhood and by keeping the related inferential procedure at a local level. Thereby, the local neighbourhoods might be small and cause small-sample issues. In the view of this, we recommend an empirical Bayesian technique to increase the data that is available for resampling by employing empirical prior knowledge. The usefulness of this approach is demonstrated by applying it to a Light Detection and Ranging-derived data set with height differences and by making a comparison with LOSH. Our results show that LSD is uncorrelated with non-spatial variance as well as local spatial autocorrelation. It thus discloses patterns that would be missed by LOSH or indicators of spatial autocorrelation. Furthermore, the empirical outcomes suggest that interpreting LOSH and LSD together is of greater value than interpreting each of the measures individually. In the given example, local interactions can be statistically detected between variance and spatial patterns in the presence of global structuring, and thus reveal details that might otherwise be overlooked.  相似文献   

11.
Summary. Previous studies, both geomagnetic and seismic, have been unable to show conclusively whether or not there is fluid upwelling at the core-mantle boundary. Here a new method is developed, in which an attempt is made to invert geomagnetic secular variation data measured at the Earth's surface for a frozen-flux purely toroidal core-mantle boundary (CMB) velocity field, under the assumption that the mantle is electrically insulating and flux is frozen in at the CMB. These data have previously been inverted for the core-mantle boundary radial secular variation, from which the appropriate fit between model and data is known. Two different main field models were used to assess the effect of uncertainty in its radial component at the CMB. The conclusions were the same in both cases: frozen-flux purely toroidal motions provide a poor fit. A statistical test allows very firm rejection of the hypothesis that the residuals are not significantly larger, whereas there is no statistical difference between the residuals of inversions for radial secular variation and frozen-flux velocity fields at the CMB if upwelling and down-welling is included. The inherent non-uniqueness in the velocity field obtained is not of concern, since only their statistical properties are utilized and no physical significance is attached to the flows obtained.  相似文献   

12.
The inverse tomography method has been used to study the P - and S -waves velocity structure of the crust and upper mantle underneath Iran. The method, based on the principle of source–receiver reciprocity, allows for tomographic studies of regions with sparse distribution of seismic stations if the region has sufficient seismicity. The arrival times of body waves from earthquakes in the study area as reported in the ISC catalogue (1964–1996) at all available epicentral distances are used for calculation of residual arrival times. Prior to inversion we have relocated hypocentres based on a 1-D spherical earth's model taking into account variable crustal thickness and surface topography. During the inversion seismic sources are further relocated simultaneously with the calculation of velocity perturbations. With a series of synthetic tests we demonstrate the power of the algorithm and the data to reconstruct introduced anomalies using the ray paths of the real data set and taking into account the measurement errors and outliers. The velocity anomalies show that the crust and upper mantle beneath the Iranian Plateau comprises a low velocity domain between the Arabian Plate and the Caspian Block. This is in agreement with global tomographic models, and also tectonic models, in which active Iranian plateau is trapped between the stable Turan plate in the north and the Arabian shield in the south. Our results show clear evidence of the mainly aseismic subduction of the oceanic crust of the Oman Sea underneath the Iranian Plateau. However, along the Zagros suture zone, the subduction pattern is more complex than at Makran where the collision of the two plates is highly seismic.  相似文献   

13.
In contrast to previous work, which treats the Earth's lateral heterogeneity as an infinitesimal perturbation to a spherically symmetrical starting model, we conduct iterative linearized waveform inversion for the Earth's laterally heterogeneous structure. We use the Direct Solution Method (DSM) (Geller et al. 1990a) to calculate synthetic seismograms and their partial derivatives for a laterally heterogeneous earth model. We invert surface-wave data from the IDA and GEOSCOPE networks. We expand the lateral heterogeneity of rigidity in spherical harmonics up to angular order number 8 and use three parameters to specify the depth dependence of each harmonic, giving us a total of 240 unknowns. The short-wavelength lateral heterogeneity (s = 4, 6 and 8) in the deeper part of the upper mantle obtained by this study differs significantly from M84A. The relative improvement in the variance reduction as compared with model M84A is about 20 per cent for the IDA data and more than 100 per cent for the GEOSCOPE data.  相似文献   

14.
Planetary topography can either be modelled as a load supported by the lithosphere, or as a dynamic effect due to lithospheric flexure caused by mantle convection. In both cases the response of the lithosphere to external forces can be calculated with the theory of thin elastic plates or shells. On one-plate planets the spherical geometry of the lithospheric shell plays an important role in the flexure mechanism. So far the equations governing the deformations and stresses of a spherical shell have only been derived under the assumption of a shell of constant thickness. However, local studies of gravity and topography data suggest large variations in the thickness of the lithosphere. In this paper, we obtain the scalar flexure equations governing the deformations of a thin spherical shell with variable thickness or variable Young's modulus. The resulting equations can be solved in succession, except for a system of two simultaneous equations, the solutions of which are the transverse deflection and an associated stress function. In order to include bottom loading generated by mantle convection, we extend the method of stress functions to include loads with a toroidal tangential component. We further show that toroidal tangential displacement always occurs if the shell thickness varies, even in the absence of toroidal loads. We finally prove that the degree-one harmonic components of the transverse deflection and of the toroidal tangential displacement are independent of the elastic properties of the shell and are associated with translational and rotational freedom. While being constrained by the static assumption, degree-one loads can deform the shell and generate stresses. The flexure equations for a shell of variable thickness are useful not only for the prediction of the gravity signal in local admittance studies, but also for the construction of stress maps in tectonic analysis.  相似文献   

15.
A whole mantle SH velocity model is obtained by using a unique data set and techniques. Body and surface waveforms including major and multi-orbit phases are used as a data set and are inverted by using 3-D Born kernels. The resultant model, SH18CE, reveals the different natures of the two major upwelling systems: the strong low velocity anomalies beneath Africa extend for more than 1000 km from the core–mantle boundary (CMB), whereas those beneath the Pacific are restricted to 300–400 km from the CMB. The results also show the variable natures of stagnant slabs on the 670 discontinuity around Japan: the depths of the strongest high velocity anomalies within the stagnant slabs are different region by region, which is consistent with the detailed delay time tomography model in this area.  相似文献   

16.
Global mapping of upper mantle reflectors from long-period SS precursors   总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1  
Long-period precursors to SS resulting from underside reflections off upper mantle discontinuities ( SdS where d is the discontinuity depth) can be used to map the global distribution and depth of these reflectors. We analyse 5,884 long-period seismograms from the Global Digital Seismograph Network (1976-1987, shallow sources, transverse component) in order to identify SdS arrivals. Corrections for velocity dispersion, topography and crustal thickness at the SS bounce point, and lateral variation in mantle velocity are critical for obtaining accurate estimates of discontinuity depths. The 410 and 660 km discontinuities are observed at average depths of 413 and 653 km, and exhibit large-scale coherent patterns of topography with depth variations up to 40 km. These patterns are roughly correlated with recent tomographic models, with fast anomalies in the transition zone associated with highs in the 410 km discontinuity and lows in the 660 km discontinuity, a result consistent with laboratory measurements of Clapeyron slopes for the appropriate phase changes. The best resolved feature in these maps is a trough in the 660 km discontinuity in the northwest Pacific, which appears to be associated with the subduction zones in this region. Amplitude variations in SdS arrivals are not correlated with discontinuity depths and probably result from focusing and defocusing effects along the ray paths. The SdS arrivals suggest the presence of regional reflectors in the upper mantle above 400 km. However, only the strongest of these features are above probable noise levels due to sampling inadequacies.  相似文献   

17.
We incorporate a maximum entropy image reconstruction technique into the process of modelling the time-dependent geomagnetic field at the core–mantle boundary (CMB). In order to deal with unconstrained small lengthscales in the process of inverting the data, some core field models are regularized using a priori quadratic norms in both space and time. This artificial damping leads to the underestimation of power at large wavenumbers, and to a loss of contrast in the reconstructed picture of the field at the CMB. The entropy norm, recently introduced to regularize magnetic field maps, provides models with better contrast, and involves a minimum of a priori information about the field structure. However, this technique was developed to build only snapshots of the magnetic field. Previously described in the spatial domain, we show here how to implement this technique in the spherical harmonic domain, and we extend it to the time-dependent problem where both spatial and temporal regularizations are required. We apply our method to model the field over the interval 1840–1990 from a compilation of historical observations. Applying the maximum entropy method in space—for a fit to the data similar to that obtained with a quadratic regularization—effectively reorganizes the magnetic field lines in order to have a map with better contrast. This is associated with a less rapidly decaying spectrum at large wavenumbers. Applying the maximum entropy method in time permits us to model sharper temporal changes, associated with larger spatial gradients in the secular variation, without producing spurious fluctuations on short timescales. This method avoids the smearing back in time of field features that are not constrained by the data. Perspectives concerning future applications of the method are also discussed.  相似文献   

18.
Summary. Teleseismic P and S arrival times to North American stations are obtained from the ISC bulletins for the 10-yr period 1964–73, and relative travel-time delays are calculated with respect to standard tables. Station anomalies as well as variations of the delays with azimuth and epicentral distance from station are analysed, and the location of the velocity anomalies responsible for them is discussed. Inversion of the P delays to infer upper mantle velocity structure down to a depth of 700 km is obtained using three-dimensional blocks, as proposed by Aki, Christofferson & Husebye. Three layers can be resolved in this depth range. It is found that the heterogeneities responsible for the travel-time delays are primarily located in the first 250 km of the upper mantle, and that they correlate with surface features. Significant heterogeneities subsist to depths of at least 700 km and their broad scale pattern also correlates with the surface features: in the third layer (500 to 700 km depth) there is an increase of velocity from the West to the East of the United States, while the second layer (250 to 450 km depth) exhibits a reversed pattern. A tentative interpretation of these deeper anomalies is made, as being due mainly to topography of the major upper mantle discontinuities, near 400 and 650 km depth.  相似文献   

19.
The ever‐increasing number of spatial data sets accessible through spatial data clearinghouses continues to make geographic information retrieval and spatial data discovery major challenges. Such challenges have been addressed in the discipline of Information Retrieval through ranking of data according to inferred degrees of relevance. Spatial data, however, present an additional challenge as they are characteristically made up of geometry, attribute and, optionally, temporal components. As these components are mutually independent of one another, this paper suggests that they be ranked independently of one another. The representation of the results of the independent ranking of these three components of spatial data suggests that representation of the results of the ranking process requires an alternative approach to currently used textual ranked lists: visualisation of relevance in a three‐dimensional visualisation environment. To illustrate the possible application of such an approach, a prototype browser is presented.  相似文献   

20.
Measured changes in the Earth's length of day on a decadal timescale are usually attributed to the exchange of angular momentum between the solid mantle and fluid core. One of several possible mechanisms for this exchange is electromagnetic coupling between the core and a weakly conducting mantle. This mechanism is included in recent numerical models of the geodynamo. The 'advective torque', associated with the mantle toroidal field produced by flux rearrangement at the core–mantle boundary (CMB), is likely to be an important part of the torque for matching variations in length of day. This can be calculated from a model of the fluid flow at the top of the outer core; however, results have generally shown little correspondence between the observed and calculated torques. There is a formal non-uniqueness in the determination of the flow from measurements of magnetic secular variation, and unfortunately the part of the flow contributing to the torque is precisely that which is not constrained by the data. Thus, the forward modelling approach is unlikely to be useful. Instead, we solve an inverse problem: assuming that mantle conductivity is concentrated in a thin layer at the CMB (perhaps D"), we seek flows that both explain the observed secular variation and generate the observed changes in length of day. We obtain flows that satisfy both constraints and are also almost steady and almost geostrophic, and therefore assert that electromagnetic coupling is capable of explaining the observed changes in length of day.  相似文献   

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