The topographies of the 410-km and 660-km discontinuities have important implications for mantle dynamics.Here we present high-resolution seismic imaging of the 410-km and 660-km discontinuities beneath the North Chin...The topographies of the 410-km and 660-km discontinuities have important implications for mantle dynamics.Here we present high-resolution seismic imaging of the 410-km and 660-km discontinuities beneath the North China Craton (NCC) employing the receiver function method.Depth anomalies (deeper or shallower than the global average depths) at both discontinuities were detected by introducing a three-dimensional regional velocity model.The depressions of the 410-km discontinuity are mostly located in the eastern NCC.A local elevation of the 660-km discontinuity appeared in the northwest of the NCC and a significant depression of the 660-km discontinuity is located in the southeast of the NCC.Two dynamic mantle regimes are speculated to explain the formation of the anomalous depth zones in the NCC.One possibility is a complex mantle upwelling linked to edge-derived convection between the stagnant slab and the thick cratonic root.The other potential dynamic regime is slab stagnating,sinking,and induced upwelling at the neighboring slab front.These regimes hint that the mantle flow was possibly dominated by dynamic interactions among the subducting slab,cratonic root,and ambient mantle beneath the NCC.展开更多
Recent seismic evidence shows that basalt accumulation is widespread in the mantle transition zone(MTZ),yet its ubiquity or sporadic nature remains uncertain.To investigate this phenomenon further,we characterized the...Recent seismic evidence shows that basalt accumulation is widespread in the mantle transition zone(MTZ),yet its ubiquity or sporadic nature remains uncertain.To investigate this phenomenon further,we characterized the velocity structure across the 660-km discontinuity that separates the upper mantle from the lower mantle beneath the Sea of Okhotsk by modeling the waveform of the S660P phase,a downgoing S wave converting into a P wave at the 660-km interface.These waves were excited by two regional>410-km-deep events and were recorded by stations in central Asia.Our findings showed no need to introduce velocity anomalies at the base of the MTZ to explain the S660P waveforms because the IASP91 model adequately reproduced the waveforms.This finding indicates that the basalt accumulation has not affected the bottom of the MTZ in the study area.Instead,this discontinuity is primarily controlled by temperature or water content variations,or both.Thus,we argue that the basalt accumulation at the base of the MTZ is sporadic,not ubiquitous,reflecting its heterogeneous distribution.展开更多
The 660-km discontinuity that separates the Earth's upper and lower mantle has primarily been attributed to phase changes in olivine and other minerals.Resolving the sharpness is essential for predicting the compo...The 660-km discontinuity that separates the Earth's upper and lower mantle has primarily been attributed to phase changes in olivine and other minerals.Resolving the sharpness is essential for predicting the composition of the mantle and for understanding its dynamic effects.In this study,we used S-to-P conversions from the 660-km interface,termed S660P,arriving in the P-wave coda from one earthquake in the Izu–Bonin subduction zone recorded by stations in Alaska.The S660P signals were of high quality,providing us an unprecedented opportunity to resolve the sharpness of the discontinuity.Our study demonstrated,based on the impedance contrast given by the IASP91 model,that the discontinuity has a transitional thickness of^5 km.In addition,we observed a prominent arrival right after the S660P,which was best explained by S-to-P conversions from a deeper discontinuity at a depth of^720 km with a transitional thickness of^20 km,termed S720P.The 720-km discontinuity is most likely the result of a phase transition from majoritic garnet to perovskite in the segregated oceanic crust(mainly the mid-oceanic ridge basalt composition)at the uppermost lower mantle beneath this area.The inferred phase changes are also consistent with predictions from mineral physics experiments.展开更多
We examined the spatial variation of velocity structures around the 660-kin discontinuity at the western Pacific subduction zones by waveform modeling of triplication data. Data from two deep earthquakes beneath Izu-B...We examined the spatial variation of velocity structures around the 660-kin discontinuity at the western Pacific subduction zones by waveform modeling of triplication data. Data from two deep earthquakes beneath Izu-Bonin and Northeast China are used. Both events were well recorded by a dense broadband seismic network in China （CEArray）. The two events are located at approximately the same distance to the CEArray, yet significant differences are observed in their records： （1） the direct arrivals traveling above the 660-km discontinuity （AB branch） are seen in a different distance extent： -29° for the NE China event, -23° for Izu-Bonin event; （2） the direct （AB） and the refracted waves at the 660-km （CD branch） cross over at 19.5° and 17° for the NE China and the Izu-Bonin event, respectively. The best fitting model for the NE China event has a broad 660-km discontinuity and a constant high velocity layer upon it; while the Izu-Bonin model differs from the standard IASP91 model only with a high velocity layer above the 660-km discontinuity. Variations in velocity models can be roughly explained by subduction geometry.展开更多
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 90814002)Chinese Academy of Sciences
文摘The topographies of the 410-km and 660-km discontinuities have important implications for mantle dynamics.Here we present high-resolution seismic imaging of the 410-km and 660-km discontinuities beneath the North China Craton (NCC) employing the receiver function method.Depth anomalies (deeper or shallower than the global average depths) at both discontinuities were detected by introducing a three-dimensional regional velocity model.The depressions of the 410-km discontinuity are mostly located in the eastern NCC.A local elevation of the 660-km discontinuity appeared in the northwest of the NCC and a significant depression of the 660-km discontinuity is located in the southeast of the NCC.Two dynamic mantle regimes are speculated to explain the formation of the anomalous depth zones in the NCC.One possibility is a complex mantle upwelling linked to edge-derived convection between the stagnant slab and the thick cratonic root.The other potential dynamic regime is slab stagnating,sinking,and induced upwelling at the neighboring slab front.These regimes hint that the mantle flow was possibly dominated by dynamic interactions among the subducting slab,cratonic root,and ambient mantle beneath the NCC.
基金support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.42276049)the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.XDB42020103).
文摘Recent seismic evidence shows that basalt accumulation is widespread in the mantle transition zone(MTZ),yet its ubiquity or sporadic nature remains uncertain.To investigate this phenomenon further,we characterized the velocity structure across the 660-km discontinuity that separates the upper mantle from the lower mantle beneath the Sea of Okhotsk by modeling the waveform of the S660P phase,a downgoing S wave converting into a P wave at the 660-km interface.These waves were excited by two regional>410-km-deep events and were recorded by stations in central Asia.Our findings showed no need to introduce velocity anomalies at the base of the MTZ to explain the S660P waveforms because the IASP91 model adequately reproduced the waveforms.This finding indicates that the basalt accumulation has not affected the bottom of the MTZ in the study area.Instead,this discontinuity is primarily controlled by temperature or water content variations,or both.Thus,we argue that the basalt accumulation at the base of the MTZ is sporadic,not ubiquitous,reflecting its heterogeneous distribution.
基金We are grateful for the thoughtful and constructive comments provided by two anonymous reviewers and the editor(Dr.Wei Leng).We also thank Jinfeng Hu for his contributions to this work at an early stage.Seismic data from the USArray network were accessed via the Data Management Center(DMC)of the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology(IRIS).Some figures were prepared using Generic Mapping Tools(GMT,Wessel and Smith,1999)GNUPLOT.This work was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(grant no.91858205).
文摘The 660-km discontinuity that separates the Earth's upper and lower mantle has primarily been attributed to phase changes in olivine and other minerals.Resolving the sharpness is essential for predicting the composition of the mantle and for understanding its dynamic effects.In this study,we used S-to-P conversions from the 660-km interface,termed S660P,arriving in the P-wave coda from one earthquake in the Izu–Bonin subduction zone recorded by stations in Alaska.The S660P signals were of high quality,providing us an unprecedented opportunity to resolve the sharpness of the discontinuity.Our study demonstrated,based on the impedance contrast given by the IASP91 model,that the discontinuity has a transitional thickness of^5 km.In addition,we observed a prominent arrival right after the S660P,which was best explained by S-to-P conversions from a deeper discontinuity at a depth of^720 km with a transitional thickness of^20 km,termed S720P.The 720-km discontinuity is most likely the result of a phase transition from majoritic garnet to perovskite in the segregated oceanic crust(mainly the mid-oceanic ridge basalt composition)at the uppermost lower mantle beneath this area.The inferred phase changes are also consistent with predictions from mineral physics experiments.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China under grant 40874095 and NSF under grant EAR-063566
文摘We examined the spatial variation of velocity structures around the 660-kin discontinuity at the western Pacific subduction zones by waveform modeling of triplication data. Data from two deep earthquakes beneath Izu-Bonin and Northeast China are used. Both events were well recorded by a dense broadband seismic network in China （CEArray）. The two events are located at approximately the same distance to the CEArray, yet significant differences are observed in their records： （1） the direct arrivals traveling above the 660-km discontinuity （AB branch） are seen in a different distance extent： -29° for the NE China event, -23° for Izu-Bonin event; （2） the direct （AB） and the refracted waves at the 660-km （CD branch） cross over at 19.5° and 17° for the NE China and the Izu-Bonin event, respectively. The best fitting model for the NE China event has a broad 660-km discontinuity and a constant high velocity layer upon it; while the Izu-Bonin model differs from the standard IASP91 model only with a high velocity layer above the 660-km discontinuity. Variations in velocity models can be roughly explained by subduction geometry.
