Isotropy or Weak Vertical Transverse Isotropy in D” Under the Atlantic - fig. 2
Isotropy or Weak Vertical Transverse Isotropy in D” Under the Atlantic - fig. 2
Credit:
Edward J. Garnero, Melissa M. Moore, Matthew J. Fouch • Arizona State University; Thorne Lay • University of California, Santa Cruz/IRIS
Description
Shear wave splitting measures made under the assumption of vertical transverse isotropy (SV-SH differential arrival times) for the data set traversing the deep mantle under the Atlantic. Predictions for models with uniform VTI of 0.5% and 1.0% distributed over a 100 or 300 km thick layers are shown.
Shear velocity properties of the D” region below the central Atlantic are explored using GSN, Geoscope, and GEOPHON recordings from Europe and Africa for intermediate and deep-focus earthquakes in South America. Regional shear velocity heterogeneity near the base of the mantle is mapped by analysis of S-SKS differential times corrected for aspherical mantle structure above D”. There is a lateral gradient from faster to slower velocities moving from west to east across the region, with PREM-like average velocities under the central Atlantic. 105 shear wave splitting times are measured, with corrections being applied for lithospheric anisotropy whenever possible. While some of the larger values have SV delayed relative to SH, the majority of data show little evidence for transverse isotropy or azimuthal anisotropy. Assuming vertical transverse isotropy distributed over a 300-km-thick region, as observed under the Caribbean, the magnitude of anisotropy is found to be less than 0.25%.
Garnero, E. J., M. M. Moore, T. Lay and M. J. Fouch, Isotropy or weak vertical transverse isotropy in D” beneath the Atlantic Ocean, J. Geophys. Res., 109, B08308, doi:10.1029/2004JB003004, 2004.
Supported by NSF grants EAR-9996302, and EAR-0125595.
Photographer / Contributor: Edward J. Garnero, Melissa M. Moore, Matthew J. Fouch • Arizona State University; Thorne Lay • University of California, Santa Cruz
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