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Mega ultra low velocity zone and mantle flow

2013; Elsevier BV; Volume: 364; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.epsl.2012.12.034

1385-013X

M. S. Thorne, Edward J. Garnero, Gunnar Jahnke, Heiner Igel, A. K. McNamara,

earthquake and tectonic studies

Mantle flow in Earth's interior has been inferred from a variety of geo-disciplines. Two continental-scale, nearly antipodal, large low shear velocity provinces (LLSVPs) at the base of the mantle, thought to be dense and chemically distinct likely play a significant role in mantle dynamics and plume generation, and hence are targeted in a high-resolution seismic study. We analyze broadband SPdKS waveforms using a 2.5D axi-symmetric finite difference wave propagation algorithm PSVaxi. Here we find patches of greatly reduced seismic wave speeds at the core–mantle boundary, i.e., ultra-low velocity zones (ULVZs), within the Pacific LLSVP, including the largest ULVZ detected to date, roughly 250×800 km in lateral dimension and 10–15 km thick, in an apparent hole in the LLSVP. The presence of this ULVZ in the LLSVP hole is well explained by dynamically merging, chemically-distinct piles containing ULVZs at their margins. The consequence of these merging piles may be to initiate anomalously large, infrequent plumes, as well as to provide a means to transfer isotopes to the surface.