Don Helmberger

Complexity of D″ in the presence of slab‐debris and phase changes

[1]xa0A lower mantle S-wave triplication with a Scd branch is easily observed beneath Central American and its lateral variations has been studied extensively. Attempts to model Scd depth variations with a phase boundary based on tomography predict smooth variations [e.g., Sidorin et al., 1999a]. Recently, Hutko et al. [2005] presents evidence of a sharper feature with a vertical step-like jump of over 50 km, for paths sampling the western edge of a fast lower mantle structure beneath the Cocos Plate. We present a similar type of very anomalous Scd waveforms sampling the edge further to the east. We are able to model these waveforms by adopting the phase-boundary model but enhancing the existing tomographic anomaly just above the velocity jump, which appears to be a folded-slab.

Direct measures of lateral velocity variation in the deep Earth

Current tomographic models of the Earth display perturbations to a radial stratified reference model. However, structures in the deep mantle that are chemically dense with low Rayleigh numbers can develop enormous relief, perhaps with boundaries closer to vertical than to radial. Such features are hard to detect with present tomographic modeling techniques because the timing anomalies are based on long-period filtered waveforms with complexity removed. Here we develop a new tool for processing array data on the basis of a decomposition referred to as a multipath detector, which can be used to distinguish between horizontal structure (in-plane multipathing) and vertical (out-of-plane multipathing) directly from processing array waveforms. A lateral gradient coefficient based on this detector provides a direct constraint on the sharpness of the boundaries and material properties. We demonstrate the usefulness of this approach by processing samples of both P and S data from the Kaapvaal array in southern Africa, which are compared with synthetic predictions from a metastable dynamic model containing sharp edges. Both data and simulations produce timing gradients larger than 2 s/deg in azimuthal changes for S waves, where only minor effects are obtained for P waves. These results further validate the case for distinct chemistry inside the African Low Shear Velocity Province.

Seismological support for the metastable superplume model, sharp features, and phase changes within the lower mantle

Recently, a metastable thermal-chemical convection model was proposed to explain the African Superplume. Its bulk tabular shape remains relatively stable while its interior undergoes significant stirring with low-velocity conduits along its edges and down-welling near the middle. Here, we perform a mapping of chemistry and temperature into P and S velocity variations and replace a seismically derived structure with this hybrid model. Synthetic seismogram sections generated for this 2D model are then compared directly with corresponding seismic observations of P (P, PCP, and PKP) and S (S, SCS, and SKS) phases. These results explain the anticorrelation between the bulk velocity and shear velocity and the sharpness and level of SKS travel time delays. In addition, we present evidence for the existence of a D” triplication (a putative phase change) beneath the down-welling structure.

A narrow, mid-mantle plume below southern Africa

New waveform tomographic evidence displays a narrow plume-like feature emitting from the top of the large African low-velocity structure in the lower mantle. A detailed SKS wavefield is assembled for a segment along the structures southern edge by combining multiple events recorded by a seismic array in the Kaapvaal region of southern Africa. With a new processing technique that emphases multi-pathing, we locate a relatively jagged, sloping wall 1000 km high with low velocities near its basal edge. Forward modeling indicates that the plumes diameter is less than 150 km and consistent with an iso-chemical, low-viscosity plume conduit.

Juan de Fuca subduction zone from a mixture of tomography and waveform modeling

Seismic tomography images of the upper mantle structures beneath the Pacific Northwestern United States display a maze of high-velocity anomalies, many of which produce distorted waveforms evident in the USArray observations indicative of the Juan de Fuca (JdF) slab. The inferred location of the slab agrees quite well with existing contour lines defining the slabs upper interface. Synthetic waveforms generated from a recent tomography image fit teleseismic travel times quite well and also some of the waveform distortions. Regional earthquake data, however, require substantial changes to the tomographic velocities. By modeling regional waveforms of the 2008 Nevada earthquake, we find that the uppermost mantle of the 1D reference model AK135, the reference velocity model used for most tomographic studies, is too fast for the western United States. Here, we replace AK135 with mT7, a modification of an older Basin-and-Range model T7. We present two hybrid velocity structures satisfying the waveform data based on modified tomographic images and conventional slab wisdom. We derive P and SH velocity structures down to 660 km along two cross sections through the JdF slab. Our results indicate that the JdF slab is subducted to a depth of 250 km beneath the Seattle region, and terminates at a shallower depth beneath Portland region of Oregon to the south. The slab is about 60 km thick and has a P velocity increase of 5% with respect to mT7. In order to fit waveform complexities of teleseismic Gulf of Mexico and South American events, a slab-like high-velocity anomaly with velocity increases of 3% for P and 7% for SH is inferred just above the 660 discontinuity beneath Nevada.

Lower mantle tomography and phase change mapping

A lower mantle S wave triplication (Scd) has been recognized for many years and appears to be explained by the recently discovered perovskite (PV) to postperovskite (PPV) phase change. Seismic observations of Scd display (1) rapid changes in strength and timing relative to S and ScS and (2) early arrivals beneath fast lower mantle regions. While the latter feature can be explained by a Clapeyron slope (λ) of 6 MPa/K and a velocity jump of 1.5% when corrected by tomographic predictions, it does not explain the first feature. Here, we expand on this mapping approach by attempting a new parameterization that requires a sample of D near the ScS bounce point (δ VS) where the phase height (hph) and velocity jump (β) are functions of (δ VS). These parameters are determined by modeling dense record sections collected from USArray and PASSCAL data where Grands tomographic model is the most detailed in D structure beneath Central America. We also address the range of λ to generate new global models of the phase boundary and associated temperature variation. We conclude that a λ near 9 MPa/K is most satisfactory but requires β to be nonuniform with a range from about 1.0 to 4.0% with some slow region samples requiring the largest values. Moreover, the edges of the supposed buckled slabs delimitated by both P and S waves display very rapid changes in phase boundary heights producing Scd multipathing. These features can explain the unstable nature of the Scd phase with easy detection to no detection commonly observed. The fine structure at the base of the mantle beneath these edges contains particularly strong reflections indicative of local ultralow velocity zones, which are predicted in some dynamic models.

Evidence for a chemical-thermal structure at base of mantle from sharp lateral P-wave variations beneath Central America

Compressional waves that sample the lowermost mantle west of Central America show a rapid change in travel times of up to 4 s over a sampling distance of 300 km and a change in waveforms. The differential travel times of the PKP waves (which traverse Earths core) correlate remarkably well with predictions for S-wave tomography. Our modeling suggests a sharp transition in the lowermost mantle from a broad slow region to a broad fast region with a narrow zone of slowest anomaly next to the boundary beneath the Cocos Plate and the Caribbean Plate. The structure may be the result of ponding of ancient subducted Farallon slabs situated near the edge of a thermal and chemical upwelling.

Lower Mantle Substructure Embedded in the Farallon Plate: The Hess Conjugate

The morphologies of subducted remnants in the lower mantle are essential to our understanding of the history of plate tectonism. Here we image a high-velocity slab-like (HVSL) anomaly beneath the southeastern U.S. using waveforms from five deep earthquakes beneath South America recorded by the USArray. In addition to travel time anomalies, the multipathing of S and ScS phases at different distances are used to constrain the HVSL model. We jointly invert S and ScS traveltimes, amplitudes, and waveform complexities to produce a best fitting block model characterized by a rectangular shape with a 2.5% S wave velocity increase and tapered edges. While the Farallon slab is expected to dip primarily eastward, the HVSL structure apparently dips 40° to 50° to the SE and appears to be related to the eclogitized Hess conjugate.