To systematically investigate seismic azimuthal anisotropy in the Sumatra subduction zone and probe mantle dynamics associated with the subduction of the Australian Plate beneath the Sunda Plate, a total of 169 pairs of teleseismic XKS (including PKS, SKKS, SKS) and 115 pairs of local
In approximately one fourth of worldwide subduction zones, seismic observations indicate a rotation from trench‐normal to trench‐parallel fast axis orientations in the mantle wedge. To interpret this observation we predict the evolution of crystal lattice preferred orientation in mantle wedge material as a function of the amount of water by using a model of polycrystal deformation (D‐Rex) coupled with an analytical corner flow. The resulting seismic signature is obtained from synthetic seismic wave propagation through this mantle wedge. We identify that progressive hydration produces the rotation of fast axis orientations and can generate between the two zones of trench‐parallel and trench‐normal fast axis orientations a morph zone with very small anisotropy and a related decrease in
- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10454987
- Publisher / Repository:
- DOI PREFIX: 10.1029
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Geophysical Research Letters
- Volume:
- 45
- Issue:
- 24
- ISSN:
- 0094-8276
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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Abstract S splitting parameters are obtained using broadband seismic data recorded at ~70 stations. Additionally, crustal anisotropy in the overriding Sunda Plate is measured by analyzing the moveout ofP ‐to‐S conversions from the Moho using a sinusoidal function. Comparison between the three sets of anisotropy measurements obtained using shear waves with different depths of origin suggests that (1) the crust of the Sunda Plate is anisotropic with mostly trench‐parallel fast orientations and a mean splitting time of 0.28 ± 0.05 s; (2) the mantle wedge is azimuthally anisotropic with dominantly trench‐parallel fast orientations and splitting times ranging from 0.22 to 0.81 s, which generally increase with the focal depth; and (3) subslab anisotropy is mostly trench‐normal beneath the fore‐arc region with an averaged splitting time of 1.48 ± 0.06 s, and becomes trench‐parallel beneath the arc and back‐arc areas with a mean splitting time of 0.33 ± 0.04 s. The resulting lateral and vertical distributions of anisotropy obtained using splitting of three types of shear waves advocate the presence of an entrained subslab flow that is deflected by the mantle transition zone. The flow enters the mantle wedge through a slab window and flows horizontally parallel to the trench. -
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