Search for: All records

Abstract Mid‐ocean ridges generate basalt and harzburgite, which are introduced into the mantle through subduction as a mechanical mixture, contributing to both lateral and radial compositional heterogeneity. The possible accumulation of basalt in the mantle transition zone has been examined, but details of the mantle composition below the 660‐km discontinuity (hereafter d660) remain poorly constrained. In this study, we utilize the subtle waveform details ofS660S, the underside shear‐wave reflection off the d660, to interpret the seismic velocity, density, and compositional structure near, and particularly below, the d660. We identify a significant difference inS660Swaveform shape in subduction zones compared to other regions. The inversion results reveal globally enriched basalt at the d660, with a notably higher content in subduction zones, consistent with the smaller impedance jump andS660Speak amplitude. The basalt fraction decreases significantly to less than 10% near 800‐km depth, forming a global harzburgite‐enriched layer and resulting in a steep seismic velocity gradient just below the d660, in agreement with 1D global reference models. The striking compositional radial variations near the d660 verify geodynamic predictions and challenge the applicability of homogeneous radial compositional models in the mantle. These variations may also affect the viscosity profile and, consequently, the dynamics at the boundary between the upper and lower mantle. 

Abstract Mid‐lithosphere discontinuities are seismic interfaces likely located within the lithospheric mantle of stable cratons, which typically represent velocities decreasing with depth. The origins of these interfaces are poorly understood due to the difficulties in both characterizing them seismically and reconciling the observations with thermal‐chemical models of cratons. Metasomatism of the cratonic lithosphere has been reported by numerous geochemical and petrological studies worldwide, yet its seismic signature remains elusive. Here, we identify two distinct mid‐lithosphere discontinuities at ∼87 and ∼117 km depth beneath the eastern Wyoming craton and the southwestern Superior craton by analyzing seismic data recorded by two longstanding stations. Our waveform modeling shows that the shallow and deep interfaces represent isotropic velocity drops of 2%–8% and 4%–9%, respectively, depending on the contributions from changes in radial anisotropy and density. By building a thermal‐chemical model including the regional xenolith thermobarometry constraints and the experimental phase‐equilibrium data of mantle metasomatism, we show that the shallow interface probably represents the metasomatic front, below which hydrous minerals such as amphibole and phlogopite are present, whereas the deep interface may be caused by the onset of carbonated partial melting. The hydrous minerals and melts are products of mantle metasomatism, with CO₂‐H₂O‐rich siliceous melt as a probable metasomatic reagent. Our results suggest that mantle metasomatism is probably an important cause of mid‐lithosphere discontinuities worldwide, especially near craton boundaries, where the mantle lithosphere may be intensely metasomatized by fluids and melts released by subducting slabs. 

Abstract Alaska is a tectonically active region with a long history of subduction and terrane accretion, but knowledge of its deep seismic structure is limited by a relatively sparse station distribution. By combining data from the EarthScope Transportable Array and other regional seismic networks, we obtain a high‐resolution state‐wide map of the Moho and upper‐mantle discontinuities beneath Alaska using teleseismic SH‐wave reverberations. Crustal thickness is generally correlated with elevation and the deepest Moho is in the region with basal accretion of the subducted Yakutat plate, consistent with its higher density due to a more mafic composition. The crustal thickness in the Brooks Range agrees with the prediction based on Airy isostasy and the weak free‐air gravity anomaly, suggesting that this region probably does not have significant density anomalies. We also resolve the 410, 520, and 660 discontinuities in most regions, with a thickened mantle transition zone (MTZ) and a normal depth difference between the 520 and 660 discontinuities (d660‐d520) under central Alaska, indicating the presence of the subducted Pacific slab in the upper MTZ. A near‐normal MTZ and a significantly smaller d660‐d520 are resolved under southeastern Alaska, suggesting potential mantle upwelling in the lower MTZ. Beneath the Alaska Peninsula, the thinned MTZ implies that the Pacific slab may not have reached the MTZ in this region, which is also consistent with recent tomography models. Overall, the results demonstrate a bent or segmented Pacific slab with varying depths under central Alaska and the Alaska Peninsula. 

Abstract Seismic noise has been widely used to image Earth's structure in the past decades as a powerful supplement to earthquake signals. Although the seismic noise field contains both surface‐wave and body‐wave components, most previous studies have focused on surface waves due to their large amplitudes. Here, we use array analyses to identify body‐wave noise traveling asPKPwaves. We find that by cross‐correlating the array‐stacked horizontal‐ and vertical‐component data in the time windows containing thePKPnoise signals, we extract a phase likely representingPKS‐PKP, the differential phase betweenPKSandPKP. This phase can potentially be used for shear‐wave‐splitting analysis. Our results also suggest that the sources of body‐wave noise are extremely heterogeneous in both space and time, which should be accounted for in future studies using body‐wave noise to image Earth structure. 

The destructive 2023 moment magnitude ( M w ) 7.8-7.7 earthquake doublet ruptured multiple segments of the East Anatolian Fault system in Turkey. We integrate multi-scale seismic and space-geodetic observations with multi-fault kinematic inversions and dynamic rupture modeling to unravel the events’ complex rupture history and stress-mediated fault interactions. Our analysis reveals three sub-shear slip episodes during the initial M w 7.8 earthquake with delayed rupture initiation to the southwest. The M w 7.7 event occurred 9 hours later with larger slip and supershear rupture on its western branch. Mechanically consistent dynamic models accounting for fault interactions can explain the unexpected rupture paths, and require a heterogeneous background stress. Our results highlight the importance of combining near- and far-field observations with data-driven and physics-based models for seismic hazard assessment.