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Global observations of reflectors in the mid-mantle with implications for mantle structure and dynamics.

  • Waszek L Department of Physics, New Mexico State University, 1255 North Horseshoe, Las Cruces, NM, 88003, USA. lauren.waszek@cantab.net.
  • Schmerr NC Department of Geology, University of Maryland, 8000 Regents Drive, College Park, MA, 20742, USA.
  • Ballmer MD Institute of Geophysics, ETH Zurich, Sonneggstrasse 5, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland.
  • 2018-01-28
Published in:
  • Nature communications. - 2018
General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
General Physics and Astronomy
General Chemistry
English Seismic tomography indicates that flow is commonly deflected in the mid-mantle. However, without a candidate mineral phase change, causative mechanisms remain controversial. Deflection of flow has been linked to radial changes in viscosity and/or composition, but a lack of global observations precludes comprehensive tests by seismically detectable features. Here we perform a systematic global-scale interrogation of mid-mantle seismic reflectors with lateral size 500-2000 km and depths 800-1300 km. Reflectors are detected globally with variable depth, lateral extent and seismic polarity and identify three distinct seismic domains in the mid-mantle. Near-absence of reflectors in seismically fast regions may relate to dominantly subvertical heterogeneous slab material or small impedance contrasts. Seismically slow thermochemical piles beneath the Pacific generate numerous reflections. Large reflectors at multiple depths within neutral regions possibly signify a compositional or textural transition, potentially linked to long-term slab stagnation. This variety of reflector properties indicates widespread compositional heterogeneity at mid-mantle depths.
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  • English
Open access status
gold
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https://sonar.ch/global/documents/253911
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