Source-side shear wave splitting and upper mantle flow in the Chile Ridge subduction region

Geology ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 38 (8) ◽  
pp. 707-710 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.M. Russo ◽  
A. Gallego ◽  
D. Comte ◽  
V.I. Mocanu ◽  
R.E. Murdie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Shear Wave ◽  
Upper Mantle ◽  
Shear Wave Splitting ◽  
Mantle Flow ◽  
Ridge Subduction ◽  
Wave Splitting ◽  
Chile Ridge

Mantle flow under the Central Alps: Constraints from non-vertical-ray SKS shear-wave splittting

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Löberich ◽  
Götz Bokelmann
Keyword(s):  
Shear Wave ◽  
Upper Mantle ◽  
Seismic Anisotropy ◽  
Single Layer ◽  
Depth Resolution ◽  
Shear Wave Splitting ◽  
Mantle Flow ◽  
Central Alps ◽  
Upper Mantle Anisotropy ◽  
Wave Splitting

<p>The association of seismic anisotropy and deformation, as e.g. exploited by shear-wave splitting measurements, provides a unique opportunity to map the orientation of geodynamic processes in the upper mantle and to constraint their nature. However, due to the limited depth-resolution of steeply arriving core-phases, used for shear-wave splitting investigations, it appears difficult to differentiate between asthenospheric and lithospheric origins of observed seismic anisotropy. To change that, we take advantage of the different backazimuthal variations of fast orientation <em>φ</em> and delay time <em>Δt</em>, when considering the non-vertical incidence of phases passing through an olivine block with vertical b-axis as opposed to one with vertical c-axis. Both these alignments can occur depending on the type of deformation, e.g. a sub-horizontal foliation orientation in the case of a simple asthenospheric flow and a sub-vertical foliation when considering vertically-coherent deformation in the lithosphere. In this study we investigate the cause of seismic anisotropy in the Central Alps. Combining high-quality manual shear-wave splitting measurements of three datasets leads to a dense station coverage. Fast orientations <em>φ</em> show a spatially coherent and relatively simple mountain-chain-parallel pattern, likely related to a single-layer case of upper mantle anisotropy. Considering the measurements of the whole study area together, our non-vertical-ray shear-wave splitting procedure points towards a b-up olivine situation and thus favors an asthenospheric anisotropy source, with a horizontal flow plane of deformation. We also test the influence of position relative to the European slab, distinguishing a northern and southern subarea based on vertically-integrated travel times through a tomographic model. Differences in the statistical distribution of splitting parameters <em>φ</em> and <em>Δt</em>, and in the backazimuthal variation of <em>δφ</em> and <em>δΔt</em>, become apparent. While the observed seismic anisotropy in the northern subarea shows indications of asthenospheric flow, likely a depth-dependent plane Couette-Poiseuille flow around the Alps, the origin in the southern subarea remains more difficult to determine and may also contain effects from the slab itself.</p>

scholarly journals Upper-mantle flow beneath French Polynesia from shear wave splitting

2007 ◽  
Vol 170 (3) ◽  
pp. 1262-1288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabrice R. Fontaine ◽  
Guilhem Barruol ◽  
Andréa Tommasi ◽  
Götz H. R. Bokelmann
Keyword(s):  
Shear Wave ◽  
Upper Mantle ◽  
French Polynesia ◽  
Shear Wave Splitting ◽  
Mantle Flow ◽  
Wave Splitting

scholarly journals Shear wave splitting in SE Brazil: an effect of active or fossil upper mantle flow, or both?

2003 ◽  
Vol 211 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 79-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maggy Heintz ◽  
Alain Vauchez ◽  
Marcelo Assumpção ◽  
Guilhem Barruol ◽  
Marcos Egydio-Silva
Keyword(s):  
Shear Wave ◽  
Upper Mantle ◽  
Shear Wave Splitting ◽  
Mantle Flow ◽  
Se Brazil ◽  
Wave Splitting

scholarly journals Mantle flow under the Central Alps: Constraints from non-vertical SKS shear-wave splitting

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Löberich ◽  
Götz Bokelmann
Keyword(s):  
Shear Wave ◽  
Upper Mantle ◽  
Seismic Anisotropy ◽  
Single Layer ◽  
Depth Resolution ◽  
Shear Wave Splitting ◽  
Mantle Flow ◽  
Central Alps ◽  
Upper Mantle Anisotropy ◽  
Wave Splitting

Abstract. The association of seismic anisotropy and deformation, as e.g. exploited by shear-wave splitting measurements, provides a unique opportunity to map the orientation of geodynamic processes in the upper mantle and to constraint their nature. However, due to the limited depth-resolution of steeply arriving core-phases, used for shear-wave splitting investigations, it appears difficult to differentiate between asthenospheric and lithospheric origins of observed seismic anisotropy. To change that, we take advantage of the different backazimuthal variations of fast orientation ϕ and delay time Δt, when considering the non-vertical incidence of phases passing through an olivine block with vertical b-axis as opposed to one with vertical c-axis. Both these alignments can occur depending on the type of deformation, e.g. a sub-horizontal foliation orientation in the case of a simple asthenospheric flow and a sub-vertical foliation when considering vertically-coherent deformation in the lithosphere. In this study we investigate the cause of seismic anisotropy in the Central Alps. Combining high-quality shear-wave splitting measurements of three datasets leads to a dense station coverage. Fast orientations ϕ show a spatially coherent and relatively simple mountain-chain-parallel pattern, likely related to a single-layer case of upper mantle anisotropy. Considering the measurements of the whole study area together, our non-vertical-ray shear-wave splitting procedure points towards a b-up olivine situation and thus favors an asthenospheric anisotropy source, with a horizontal flow plane of deformation. We also test the influence of position relative to the European slab, distinguishing a northern and southern subarea based on vertically-integrated travel times through a tomographic model. Differences in the statistical distribution of splitting parameters ϕ and Δt, and in the backazimuthal variation of δϕ and δΔt, become apparent. While the observed seismic anisotropy in the northern subarea shows indications of asthenospheric flow, likely a depth-dependent plane Couette-Poiseuille flow around the Alps, the origin in the southern subarea remains more difficult to determine and may also contain effects from the slab itself.

scholarly journals Upper Mantle Anisotropy beneath the Western Segment, NW Indian Himalaya, Using Shear Wave Splitting

Lithosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shubhasmita Biswal ◽  
Sushil Kumar ◽  
Sunil K. Roy ◽  
M. Ravi Kumar ◽  
W. K. Mohanty ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Shear Wave ◽  
Upper Mantle ◽  
Seismic Anisotropy ◽  
Western Himalaya ◽  
Shear Wave Splitting ◽  
Plate Motion ◽  
Indian Plate ◽  
Deformation Pattern ◽  
Mantle Flow ◽  
Wave Splitting

Abstract This study investigates the upper mantle deformation pattern beneath the Indo-Eurasia collision zone utilizing the core-refracted (S(K)KS) phases from 167 earthquakes recorded by 20 broadband seismic stations deployed in the Western Himalaya. The 76 new shear wave splitting measurements reveal that the fast polarization azimuths (FPAs) are mainly oriented in the ENE-WSW direction, with the delay times varying between 0.2 and 1.7 s. The FPAs at most of the stations tend to be orthogonal to the major geological boundaries in the Western Himalaya. The average trend of the FPAs at each station indicates that the seismic anisotropy is primarily caused due to strain-induced deformation in the top ~200 km of the upper mantle as a result of the ongoing Indo-Eurasian collision. A contribution from the mantle flow in the direction of the Indian plate motion is possible. The mantle strain revealed in the present study may be due to a combination of basal shear resulting from plate motion and ductile flow along the collision front due to compression.

scholarly journals Shear Wave Splitting and Mantle Flow in Mexico: What Have we Learned?

2017 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Raúl W. Valenzuela ◽  
Gerardo León Soto
Keyword(s):  
Shear Wave ◽  
Slow Wave ◽  
Upper Mantle ◽  
Subduction Zones ◽  
Seismic Anisotropy ◽  
Shear Wave Splitting ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Mantle Flow ◽  
Wave Splitting

A review is presented of the shear wave splitting studies of the upper mantle carried out in Mexico during the last decade. When a seismic wave enters an anisotropic medium it splits, which means that a fast and a slow wave are produced. Two parameters are used to quantify anisotropy. These are the fast polarization direction and the delay time between the fast and the slow wave. An example of the measurement technique is presented using an SKS phase because most observations are based on teleseismic data. Results of two studies using local S waves from intraslab earthquakes are also discussed. Key aspects of the interpretation of splitting measurements are explained. These include the depth localization of anisotropy, the relation-ship between olivine fabrics and mantle flow, the role of absolute plate motion, and the role of relative plate motions with a special focus on subduction zones. An important motivation for studying seismic anisotropy is that it makes it possible to constrain the characteristics of upper mantle flow and its relationship to tectonic processes. Mexico has many diverse tectonic environments, some of which are currently active, or were formerly active, and have left their imprint on seismic anisotropy. This has resulted in a wide variety of mechanisms for driving mantle flow. Broadly speaking, the discussion is organized into the following regions: Baja California peninsula, Western Mexican Basin and Range, northern and northeastern Mexico, the Middle America Trench, the Yucatán peninsula, and lowermost mantle anisotropy. Depending on the unique characteristics encountered within each region, the relationship between anisotropy and mantle flow is explored.

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