Confirmation of a change in the global shear velocity pattern at around 1000 km depth
Résumé
In this study, we confirm the existence of a change in the shear velocity spectrum around
1000 km depth based on a new shear velocity tomographic model of the Earth’s mantle,
SEISGLOB2. This model is based on Rayleigh surface wave phase velocities, self- and crosscoupling
structure coefficients of spheroidal normal modes and body wave traveltimes which
are, for the first time, combined in a tomographic inversion. SEISGLOB2 is developed up to
spherical harmonic degree 40 and in 21 radial spline functions. The spectrum of SEISGLOB2
is the flattest (i.e. richest in ‘short’ wavelengths corresponding to spherical harmonic degrees
greater than 10) around 1000 km depth and this flattening occurs between 670 and 1500 km
depth.We also confirmvarious changes in the continuity of slabs and mantle plumes all around
1000 km depth where we also observed the upper boundary of Large Low Shear Velocity
Provinces. The existence of a flatter spectrum, richer in short-wavelength heterogeneities, in a
region of the mid-mantle can have great impacts on our understanding of the mantle dynamics
and should thus be better understood in the future. Although a viscosity increase, a phase
change or a compositional change can all concur to induce this change of pattern, its precise
origin is still very uncertain.
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