Detailed 3D Structures of the Western Edge of the Pacific Large Low Velocity Province

Abstract

AbstractLarge Low Velocity Provinces (LLVPs) are situated oppositely in the lowermost mantle beneath the Pacific Ocean and Africa. Deciphering the detailed seismic structures at the edge of LLVPs can provide key information on the composition and dynamics in the deep Earth. Here, we provide a detailed seismic image at the western edge of the Pacific LLVP by dense recordings. Differential travel time residuals and amplitude ratios between ScS and S outline the S‐wave western boundary of the Pacific LLVP, suggesting the complex structures including low/high‐velocity patches in the lowermost mantle in our study region. We determine the 3D low‐velocity structure by modeling the delayed ScS and high‐velocity D″ layer structure by modeling the anomalous Scd, with tight constraints from multiple events data. The drastically varied waveforms in azimuth suggests a sharp transitional boundary among the complex structures. After comparing the velocity structures in adjacent regions, we propose that the 3D structures of the western edge of the Pacific LLVP are strongly influenced by the vigorous mantle flow associated with the actively subducted slab.