Evidence for a deep asthenosphere beneath North America from western United States SKS splits

Abstract

Research Article| April 01, 2001 Evidence for a deep asthenosphere beneath North America from western United States SKS splits Derek L. Schutt; Derek L. Schutt 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Eugene D. Humphreys Eugene D. Humphreys 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2001) 29 (4): 291–294. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2001)029<0291:EFADAB>2.0.CO;2 Article history received: 24 Jul 2000 rev-recd: 08 Dec 2000 accepted: 13 Dec 2000 first online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Derek L. Schutt, Eugene D. Humphreys; Evidence for a deep asthenosphere beneath North America from western United States SKS splits. Geology 2001;; 29 (4): 291–294. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2001)029<0291:EFADAB>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract The uniform southwesterly trend of fast-traveling split SKS waves that traverse the upper mantle beneath the Yellowstone swell provides good evidence for both southwesterly motion of North America over a relatively stable deep Earth interior, and young strain accommodation within the Yellowstone swell mantle via dislocation creep of olivine. These results contrast with the many SKS splits recorded across the western United States, the splitting behavior of which often is very complex at individual sites, and the orientations of which, as a set, cannot be attributed simply to plate motion or to small-scale convection beneath North America lithosphere. These data suggest that, away from Yellowstone, (1) mantle fabric is complex, and (2) North America motion is accommodated by strain at depths greater than those typically associated with asthenosphere. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.