Geophysical data and long-wave heterogeneities of the Earth's mantle

Abstract

To investigate the presence and nature of the lateral heterogeneities in the earth's mantle, geophysical data with global distribution are analyzed and correlated. Surface heat flow, seismic travel-time residuals, and crustal thickness data are expanded in spherical harmonics. Using these, and the coefficients of similar expansions of surface topography of the earth, and the gravitational potential variations as revealed by satellite data, both total and degree correlation coefficients are obtained. From the interpretation of these results, jointly with available laboratory data on velocity-density relationships and the temperature coefficient of velocity, the following are concluded: (1) Lateral mass anomalies and/or density variations in the earth's mantle are larger by at least an order of magnitude from what is required to explain the satellite data. Earth's surface topography and crustal structure introduce loads which are compensated in the upper, and perhaps lower, mantle giving rise to lateral density anomalies in the mantle. (2) Surface heat flow variations are controlled primarily by the shallow structure and tectonic features of the earth. (3) At long wavelengths (n ≤ 6), gravitational, heat flow, and seismic travel-time variations are not correlated with topographic elevations.