Hemispherical transition of seismic attenuation at the top of the earth's inner core

Abstract

In contrast to the liquid outer core, the earth's inner core is mostly solid, and its composition is more pure iron. Based on dynamic arguments related to the freezing process of the inner core, and the observation of much lower P-wave quality factor in the inner core ( Q α<450) than in the outer core ( Q α>10,000), it has been suggested that a mushy layer with liquid inclusions may exist at the top of the inner core. On the other hand, seismic measurements indicate that Q α increases towards the center of the inner core. We here present estimates of Q α in the depth range 32–110 km beneath the Inner Core Boundary (ICB), based on the measurement of PKIKP/PKiKP amplitude ratios after a narrow band-pass filtering (0.7–2.0 Hz). Our measurements indicate that there are pronounced hemispherical differences in the values of Q α (∼335 and ∼160 in the western (180°W to 40°E) and eastern (40°E to 180°E) hemispheres, respectively), and in the depth of transition from decreasing to increasing Q α (<32 km beneath the ICB in the eastern hemisphere and ∼85 km in the western hemisphere). Below 85 km, the hemispherical pattern disappears. We also confirm the existence of a correlated hemispherical pattern in P velocity down to 85 km. The P velocity and Q α variations are compatible with an interpretation in terms of small hemispherical variations of temperature at the top of the inner core and their influence on the morphology of porosity and connectivity of liquid inclusions in the mushy zone. The disappearance of the differences in Q α beneath 85 km provide constraints on the likely depth extent of the mushy zone.