Mantle heterogeneities within active margins of the world oceans and their seismological characteristics

Abstract

The principal geotectonic element of active marginal areas is represented by arcuate structures characterized by two mantle volumes in contact containing materials with different properties. The rigid, high-density, and comparatively cold region with concentrated earthquake hypocentres is accompanied by an aseismic mantle where a low-velocity layer at depths from 150 to 250 km and a low-velocity zone under the present volcanoes form a specific volume. P-wave velocity of the latter is nearly 15% below the standard values and nearly 20% lower than that in the adjacent seismically active blocks. As a result of these lateral changes in the physical properties, there appears to exist a considerable gradient of lithostatic pressure whose maximum occurs in the focal zone and its resulting forces point to the arc centre, thus determining the horizontal displacement of sinking high-density matter with the focal zone.Velocity changes of the aseismic mantle block along the geostructure are determined by the geological evolution of the region and reflected in its morphostructure. In shallow parts of the northern Sea of Okhotsk and western Kamchatka with continenetal type of crust developed on the bottom of the pre-Mesozoic platform, the P-wave velocities in the upper mantle are 0.5–0.6 km/s smaller than those under the Kuril abyssal plain with suboceanic crust.Small-scale mantle inhomogeneities of the focal zone manifest themselves in a seismic anisotropy which changes both in magnitude and direction. It reflects a reaction of the medium to the shearing stresses and is controlled by strength anisotropy. Distribution of seismic parameters, velocity and attenuation of elastic waves in the mantle of active margins is represented by alternating areas of high and low strength. Weaker areas coincide both in setting and trend with deep-seated faults which cut across the arcuate geofeatures. This combination of arcuate and orthogonal tectonic systems in the northwestern Pacific under the conditions of tensile stresses which act along the island arc favours a displacement of the central portion of the island arc toward the ocean.