Negative Radial Anisotropy Research Articles

New insight into the velocity and anisotropy structures of the subduction zone in northern Sumatra

In this study, we conducted seismic tomographic inversions to investigate the velocity and anisotropy structures of northern Sumatra, using 9774 P-wave and 8405 S-wave arrivals from regional earthquakes. Isotropic P-wave velocity, isotropic S-wave velocity, P-wave azimuthal anisotropy, and P-wave radial anisotropy models were generated using eikonal equation-based traveltime tomography methods. The study identified low-velocity zones beneath the Toba and Sinabung volcanoes, potentially indicating the presence of magma reservoirs. Furthermore, low-velocity anomalies above the subduction slab were detected, which are likely caused by the dehydration of the slab and interpreted as channels of upwelling flow. The tomographic results revealed a trench-parallel high-velocity belt in the uppermost mantle, representing the subducting slab of the India-Australian plate. The trench-parallel fast velocity directions in the slab suggested that the subducted oceanic slab retains its frozen-in anisotropy formed at the mid-ocean ridge, or that the anisotropy is induced by the lattice-preferred orientation of the B-type olivine. Negative radial anisotropy in the mantle wedge was observed, reflecting hot upwelling flows and transitions of olivine fabrics in the presence of water due to slab dehydration. The results also indicated a multilevel magma plumbing system beneath the Toba Caldera. In summary, the results of this study provide new insights into the structure and dynamic processes of the northern Sumatra subduction zone.

Uncertainty Quantification in Radial Anisotropy Models Based on Transdimensional Bayesian Inversion of Receiver Functions and Surface-Wave Dispersion: Case Study Sri Lanka

ABSTRACT In geophysical inference problems, quantification of data uncertainties is required to balance the data-fitting ability of the model and its complexity. The transdimensional hierarchical Bayesian approach is a powerful tool to evaluate the level of uncertainty and determine the complexity of the model by treating data errors and model dimensions as unknown. In this article, we take account of the uncertainty through the whole procedure, thus developing a two-step fully Bayesian approach with coupled uncertainty propagation to estimate the crustal isotropic and radial anisotropy (RA) model based on Rayleigh and Love dispersion as well as receiver functions (RFs). First, 2D surface-wave tomography is applied to determine period-wise ambient noise phase velocity maps and their uncertainty for Rayleigh and Love waves. Probabilistic profiles of the isotropic average VS and RA as a function of depth are then derived at station sites by inverting the local surface-wave dispersion and model errors and RFs jointly. The workflow is applied to a temporary seismic broadband array covering all of Sri Lanka. The probabilistic results enable us to effectively quantify the uncertainty of the final RA model and provide robust inferences. The shear-wave velocity results show that the range of Moho depths is between 30 and 40 km, with the thickest crust (38–40 km) beneath the central Highland Complex. Positive RA (VSH>VSV) observed in the upper crust is attributed to subhorizontal alignment of metamorphic foliation and stretched layers resulting from deformation. Negative RA (VSV>VSH) in the midcrust of central Sri Lanka may indicate the existence of melt inclusions and could result from the uplift and folding process. The positive RA in the lower crust could be caused by crustal channel flow in a collision orogeny.

Crustal shear wave velocity and radial anisotropy beneath the Mississippi embayment from ambient noise tomography

Imaging of shallow multiple basins and middle to lower crustal structure beneath the Mississippi embayment is still limited. No tomography studies have delineated multiple basins as effectively as those from reflection and drilling experiments. Several studies have constructed different velocity models for the middle to lower crust. We take advantage of the Northern Embayment Lithosphere Experiment dataset and long-term deployment of 277 3-component broadband stations installed from 1990 to 2018 to image crustal shear wave velocity and radial anisotropy in the Mississippi embayment. We first construct 5–40s group velocity maps for Rayleigh wave and 5–30s ones for Love wave. In the 5 s group velocity map, we observe that low velocity features correlate spatially with the sediment thickness from the Crust 1.0 model. High velocity anomalies are associated with the Ozark uplift and the Nashville Dome. In the 32 s group velocity map, high-low velocity boundaries align with 40 km crustal thickness contours from the Crust 1.0 model. We then invert Rayleigh and Love group velocity dispersion for shear wave velocity and radial anisotropy at each grid point and construct a 3D model accordingly. At the depth of 0–5 km of the model, we find that low velocity features characterize the Mississippi Valley Graben, Rough Creek Graben, Black Warrior Basin, and coastal flood plain. High velocity features mark thinly sedimented regions, like the Ozark uplift and the Nashville Dome. Regions with high gravity anomalies are characterized with negative anisotropies. At the depth of 5–12 km, we observe low velocity features in the Missouri Batholith, centering around 10 km. This region is characterized with negative radial anisotropy (Vsh < Vsv), inferring possible intrusions. High-low velocity boundaries correlate with the Appalachian-Ouachita thrust front. At the depth of 12–24 km, the Mississippi Valley Graben is filled with high velocity material, which may be related to the formation of the graben due to isostatic equilibrium. At the depth of 24–43 km, high velocity anomalies characterize the lower crust of the Mississippi embayment, consistent with high density features from the inversion of free air anomaly. The high velocity anomaly might be responsible for the formation of the embayment due to isostatic adjustment. The average velocity in the lower crust is approximately 4.3 km/s. Mafic Pikwitonei granulite is a possible material, indicating relative strong lower crust. This work provides useful information to explain earthquake occurrence in the New Madrid Seismic Zone and regional tectonic settings.

Isotropic and radially anisotropic S-velocity structure beneath the Arabian plate inferred from surface wave tomography

We estimated Rayleigh- and Love-wave group-velocity dispersion curves using dense seismic networks in Saudi Arabia and nearby countries. We merged our data with group- and phase-velocity dispersion curves from previous studies to produce a new isotropic and radially anisotropic S-velocity model for the Arabian plate and nearby regions. Strong negative radial anisotropy (VSH < VSV) is observed in the crustal depth beneath the southern Red Sea, but weak positive radial anisotropy (VSH > VSV) and relatively thick lithosphere are found beneath the northern Red Sea, implying different tectonics between the two regions. We found low-velocity anomalies beneath Cenozoic volcanism in the Arabian Peninsula, but corresponding radial anisotropic perturbations are observed differently in spatiotemporal regimes depending on source origin. From the strong positive radial anisotropy at asthenospheric depth, which correlates with a circular pattern of azimuthal anisotropy from shear-wave splitting, we infer toroidal mantle flow around regions of thick lithosphere including an eastern part of the Arabian platform, the Mesopotamian Plain, and the Zagros belt. On the contrary, weak radial anisotropy is found beneath the thin lithosphere of the Arabian shield and in the thick lithosphere of the Mesopotamian, which may imply vertical flow due to asthenospheric upwelling and cratonic growth, respectively.

Segmentation and Radial Anisotropy of the Deep Crustal Magmatic System Beneath the Cascades Arc

AbstractVolcanic arcs consist of many distinct vents that are ultimately fueled by the common melting processes in the subduction zone mantle wedge. Seismic imaging of crustal‐scale magmatic systems can provide insight into how melt is organized in the deep crust and eventually focused beneath distinct vents as it ascends and evolves. Here, we investigate the crustal‐scale structure beneath a section of the Cascades arc spanning four major stratovolcanoes: Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens (MSH), Mt. Adams (MA), and Mt. Rainier, based on ambient noise data from 234 seismographs. Simultaneous inversion of Rayleigh and Love wave dispersion constrains the isotropic shear velocity (Vs) and identifies radially anisotropic structures. Isotropic Vs shows two sub‐parallel low‐Vs zones (∼3.45–3.55 km/s) at ∼15–30 km depth with one connecting Mt. Rainier to MA, and another connecting MSH to Mt. Hood, which are interpreted as deep crustal magma reservoirs containing up to ∼2.5%–6% melt, assuming near‐equilibrium melt geometry. Negative radial anisotropy, from vertical fractures like dikes, is prevalent in this part of the Cascadia, but is interrupted by positive radial anisotropy, from subhorizontal features like sills, extending vertically beneath MA and Mt. Rainier at ∼10–30 km depth and weaker and west‐dipping positive anisotropy beneath MSH. The positive anisotropy regions are adjacent to rather than co‐located with the isotropic low‐Vs anomalies. Ascending melt that stalled and mostly crystallized in sills with possible compositional differences from the country rock may explain the near‐average Vs and positive radial anisotropy adjacent to the active deep crustal magma reservoirs.

Crustal radial anisotropy shear wave velocity of SE Tibet from ambient noise tomography

We present a high-resolution 3-D radial anisotropy shear wave crustal model of SE Tibet by jointly inverting Rayleigh and Love dispersion curves from ambient noise recorded by CHINArray Phase I network. Our crustal shear wave model displays similar velocity features as the previous studies. Our radial anisotropy model reveals new information of radial anisotropy in the crust, implying different deformation patterns operating in the crust. Widespread positive radial anisotropy (Vsh > Vsv) is imaged in the crust across most of our study areas, which could result from the sub-horizontal aligned crustal materials caused by the ductile deformation and expansion of the Tibetan Plateau. Negative radial anisotropy is observed in the crust of the northern and central segments of the Xiaojiang fault (XJF). However, only the upper crust in the southern segment is imaged as the negative radial anisotropy. We consider vertical alignments of the cracks, faults and the crustal minerals in the middle and upper crust are the origin of the negative radial anisotropy. This pattern is also associated with the activities of the XJF and further implies the deformation mechanism is different between the segments. Neutral radial anisotropy is observed in the inner zone of Emeishan Large Igneous Province, which can be attributed to the equilibrium of the horizontal sills and the vertical dikes of the magma system. Our model provides new insights into the deformation pattern of SE Tibet.

Imaging the Northeastern Crustal Boundary of the Tibetan Plateau With Radial Anisotropy

AbstractWe obtained a 3‐D crustal radial anisotropy model beneath northeastern (NE) Tibet by joint inversion of Rayleigh and Love dispersion curves from ambient noise tomography. Positive crustal radial anisotropy and significant low velocity are dominant beneath the Songpan‐Ganzi Terrane (SGT), indicating the presence of crustal channel flow. The Qilian orogen is characterized by negative radial anisotropy, which could be caused by folding and thrusting due to crustal shortening. This difference in radial anisotropy suggests that crustal shortening deformation may have occurred at a relatively early stage of the plateau evolution (the Qilian orogen) and crustal channel flow at the later stage (the SGT). The crustal radial anisotropy clearly defines the NE crustal boundary of the expanding Tibetan Plateau, which is roughly situated along the north Qilian frontal thrust from 97° to 103.5°E in the north and turns north‐south, passing the Zhuanglanghe Fault and terminating at the Kunlun Fault in the south.

Shear‐Velocity Structure and Dynamics Beneath the Sicily Channel and Surrounding Regions of the Central Mediterranean Inferred From Seismic Surface Waves

AbstractThe evolution of the Sicily Channel Rift Zone (SCRZ) is thought to accommodate the regional tectonic stresses of the Calabrian subduction system. Much of the observations we have today are either limited to the surface or to the upper crust or deeper from regional seismic tomography, missing important details about the lithospheric structure and dynamics. It is unclear whether the rifting is passive from far‐field extensional stresses or active from mantle upwelling beneath. We measure Rayleigh‐and Love‐wave phase velocities from ambient seismic noise and invert for 3‐D shear‐velocity and radial anisotropic models. Variations in crustal S‐velocities coincide with topographic and tectonic features. The Tyrrhenian Sea has a ∼10 km thin crust, followed by the SCRZ (∼20 km). The thickest crust is beneath the Apennine‐Maghrebian Mountains (∼55 km). Areas experiencing extension and intraplate volcanism have positive crustal radial anisotropy (VSH &gt; VSV); areas experiencing compression and subduction‐related volcanism have negative anisotropy. The crustal anisotropy across the Channel shows the extent of the extension. Beneath the Tyrrhenian Sea, we find very low sub‐Moho S‐velocities. In contrast, the SCRZ has a thin mantle lithosphere underlain by a low‐velocity zone. The lithosphere‐asthenosphere boundary rises from 60 km depth beneath Tunisia to ∼33 km beneath the SCRZ. Negative radial anisotropy in the upper mantle beneath the SCRZ is consistent with vertical mantle flow. We hypothesize a more active mantle upwelling beneath the rift than previously thought from an interplay between poloidal and toroidal fluxes related to the Calabrian slab, which in turn produces uplift at the surface and induces volcanism.

Anomalous Radial Anisotropy and Its Implications for Upper Mantle Dynamics Beneath South China From Multimode Surface Wave Tomography

AbstractThe strength of radial anisotropy can effectively reveal vertical or horizontal material flow, which may provide significant dynamic implications. The South China Block (SCB) is a classic laboratory to study strong deformation under compression from the surroundings. We construct a radially anisotropic 3‐D shear‐wave model of the entire SCB using multimode surface wave tomography with a lateral resolution of 2.0°. Distinctive structural contrasts are revealed in the S‐wave velocity anomalies in the Cathaysia Block and the Yangtze Craton. In the Cathaysia Block, a low‐velocity anomaly becomes evident with increasing depth, particularly in the VSH model. The Yangtze Craton is, however, characterized by a high‐velocity anomaly, especially in the Sichuan Basin, where the high‐velocity feature can extend down to a depth of 300 km. Interestingly, an abrupt change in radial anisotropy is observed beneath the Sichuan Basin, with positive radial anisotropy (faster VSH) in the uppermost mantle and negative radial anisotropy (faster VSV) at depths from 80 to 250 km. The lower negative anisotropic layer may reflect the directional arrangement of constituent materials caused by eastward compression and erosion of mantle flow under the Tibetan Plateau. In addition, remarkable negative radial anisotropy is found in the asthenosphere beneath Hainan Island and its surroundings. The features beneath Hainan Island and its surroundings may be related to the Hainan mantle plume in the Cenozoic.

The shallow three-dimensional structure of Volcán de Colima revealed by ambient seismic noise tomography

Volcán de Colima is one of the most active volcanoes in North America. Even so, it has a poorly constrained upper crustal structure. Here, we present the highest-resolution three-dimensional shear-wave velocity tomography to date of the volcano.We measured group velocity dispersion curves of Rayleigh and Love waves extracted from ambient seismic noise recorded on the Colima Volcanic Complex and regionalised them into 2-D velocity maps. Those were then locally inverted using a neighborhood algorithm to obtain accurate shear-velocity models down to 4 km below sea level. The resulting three-dimensional shear wave velocity model gives us a new insight into the internal structure of the volcano to specifically better understand the shallow magma storage and magmatic plumbing system and, in turn, how it can be placed in a wider geotectonic context.Our results highlight a network of deeply rooted NE-SW low velocity zones oriented along a local fault system. The southward orientation of this low-velocity anomaly also roughly aligns with the north-south trend of the volcanoes that compose the quaternary Colima Volcanic Complex and could be associated with the gradual trenchward shift of the magmatic front of the volcanic complex dating from the formation of the Cántaro Volcano. The low-velocity anomaly overlaps a negative radial anisotropy indicating that magma follows vertically oriented structures, such as interfingered dikes or faults and cracks with a substantial vertical component.The low velocity anomaly under Volcán de Colima contrasts with a distinct high-velocity anomaly under Nevado de Colima that highlights the difference between the former active system, filled with solidified dikes and sills, and the current one, associated with a network of fluid-filled dikes.

Anisotropic Tomography and Dynamics of the Big Mantle Wedge

AbstractWe determine high‐resolution 3‐D tomographic images of P‐wave isotropic velocity, radial anisotropy and azimuthal anisotropy beneath NE Asia down to 800 km depth. Our results show negative radial anisotropy (i.e., Vhorizontal &lt; Vvertical) in the asthenosphere of the big mantle wedge (BMW), which may reflect mineral alignment caused by vertical flow in the asthenosphere. Across the Tanlu fault zone (TLF), the western and eastern parts of the BMW exhibit high and low P‐wave velocities, respectively. Combining our tomographic results with surface geological features, we speculate that convection in the BMW includes upwelling asthenosphere beneath the Japan Sea and the Korean Peninsula and downwelling asthenosphere beneath the Songliao and North China basins. The downwelling asthenosphere beneath the two basins is associated with diminishing volcanism and anomalous tectonic subsidence since ∼110 Ma. The great TLF is an important boundary for the BMW structure and dynamics.

Continental Break‐Up Under a Convergent Setting: Insights From P Wave Radial Anisotropy Tomography of the Woodlark Rift in Papua New Guinea

AbstractTo explore the dynamic mechanism of continental rifting within a convergent setting, we determine the first P wave radial anisotropic tomography beneath the Woodlark rift in southeastern Papua New Guinea, which develops within the obliquely colliding zone between the Australian and southwest Pacific plates. The rift zone is depicted as localized low‐velocity anomalies with positive radial anisotropy, which rules out a dominant role of active mantle upwelling in promoting the rift development and favors passive rifting with decompression melting as main processes. Downwelling slab relics in the upper mantle bounding the rift zone are revealed based on observed high‐velocity anomalies and negative radial anisotropy, which may contribute to the ultra‐high pressure rock exhumations and rift initiation. Our observations thus indicate that the Woodlark rift follows a passive model and is mainly driven by slab pull from the northward subduction of the Solomon plate.

Radial anisotropy in the crust beneath Fujian and the Taiwan strait from direct surface-wave tomography

The Fujian-Taiwan Strait-Taiwan area has undergone multiple periods of alternate compressional and extensional tectonic events, forming a complex geological structure. The underground structure and deformation characteristics, reflected by three-dimensional velocity structure and anisotropy, are the basis for analyzing the influences of different geological processes. In this study, utilizing 2 years of continuous waveform data from more than 100 permanent stations in Fujian and Taiwan, we extracted Rayleigh and Love wave dispersion data based on the cross-correlation of vertical and tangential components. A direct inversion method was employed to obtain the 3-D shear wave velocity and radial anisotropy structure of the crust. Vertical and horizontal polarized shear wave velocity structures were also inverted separately, and then used to calculate another radially anisotropic velocity model for comparison. The results show that the middle and lower crust of Fujian and the Taiwan Strait are dominated by positive radial anisotropy attributed to the near-horizontal alignment of minerals caused by extension. Although in an extension environment, most of the shallow crust exhibits weak anisotropy due to the vertical cutting of fractures and fissures, except for the strait area covered by horizontal sedimentary layers leading to strong positive radial anisotropy. In addition to the influence of faults and other shallow structures, the stress distribution caused by metamorphism also plays an important role; thus, the upper crust of the marine metamorphic belt shows negative radial anisotropy. Different from the strong positive anisotropy in other parts of the lower crust, relatively weak anisotropy appears beneath the Penghu area, which is related to two-stage Cenozoic extension.

Analysis of the shallow crustal structure of the Bam Fault Zone, Iran, using the surface wave and first-arrival P-wave tomography approaches

The crustal structure around the Bam fault located southeast of Iran was investigated by applying surface and P-wave tomography to locally recorded aftershocks of the destructive Bam earthquake (Mw 6.6) on December 26, 2003. The aftershock dataset was recorded for 1 month after the main shock by 23 temporary seismic stations operated by the International Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Seismology (IIEES). After applying the selection criteria, 331 well-located events, including more than 1700 waveforms, remained. By calculating the surface wave dispersion measurements in the period range of 0.6–5 s, a tomographic procedure was then performed, and the local dispersion curves were extracted for each geographic grid point (1.8 km × 1.8 km). We applied an iterative damped least-squares inversion procedure to obtain the VSV and VSH models at depths of up to 6.5 km. The discrepancy between these VSV and VSH models also resulted in the radial anisotropy model. Moreover, the P-wave first-arrival times were inverted by the computer program SIMULPS to calculate the VP model for a depth range of 6.5–14 km, while the calculated VP model does not have sufficient resolution at depths of up to 6 km. The tomographic results indicate that a ~ 2 km thick upper sedimentary layer with a shear wave velocity of less than 2.4 km/s and relatively negative radial anisotropy covers the study area (except Bam City, with a thin 500 m positive radial anisotropy layer), which overlay on relatively positive radial anisotropy. Our results indicate that the main shock occurred on the Bam fault escarpment; then the rupturing was shifted to the co-seismic surface rupture (approximately 5 km west of the escarpment) at a depth of ~8–10 km. This dividing of energy on the fault plane (an oblique Y shape) leads to damping most of the energy as a deformation in the lower sedimentary layer.

Surface-wave tomography of the Emeishan large igneous province (China): Magma storage system, hidden hotspot track, and its impact on the Capitanian mass extinction

AbstractLarge igneous provinces (LIPs) are commonly associated with mass extinctions. However, the precise relations between LIPs and their impacts on biodiversity is enigmatic, given that they can be asynchronous. It has been proposed that the environmental impacts are primarily related to sill emplacement. Therefore, the structure of LIPs' magma storage system is critical because it dictates the occurrence and timing of mass extinction. We use surface-wave tomography to image the lithosphere under the Permian Emeishan large igneous province (ELIP) in southwestern China. We find a northeast-trending zone of high shear-wave velocity (Vs) and negative radial anisotropy (Vsv &amp;gt; Vsh; v and h are vertically and horizontally polarized S waves, respectively) in the crust and lithosphere. We rule out the possibilities of rifting or orogenesis to explain these seismic characteristics and interpret the seismic anomaly as a mafic-ultramafic, dike-dominated magma storage system of the ELIP. We further propose that the anomaly represents a hidden hotspot track that was emplaced before the ELIP eruption. A zone of higher velocity but less-negative radial anisotropy, on the hotspot track but to the northeast of the eruption center in the Panxi region, reflects an elevated proportion of sills emplaced at the incipient stage of the ELIP. Liberation of poisonous gases by the early sill intrusions explains why the mid-Capitanian global biota crisis preceded the peak ELIP eruption by 2–3 m.y.

Crustal Radial Anisotropy of the Iran Plateau Inferred From Ambient Noise Tomography

AbstractThis study presents a three‐dimensional (3D) model of the crustal and uppermost mantle shear wave velocity and radial anisotropy beneath the Iran Plateau constructed by Rayleigh and Love waves from ambient noise. We correlate three years of continuous seismic ambient noise data recorded in 98 stations to obtain cross correlation functions. Then, we measure Rayleigh (8–60 s) and Love (8–50 s) wave dispersion curves from these cross‐correlation functions to generate two‐dimensional dispersion maps using a fast marching surface tomography method. Finally, we build a quasi‐3D shear wave velocity and radial anisotropy model by jointly inverting Rayleigh and Love local phase velocity dispersion curves using a Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo inversion method. Observed radial anisotropy beneath Central Iran is weaker than adjacent areas. Negative radial anisotropy is observed in the shallow structures across our study region, which is most likely attributed to vertically aligned cracks in the upper crust. Strong positive radial anisotropy in the middle to the lower crust beneath the Zagros is imaged, which is associated with ductile shear zones in the crust. Radial anisotropy changes from positive values in the crust to negative values in the upper mantle beneath the Zagros, which may be evidence for the decoupling of the crust from the upper mantle beneath the Zagros.

Velocity structure and radial anisotropy of the lithosphere in southern Madagascar from surface wave dispersion

SUMMARYWe investigate the upper mantle seismic structure beneath southern Madagascar and infer the imprint of geodynamic events since Madagascar’s break-up from Africa and India and earlier rifting episodes. Rayleigh and Love wave phase velocities along a profile across southern Madagascar were determined by application of the two-station method to teleseismic earthquake data. For shorter periods (&amp;lt;20 s), these data were supplemented by previously published dispersion curves determined from ambient noise correlation. First, tomographic models of the phase velocities were determined. In a second step, 1-D models of SV and SH wave velocities were inverted based on the dispersion curves extracted from the tomographic models. As the lithospheric mantle is represented by high velocities we identify the lithosphere–asthenosphere boundary by the strongest negative velocity gradient. Finally, the radial anisotropy (RA) is derived from the difference between the SV and SH velocity models. An additional constraint on the lithospheric thickness is provided by the presence of a negative conversion seen in S receiver functions, which results in comparable estimates under most of Madagascar. We infer a lithospheric thickness of 110−150 km beneath southern Madagascar, significantly thinner than beneath the mobile belts in East Africa (150−200 km), where the crust is of comparable age and which were located close to Madagascar in Gondwanaland. The lithospheric thickness is correlated with the geological domains. The thinnest lithosphere (∼110 km) is found beneath the Morondava basin. The pre-breakup Karoo failed rifting, the rifting and breakup of Gondwanaland have likely thinned the lithosphere there. The thickness of the lithosphere in the Proterozoic terranes (Androyen and Anosyen domains) ranges from 125 to 140 km, which is still ∼30 km thinner than in the Mozambique belt in Tanzania. The lithosphere is the thickest beneath Ikalamavony domain (Proterozoic) and the west part of the Antananarivo domain (Archean) with a thickness of ∼150 km. Below the eastern part of Archean domain the lithosphere thickness reduces to ∼130 km. The lithosphere below the entire profile is characterized by positive RA. The strongest RA is observed in the uppermost mantle beneath the Morondava basin (maximum value of ∼9 per cent), which is understandable from the strong stretching that the basin was exposed to during the Karoo and subsequent rifting episode. Anisotropy is still significantly positive below the Proterozoic (maximum value of ∼5 per cent) and Archean (maximum value of ∼6 per cent) domains, which may result from lithospheric extension during the Mesozoic and/or thereafter. In the asthenosphere, a positive RA is observed beneath the eastern part Morondava sedimentary basin and the Proterozoic domain, indicating a horizontal asthenospheric flow pattern. Negative RA is found beneath the Archean in the east, suggesting a small-scale asthenospheric upwelling, consistent with previous studies. Alternatively, the relatively high shear wave velocity in the asthenosphere in this region indicate that the negative RA could be associated to the Réunion mantle plume, at least beneath the volcanic formation, along the eastern coast.

Upper Mantle Deformation of the Terror Rift and Northern Transantarctic Mountains in Antarctica: Insight From P Wave Anisotropic Tomography

AbstractA large number of teleseismic traveltime data are used to determine the first P‐wave radial anisotropy tomography beneath the Terror Rift, the northern Transantarctic Mountains (NTAM) and the Wilkes Subglacial Basin in Antarctica. Our results show that variations of radial anisotropy occur in both horizontal and vertical directions. In the NTAM, a high‐velocity zone with positive radial anisotropy is revealed at shallower depths, which reflects the lithospheric deformation pattern formed during the Ross Orogeny. In contrast, negative radial anisotropy appears at depths &gt;200 km under the NTAM, which is caused by the characterization of olivine fabric rather than foundering lithosphere. Beneath the western Wilkes Subglacial Basin, a two‐layer lithosphere exists that contains rift‐induced cracks. To the east of the NTAM, asthenospheric upwelling occurs at shallow depths beneath the Terror Rift. Then the upwelling asthenosphere flows northward to Mount Melbourne and southward to Mount Erebus.

Mantle Structure and Flow Beneath an Early‐Stage Continental Rift: Constraints From P Wave Anisotropic Tomography

AbstractTo explore 3‐D seismic velocity and radial anisotropy structures of the upper mantle and mantle transition zone beneath the Malawi and Luangwa rift zones of the East African Rift System, we conduct the first study of P wave anisotropic tomography using data recorded at 75 seismic stations including 34 stations that we installed along two profiles as part of the Seismic Arrays for African Rift Initiation experiment. Both rift zones are revealed to have normal or slightly low velocity anomalies in the lithosphere and upper asthenosphere. The surrounding cratonic lithosphere is characterized by high‐velocity anomalies with amplitudes ranging from +1.0% to +2.0%. Negative radial anisotropy, which is indicative of upwelling or downwelling in the mantle, is mainly distributed beneath the rift zones, whereas the other areas mostly feature positive radial anisotropy that implies horizontal flow. A prominent circular low‐velocity anomaly exists in the top 200 km of the upper mantle beneath the Rungwe Volcanic Province without obvious connections to the lower mantle. Combining the present findings with previous geodetic and tomography results, we interpret the Rungwe Volcanic Province magmatism as primarily due to decompression melting in response to lithospheric extension induced by the counterclockwise and clockwise rotations of the Victoria and Rovuma microplates, respectively, with respect to the Nubian plate. Isolated mantle upwelling, which is indicated by scattered low‐velocity anomalies and negative radial anisotropy beneath the Malawi rift zone, may contribute to the incipient rifting.

Electrically Anisotropic Crust From Three‐Dimensional Magnetotelluric Modeling in the Western Junggar, NW China

AbstractAn island arc environment related to intraoceanic subduction or ridge subduction from the Late Carboniferous to the Early Permian has been proposed for the formation of Western Junggar, NW China, situated in the southwest of Central Asian Orogenic Belt. However, the details and consequences of the subduction remain controversial. To further identify the relics of the Late Carboniferous subduction at depth, three magnetotelluric profiles were deployed. Phase tensors, real induction arrows, and three‐dimensional (3‐D) isotropic resistivity models indicate the presence of a 3‐D anisotropic resistivity structure in the crust. Consequently, a 3‐D anisotropic resistivity model was constructed by forward modeling. The 3‐D anisotropic resistivity model contains two azimuthally anisotropic middle‐upper crust anomalies with minimum resistivity striking N90°E at depths of 5 to 20 km, and an azimuthally anisotropic lower crust anomaly with minimum resistivity striking N20°E at depths of 20 to 46 km. The electrically anisotropic anomalies are closely related to relatively high shear‐wave velocities with significant negative radial anisotropy. The anisotropies in the middle‐to‐upper crust and the lower crust are related to the oceanic ridge (N90°E) subduction with a slab window in the Late Carboniferous and the remnant oceanic slab, respectively. The magnetotelluric observations support a NW70° subduction with an intraoceanic ridge‐transform system in the Late Carboniferous and a remnant oceanic slab trapped in Western Junggar.