Structure Of Upper Mantle Research Articles

WUS324: Multiscale Full Waveform Inversion Approaching Convergence Improves Waveform Fits While Imaging Seismic Structure of the Western United States

AbstractWe report a new model of radially anisotropic crustal and upper mantle structure of the western United States (WUS324) obtained from full waveform inversion of earthquake data. We ran three multiscale inversion stages beyond model WUS256 (Rodgers et al., 2022, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022jb024549) allowing them to approach convergence to fit a larger data set to a shorter minimum period of 16 s. WUS324 is based on 324 total iterations from its starting model, significantly more (16 times) than previous studies. Waveform misfit reductions are 66%–70% for both the inversion data and an independent validation data set providing confidence in the predictive power of the model. WUS324 provides much better fits and reveals shear wavespeed, vS, structure of this large region with more detail than previous waveform tomography models. We show representative images demonstrating the resolution of diverse seismic structure across this highly heterogeneous region including oceanic lithosphere, subducting slabs and continental magmatism.

Do gravity data justify a rifted “Liguro-Provençal Basin”?

The geodynamic evolution of the Liguro-Provençal Basin and its crust and upper mantle structure remain debated, especially regarding the role of rifting in continental break-up and seafloor spreading. Our study incorporates updated datasets, including new gravity maps from the AlpArray Gravity Working Group (complete Bouguer, free air, and isostatic anomalies) for 3D modeling and gravity field analysis, seismic data from Lobster offshore campaigns for direct comparison, and geodynamic models, supplemented by seismic profiles from previous French and Italian campaigns to constrain the interpretation. We used GFZ’s IGMAS + software for interactive 3D modeling, creating a density model extending to 300 km depth that includes crustal and upper mantle inhomogeneities based on prior geodynamic models. This hybrid approach, with polygonal structures for the crust and voxels for the upper mantle, clarifies individual contributions to the gravity field. Extending initial gravity modeling from the SPP MB4D project INTEGRATE, our work provides a consistent 3D density model for the Alps and Ligurian Basin. The constrained 3D modeling and numerical analyses (terracing, clustering, filtering, curvature), along with vertical stress and gravitational potential energy calculations, suggest that rifting has significantly influenced the basin’s geological evolution.

A shallow mantle seismic discontinuity beneath northeast India: Evidence from receiver function analyses

The crust and shallow upper mantle structure beneath the Upper Brahmaputra Valley, Indo-Burma Ranges, and Bengal Basin of Northeast India have been investigated based on receiver function (RF) analysis of teleseismic earthquakes recorded by 11 seismological stations. The study reveals a thin crust (∼35 km) beneath the Brahmaputra Valley (at JORH station) with a surface sedimentary layer of ∼4 km thick. The crustal thickness is observed to increase towards the north in the Himalaya (∼40 km at ZIRO and ITAN) and to the south (up to ∼46 km at KOHI). The crustal thickness near the Tripura fold-belt and Bengal Basin varies within ∼36–40 km. The study reveals the existence of a shallow mantle discontinuity (Hales discontinuity) at a variable depth range of ∼54–78 km characterized by a step increase (∼7.5–11 %) in shear wave velocity observed in the inverted models. The mineralogical phase transformation from spinel to garnet is considered as the origin of this discontinuity. The shallow depth of the discontinuity indicates an increase in upper mantle temperature which conforms to the high geothermal gradient reported in the region. The variation of depth of the discontinuity can be interpreted in terms of the addition of Cr+3 that shifts the spinel-garnet stability field to higher depths whereas Fe+2 shifts it to lower depths. Despite the high temperature in the upper mantle, the observed low Vp/Vs ratio (1.65–1.75) below the Hales discontinuity can be explained by the presence of a high fraction of orthopyroxene.

Subduction retreat recorded in the southern Beishan orogenic collage of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt: New evidence from deep seismic reflection profiling

The crustal and upper mantle structure of the Beishan orogenic collage, which serves as the southern part of the middle Central Asian Orogenic Belt, provides crucial insights into the history of the multiple openings and closings of the Paleo-Asian Ocean during the Paleozoic. There is considerable dispute over the eventual closure position, timing, and subduction polarity of the Paleo-Asian Ocean, particularly in the southern Beishan orogenic collage. The main cause of these controversies is the lack of a high-resolution lithospheric structure in this area. In this study, we first present a 140-km-long, high-resolution seismic reflection profile taken across the northern Dunhuang Block and the southern Beishan orogenic collage. The seismic imaging provides new constraints on the structure of the lower crust, the Moho, and the upper mantle beneath the southernmost Central Asian Orogenic Belt. A subhorizontal reflector in the middle crust, two sets of north-dipping reflectors from the lower crust to the upper mantle, and several south-dipping reflectors in the upper crust in the northern part of the profile were imaged. Based on our study and other geological, chronological, and geophysical data, we propose that the two sequences of north-dipping reflectors from the lower crust to the upper mantle represent two stages of north-dipping subduction of the southern branch of the Paleo-Asian Ocean. The first stage in the southern Beishan orogenic collage is Late Silurian−Early Devonian, and the second stage is late Carboniferous−Early Permian. The two-stage subduction process gave rise to the Huaniushan arc and the subsequent Shibanshan arc, respectively. These findings provide new constraints on the controversial subduction polarity and the multistage amalgamation of the microcontinental blocks and arcs in the southern Central Asian Orogenic Belt.

Seismic structure of Iceland revealed by ambient noise Rayleigh wave tomography

As it is an ideal location for studying plume–ridge interactions, a clear image of the Icelandic upper mantle structure is necessary. We collect continuous seismic records from 164 stations and extract Rayleigh wave dispersion curves via the frequency-Bessel (F-J) transform method. Based on ambient noise tomography, we provide a new shear-wave velocity model of the Icelandic crust and uppermost mantle, extending to a depth of 120 km. The model is validated by the waveform simulation method and reveals extensive crustal low-velocity zones (LVZs) across both the neovolcanic and nonvolcanic zones of Iceland. These crustal LVZs may be attributed to elevated temperatures, partial melting, and lithological variations. A distinct LVZ beneath a depth of 60 km, mainly on the North American Plate, may correspond to Icelandic plume material. Additionally, hot plume material may be delivered to the crust through low-velocity conduits beneath the spreading mid-ocean ridge. There is a clear contrast between the uppermost mantle low-velocity zones (UMLVZs) in the western region and the uppermost mantle high-velocity zones in the eastern region, which may indicate asymmetric tectonic plates on both sides of the mid-ocean ridge. This asymmetry may be attributed to the multiple eastward jumps of the ridge systems. The eastern high-velocity body, meaning a cooler uppermost mantle than that of the western region, may act as a barrier to obstruct the eastward plume flow. Under plume–ridge interactions, plume material can affect crustal accretion and feed volcanic activity on the surface along the spreading Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

Upper mantle structure beneath the Mongolian region from multimode surface waves: Implications for the western margin of Amurian plate

Multimode phase speeds of surface waves are used to build a new radially anisotropic S wave model in the eastern Eurasian and Mongolian regions. Our dataset includes seismic waveforms of over 1655 teleseismic events (Mw≥5.8) from 2009 to 2021, recorded at permanent and temporary stations in and around Mongolia. The multimode dispersion curves of Love and Rayleigh waves were extracted using the nonlinear waveform fitting method for individual seismograms. Then, we retrieved phase speed maps for each mode and frequency, incorporating finite-frequency effects. Finally, localized multimode dispersion curves extracted from the phase speed maps were inverted for local 1-D SV and SH wave profiles, which are combined into a radially anisotropic 3-D shear wave model. Our new model exhibits significant lateral variations of S wave speeds at 70–100 km depth beneath Mongolia, i.e., slow anomalies in the tectonically active western Mongolia in contrast to fast anomalies in stable eastern Mongolia. In the radial anisotropy model, SH waves are faster than SV waves in most areas of the Mongolian lithosphere above 100 km depth, except for the northeast of the Altay Mountains. The Hangay Dome region is characterized by significantly slower velocities that may relate to its uplifting. A large-scale low velocity beneath the northeast of the Hangay Dome with a slower SV wave speed than SH may indicate the existence of partially molten layers. This study also reveals distinct lateral variations of S wave speeds across the boundary between the Amurian and Eurasian plates, characterized by the fast anomaly in eastern Mongolia, corresponding to the lithosphere in the western Amurian plate.

The Role of Upper Mantle Forces in Post‐Subduction Tectonics: Plumelet and Active Rifting in the East Anatolian Plateau

AbstractThe spatiotemporal interaction of large‐ and regional‐scale upper mantle forces can prevail in collisional settings. To better understand the role of these forces on post‐subduction tectonics, we focus on mantle dynamics in the East Anatolian Plateau, a well‐documented segment of the Arabian‐Eurasian continental collision zone. Specifically, we analyze multiple forces in the upper mantle, which have not been considered in previous studies in this region. To this end, we use a state‐of‐the‐art 3D instantaneous geodynamic model to quantify the dynamics of thermally defined upper mantle structures derived from seismic tomography data. Results reveal a prominent SW‐NE‐oriented mantle flow from the Arabian foreland to the Greater Caucasus–a plumelet–through a lithospheric channel under the East Anatolian Plateau. This plumelet induces localized dynamic topography (∼500 m) around the extensional Lake Van province, favoring NE‐directed compression and westward escape of the Anatolian plate. We suggest that the Lake Van region is an active magma‐rich intraplate rift in the Africa‐Arabia‐Anatolian plume‐rift system. The rift zone was probably initiated by Neotethyan subduction‐related forces and has been reactivated and/or sustained by the plumelet‐induced convective support. Our findings are consistent with numerous observations, including the recent low‐ultralow seismic velocities with a SW‐NE splitting anisotropy pattern, geochemical and petrological studies, and local kinematics showing upper mantle‐induced extensional tectonics in the collisional region.

The crustal and upper-mantle structure beneath NW Iran: an integrated analysis of surface waves and gravity data

SUMMARY Understanding the crustal seismic characteristics of tectonically active regions is crucial for seismic hazard assessment. The study conducted in NW Iran utilized surface wave tomography, radial anisotropy and density information to analyse the complex crustal structure of the region, which is outstanding because of diverse tectonic features, sedimentary basins and volcanic formations. By selecting a data set of 1243 events out of over 3500 earthquakes with M > 4, and employing strict data selection criteria (such as SNR, M and Δ), the researchers calculated Rayleigh and Love wave group velocity dispersion curves using Gaussian multiple filters and phase-matched filtering. The tomographic procedure was initiated by excluding data with residuals > 2σ for enhanced stability. Individual inversions were then carried out for local Rayleigh and Love wave dispersion measurements to obtain 1-D VSV and VSH models. Radial anisotropy and VSiso were determined through a discrepancy and averaging of the obtained VSH and VSV, respectively. Gravity modelling was also employed alongside surface wave analysis to understand the region's complex geology, revealing insights into upper-middle-lower crust boundaries, subsurface structures and Moho depths. The study's velocity maps reveal significant findings related to geological units and tectonic features in various regions based on the provided results. Low velocities in the South Caspian Basin (SCB) and Kura Depression (KD) regions are attributed to substantial sedimentary layers, while low velocities, and depth of VS in NW Iran and Eastern Anatolian Accretionary Complex (EAAC) regions suggest the presence of partially molten materials in the upper and middle crust. The Sanandaj–Sirjan Zone (SSZ) region shows a low-velocity anomaly in longer periods and greater depths of VS, surrounded by normal to high velocities, indicating a thick middle crust. Analysing radial anisotropy and VSiso profiles offers insights into upper-middle-lower crust boundaries, subsurface structures and Moho depths, highlighting middle crust thickening and lower crust thinning beneath the SSZ. The study confirms the gentle subduction of the SCB oceanic-like lower crust beneath NW Iran in the Talesh (TAL) region, with a rigid middle crust. Additionally, cross-sections reveal igneous laccoliths underplate with a VSiso of 3.7 km s−1 in the volcanic region. The difference observed by subtracting the velocity models at two adjacent depths, combined with parametric test results, indicates that the Sahand volcanic system is clearly identifiable, while the influence of subtle subduction on the Sabalan volcano at depths up to 30 km remains less distinct. The magma chamber beneath Sahand is situated at depths ranging from 18 to 25 km.

Crustal and upper mantle structure beneath South America from Rayleigh wave analysis

A review of the S‐velocity structure beneath South America, for the crust and upper mantle, is performed using a recent methodology based on Rayleigh wave analysis, and a new 3D S‐velocity model (from 0 to 400 km depth) is achieved for this study area. The precise location and structure of the asthenosphere have been both determined from this new model, which have not been obtained in other previous studies, allowing to know how the different geological units that compose South America are delimited in terms of S‐velocity and lithosphere thickness. For example, the highest S‐velocities and the thickest lithosphere of the cratonic areas, are determined at the east of the Amazonian Craton and the São Francisco Craton. The lithosphere beneath the Guyana Shield is thinner than beneath the Central Brazil Shield, and the lithospheric root of the Amazonian Craton is determined deeper than the São Francisco Craton. The lithosphere at the east of the Central Brazil Shield is the thickest (~200‐km thick). Another interesting feature depicted in terms of S‐velocity and lithosphere thickness is the Transbrasiliano Lineament, which is determined in the crust and the upper mantle, confirming that it is not just a surface feature but a deep feature.

Two Effective Degrees of Freedom Can Represent the Dominant Features of Global Rayleigh Wave Dispersion Maps

AbstractObjectively exploring global variations in crust and upper mantle structure helps constrain fundamental aspects of Earth's plate tectonic and convective processes. Here we adopted a Variational Auto‐Encoder to explore the degrees of freedom of global Rayleigh wave dispersion maps at 4–40 mHz. We found that two latent variables sufficiently represent the global variations, suggesting inherent coupling between crustal and mantle seismic properties. We propose that the two extracted latent variables mostly correspond with crustal thickness and upper mantle thermal structure. The first variable shows low values for continental mountain belts and ocean spreading ridges, contrasted by high values for abyssal plains. The second variable shows low values for most oceanic lithosphere and Phanerozoic continental areas, contrasted by high values for Archean cratons. Latent space correlations indicate that continental lithosphere has more strongly coupled depth features than beneath the oceans, which might be a consequence of its longevity.

Arc tectonic elements and the upper mantle structure of the Central and Southeastern Asia: seismic tomography and seismicity data

Arc tectonic elements and the upper mantle structure of the Central and Southeastern Asia: seismic tomography and seismicity data

Understanding the structure of crust and shallow upper mantle beneath western Tibet through the joint inversion of Rayleigh wave group velocity dispersion with interpolated receiver functions

We present the 3-D shear wave velocity variationin the crust and upper mantle structure of western Tibet using a joint inversion of Rayleigh wave group velocity dispersion and interpolated receiver function. The lateral sampling of the receiver function and the surface wave dispersion is equalized by the interpolation scheme. This new method of spatial interpolation eliminates difficulties caused by back azimuthal variation in the receiver function. We have jointly inverted these interpolated receiver functions with the Rayleigh wave group velocity dispersions obtained from the earthquake and ambient noise tomography to map the tectonic structure of western Tibet. The study reveals remarkable variation of the seismic characteristics in the crust and shallow upper mantle of western Tibet. The mapped Moho depth is ~74 km in the northern part of the plateau, whereas it is ~69 km in the southern part. A thick mid-crustal slow-velocity zone from ~10km up to ~40 km depth has been observed, which could be attributed to partial melt. A noteworthy finding is the variation in slower crustal velocity between the south and north of the Lhasa Block (LB). We interpret this as the Indian crust that has been underthrusted beneath the Tibetan plateau, and the northern limit of the Indian lithosphere extends to the southern part of the LB.

Evidence of a Low‐Velocity Zone in the Upper Mantle Beneath Cumbre Vieja Volcano (Canary Islands) Through Receiver Functions Analysis

AbstractOceanic volcanic islands have a complex internal structure due to their geological evolution. La Palma is the second youngest in the Canary Islands. Historical eruptions occurred in the Cumbre Vieja (CV) volcanic system, including the last 2021 Tajogaite eruption. The seismicity before, during, and after the Tajogaite eruption provides valuable information for a better understanding of deep volcanic processes. We applied the receiver function technique to image the crustal and upper mantle structures beneath the CV volcanic complex. We investigated the first 50 km of the lithosphere, identifying various seismic discontinuities. After a thin layer of recent volcanic rocks, we found a layer corresponding to the old oceanic crust. Beneath the Moho, we found a significant decrease in the seismic velocities until about 37 km of depth. This low‐velocity layer corresponds to a zone of partial melting with interconnected magmatic chambers that feed the volcanic activity in CV.

Anelastic Tomography of the Arabian Plate

ABSTRACT In this study, we investigate the upper-mantle structure of the Arabian plate based on anelastic full-waveform inversion. The Arabian plate is composed of two main geological provinces—the Arabian Platform in the east and the Arabian Shield in the west. The Shield is dotted with areas of Cenozoic volcanism (harrats) whose precise tectonic and geodynamic origin is still debated. To help shed light on the deep geophysical properties of the Arabia plate and seismic signatures in the Earth’s upper mantle related to the surface volcanism, we use ∼38,400 three-component waveforms filtered between 25 and 100 s from 64 well-distributed regional earthquakes. We fit frequency-dependent travel-time and amplitude information. We follow a hierarchical inversion strategy in which we initially invert for the elastic structure and subsequently for both the elastic and anelastic parameters simultaneously. We assess the resolution and trade-offs between model parameters by conducting point spread function tests. Our model reveals low-wavespeed anomalies associated with mantle material that may originate from the Afar plume. In addition, we identify significant shear attenuation anomalies in the southern and central regions of the western margin of the Arabian plate. We suggest that these anomalies are linked to either the hot asthenosphere from the Afar plume or partial melting triggered by lithospheric thinning along the Red Sea rift.

A Taxonomy of Upper‐Mantle Stratification in the US

AbstractThe investigation of upper mantle structure beneath the US has revealed a growing diversity of discontinuities within, across, and underneath the sub‐continental lithosphere. As the complexity and variability of these detected discontinuities increase—for example, velocity increase/decrease, number of layers and depth—it is hard to judge which constraints are robust and which explanatory models generalize to the largest set of constraints. Much work has been done to image discontinuities of interest using S‐waves that convert to P‐waves (or top‐side reflected SS waves). A higher resolution method using P‐to‐S scattered waves is preferred but often obscured by multiply reflected waves trapped in a shallower layer, limiting the visibility of deeper boundaries. Here, we address the interference problem and re‐evaluate upper mantle stratification using filtered P‐to‐S receiver functions (Ps‐RFs) interpreted using unsupervised machine‐learning. Robust insight into upper mantle layering is facilitated with CRISP‐RF: Clean Receiver‐Function Imaging using Sparse Radon Filters. Subsequent sequencing and clustering organizes the polarity‐filtered Ps‐RFs into distinct depth‐based clusters. We find three types of upper mantle stratification beneath the old and stable continental US: (a) intra‐lithosphere discontinuities (paired or single boundary), (b) transitional discontinuities (single boundary or with a top layer), and (c) sub‐lithosphere discontinuities. Our findings contribute a more nuanced understanding of mantle discontinuities, offering new perspectives on the nature of upper mantle layering beneath continents.

Large variations in the lithospheric thickness of northwestern India: Imprints of collisional and thermal reworking

The fold belts, which border the cratons, are the building blocks for understanding the origin and modification of older continents. The Aravalli-Delhi Fold Belt (ADFB) in northwestern India provides evidence of crustal block accretion due to continental collision, whereas Malani Igneous Suite (MIS) modified with widespread magmatism. Imaging of upper mantle structure and lithospheric modifications, if any, of such regions has been intricate owing to reworking by subsequent superimposed tectono-magmatic processes. We applied a 2D modelling approach to model the lithospheric architecture along a 1000-km long WNW-SSE geotransect across northwestern India, which has been deformed in the past. Our modelling technique combines terrestrial gravity anomaly, heat flow data, satellite-based geoid, and topographic datasets using the basic premise of thermal steady-state and local isostasy. The overall 38 to 40 km thick crustal geometry underneath the Marwar Block had the maximum lithological heterogeneity. The region surrounding the MIS is characterised by 8–10 km thick high-density (2.78 g/cm3) sills deposited in the upper crust down to 9 km depth and another 10–15 km thick high-density (3.05 g/cm3) mafic mantle material near the Moho. About 42 km thick crust, including an 8 to 10-km thick high-density (3.05 g/cm3) underplated layer at its bottom, characterises the high-relief ADFB. The Vindhyan region of Bundelkhand craton is defined by a ∼ 1 km thick trap, having Moho extending at a depth of ∼40 km. The lithospheric thickness varies substantially from ∼143–168 km underneath the Marwar block, which thins to ∼135 km under the ADFB and thickens gradually to ∼150–165 km beneath the Vindhyan region. Substantial crustal density differences in distinct crustal domains, when integrated with the thin lithosphere, reinforce the concept that tectono-magmatic processes might have modified the lithosphere in NW India.

Rayleigh wave attenuation tomography based on ambient noise interferometry: methods and an application to Northeast China

SUMMARY Although ambient noise interferometry has been extensively utilized for seismic velocity tomography, its application in retrieving attenuation remains limited. This study presents a comprehensive workflow for extracting Rayleigh wave amplitude and attenuation from ambient noise, which consists of three phases: (1) retrieval of empirical Green's functions (EGFs), (2) selection and correction of amplitude measurements and (3) inversion of attenuation, site amplification and noise intensity terms. Throughout these processes, an ‘asynchronous’ temporal flattening method is used to generate high-quality EGFs while preserving relative amplitudes between stations. Additionally, a novel ‘t-symmetry’ criterion is proposed for data selection along with the signal-to-noise ratio. Furthermore, 2-D sensitivity kernels are utilized to estimate the focusing/defocusing effect, which is then corrected in amplitude measurements. These procedures are designed to deliver reliable attenuation measurements while maintaining flexibility and automation. To validate the effectiveness of the proposed noise-based attenuation tomography approach, we apply it to a linear array, NCISP-6, located in NE China. The obtained results correlate reasonably well with known geological structures. Specifically, at short periods, high attenuation anomalies delineate the location of major sedimentary basins and faults; while at longer periods, a notable rapid increase of attenuation is observed beneath the Moho discontinuity. Given that attenuation measurements are more sensitive to porosity, defect concentration, temperature, melt and volatile ratio than seismic velocities, noise-based attenuation tomography provides important additional constraints for exploring the crustal and upper mantle structures.

The Pannonian-Carpathian-Alpine seismic experiment (PACASE): network description and implementation

The Pannonian-Carpathian-Alpine Seismic Experiment (PACASE) is a collaborative project based on a large, passive seismic network comprising 214 temporary stations. Among the primary aims are the imaging of the Earth’s crustal, lithospheric and upper mantle structure, including joint inversions; monitoring and mapping of seismic activity; and interpretation of the data from seismotectonic and geodynamic perspectives. The base of the cooperation is a high-quality, broadband seismic network covering the very centre of Europe: the Eastern Alpine and Western Carpathian Mountain ranges, the Bohemian Massif, and the sedimentary Molasse and Pannonian Basins. In this overview, we focus on the implementation and achieved field goals of PACASE, such as seismic station configuration, general network organization, data availability and access to the dataset. With selected seismological examples, we demonstrate the good usability of the records of earthquake detection, and a first publication attests to the structural imaging capability of the PACASE data. We assess the background noise level at various stations and its variations in time and space. Our aim is to collect all practical information relevant to serve as a long-term reference for the PACASE.

Multiscale structures of crust-mantle beneath the South China block and their geodynamic implication

The South China block is an ideal location in which to study the impact of paleo-Pacific plate subduction on the upper mantle and crustal structures of the overriding plate, as well as the mechanism of lithospheric thinning. By integrating data from permanent seismic stations of the China Seismic Network and a dense seismic array at Xuefeng Mountain, this study employed P- and S-wave receiver functions (RFs) to image multiscale structures of crust-mantle across the South China block, thereby providing constraints for a comprehensive understanding of its tectonic evolution. The main findings are as follows: (1) The thickness of lithosphere and crust gradually decreases from northwest (NW) to southeast (SE). (2) Beneath the Xuefeng Mountain uplift zone, the P-to-S conversion from the 660 km discontinuity arrives earlier than that predicted from a one-dimensional model, other weak discontinuities can be traced in the upper mantle, including the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary, the crust becomes thinner, and the Conrad discontinuity becomes deeper. Referring to previous results from tomography and geological reconstructions, we deduce that lithospheric delamination might have occurred beneath the Xuefeng Mountain uplift zone, and the delaminated lithosphere penetrated the upper mantle and reached the mantle transition zone.

Ambient Noise Interferometry Using Ocean Bottom Seismometer Data From Active Source Experiments Conducted in the Southernmost Mariana Trench

AbstractOcean bottom seismometers (OBSs) have been used to detect submarine structural and tectonic information for decades. According to signal source controllability, OBS data have generally been classified into active and passive source data categories. The former mainly focuses on the compressional wave (P‐wave) velocity inversion and always lacks valid information about the shear wave (S‐wave) velocity structure. While the latter provides structural information with limited resolution due to the aperture of the stations. Overcoming the barriers between processing these two data types will allow the reuse of a vast amount of data from active source experiments to explore the submarine S‐wave velocity structural properties. Here, we creatively applied ambient noise interferometry to invert the S‐wave velocity structure using data from active source OBS deployment conducted in the southernmost Mariana subduction zone, which had already been utilized to detect submarine P‐wave velocity structure. Considering the short time duration and relatively low quality of this type of data, a combined method of short‐segment cross‐correlation and selected time‐frequency domain phase‐weighted stacking was adopted to obtain stable cross‐correlation functions, which were subsequently used to invert S‐wave velocity structures. Compared to previous studies using different methods, our result sheds new light on the crust and upper mantle structure of the southernmost Mariana subduction zone. This method could be used to detect more information based on the reutilization of existing active source OBS data.