Deep origin of the Hawaiian tilted plume conduit derived from receiver functions

Authors: Wölbern, I.; Jacob, A. W. B.; Blake, T. A.¹; Kind, R.; Li, X.²; Yuan, X.²; Duennebier, F.³; Weber, M.

Source: Geophysical Journal International, Volume 166, Number 2, August 2006 , pp. 767-781(15)

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Abstract:

SUMMARY

We employ P to S converted waveforms to investigate effects of the hot mantle plume on seismic discontinuities of the crust and upper mantle. We observe the Moho at depths between 13 and 17 km, regionally covered by a strong shallow intracrustal converted phase. Coherent phases on the transverse component indicate either dipping interfaces, 3-D heterogeneities or lower crustal anisotropy. We find anomalies related to discontinuities in the upper mantle down to the transition zone evidently related to the hot mantle plume. Lithospheric thinning is confirmed in greater detail than previously reported by Li et al., and we determine the dimensions of the low-velocity zone within the asthenosphere with greater accuracy. Our study mainly focuses on the temperature-pressure dependent discontinuities of the upper mantle transition zone. Effects of the hot diapir on the depths of mineral phase transitions are verified at both major interfaces at 410 and 660 km. We determine a plume radius of about 200 km at the 660 km discontinuity with a core zone of about 120 km radius. The plume conduit is located southwest of Big Island. A conduit tilted in the northeast direction is required in the upper mantle to explain the observations. The determined positions of deflections of the discontinuities support the hypothesis of decoupled upper and lower mantle convection.

Keywords: convection; Hawaii; hotspots; mantle discontinuities; mantle plume; receiver functions

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-246X.2006.03036.x

Affiliations: 1: Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 5 Merrion Square, Dublin 2, Ireland 2: GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany 3: School of Ocean & Earth Science & Technology, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, USA

Publication date: 2006-08-01

Deep origin of the Hawaiian tilted plume conduit derived from receiver functions

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