Variations of Velocity and Attenuation Anisotropy Structures in the Uppermost Inner Core Beneath the Central Pacific Region. Issue 21 (6th November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Qin, Jialing; Sun, Xinlei; Fan, An
• Is Part Of: Geophysical research letters. Volume 46:Issue 21(2019)
• Page Start: 11811
• Page End: 11819
• Publication Date: 2019-11-06
• Subjects: inner core -- attenuation anisotropy -- regional variations; Geophysics -- Periodicals; Planets -- Periodicals; Lunar geology -- Periodicals; 550
• DOI: 10.1029/2019GL084258
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0094-8276

Abstract

Abstract: Using PKIKP and PKiKP travel times and amplitude ratios, we examine the velocity and attenuation anisotropy structures in the uppermost 100 km of the inner core beneath the central Pacific region. Our results indicate a clear change from approximately 180°E to 190°E longitude. Below the western Pacific, velocity anisotropy is weak and attenuation is high (Qp ~200), whereas below the eastern Pacific, velocity anisotropy is strong (3.3%) and attenuation is low (Qp ranges from 400 to 150). Furthermore, the velocity and attenuation anisotropies are correlated with each other. Our results indicate that the growth of the inner core may be coupled with core mantle boundary thermal heterogeneities. The heterogeneities may affect directional heat flow or deformational processes in the uppermost inner core, cause different iron crystal alignments, and result in lateral variations in anisotropy structures. Plain Language Summary: The inner core solidified from the liquid outer core, so the structure at the top inner core is closely linked to its formation process. In this study, based on seismic data availability, we choose the uppermost 100 km of the inner core beneath the Pacific region and investigate in detail its velocity and attenuation differences in different directions, or anisotropy structures. Our results not only depict a transition boundary between the eastern and western Pacific but also show different anisotropy characteristics of these two regions, in which the western/eastern Pacific region shows weak/strong anisotropy in both velocity and attenuation. Moreover, the velocity and attenuation anisotropies are correlated. These results indicate that the inner core growth may be coupled with the core mantle boundary heterogeneity, which may cause different texture alignment through different deformation or heat flow, and result in different physical properties in the inner core. Key Points: Both velocity and attenuation anisotropy in the uppermost 100 km of the inner core beneath the central Pacific are investigated We find clear variations in both velocity and attenuation anisotropy structures, and there exist good correlation between them The inner core growth may be coupled with core‐mantle boundary heterogeneity and different deformation processes