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Kilometer-scale structure on the core–mantle boundary near Hawaii

Author

Listed:
  • Zhi Li

    (University of Cambridge)

  • Kuangdai Leng

    (University of Oxford
    Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Science and Technology Facilities Council)

  • Jennifer Jenkins

    (University of Cambridge
    Durham University)

  • Sanne Cottaar

    (University of Cambridge)

Abstract

The lowermost mantle right above the core-mantle boundary is highly heterogeneous containing multiple poorly understood seismic features. The smallest but most extreme heterogeneities yet observed are ‘Ultra-Low Velocity Zones’ (ULVZ). We exploit seismic shear waves that diffract along the core-mantle boundary to provide new insight into these enigmatic structures. We measure a rare core-diffracted signal refracted by a ULVZ at the base of the Hawaiian mantle plume at unprecedentedly high frequencies. This signal shows remarkably longer time delays at higher compared to lower frequencies, indicating a pronounced internal variability inside the ULVZ. Utilizing the latest computational advances in 3D waveform modeling, here we show that we are able to model this high-frequency signal and constrain high-resolution ULVZ structure on the scale of kilometers, for the first time. This new observation suggests a chemically distinct ULVZ with increasing iron content towards the core-mantle boundary, which has implications for Earth’s early evolutionary history and core-mantle interaction.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhi Li & Kuangdai Leng & Jennifer Jenkins & Sanne Cottaar, 2022. "Kilometer-scale structure on the core–mantle boundary near Hawaii," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-30502-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30502-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. James Badro & Julien Siebert & Francis Nimmo, 2016. "An early geodynamo driven by exsolution of mantle components from Earth’s core," Nature, Nature, vol. 536(7616), pages 326-328, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Katsutoshi Kawano & Masayuki Nishi & Hideharu Kuwahara & Sho Kakizawa & Toru Inoue & Tadashi Kondo, 2024. "Extensive iron–water exchange at Earth’s core–mantle boundary can explain seismic anomalies," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-8, December.

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