地球内核及其边界的结构特征和动力学过程

现代地震学展现出了一个复杂的地球内核内部和表面结构.地球内核内部结构的主要特征表现为其地震波速度和衰减呈现各向异性,且各种结构（速度、衰减和各向异性）均呈现东西半球差异,而内核表面的新发现则包括其局部区域存在起伏的地形和固液并存的糊状层.地球内核压缩波速度和衰减均呈现以地球旋转轴为轴的柱对称各向异性,沿地球旋转轴方向传播的压缩波比沿赤道方向传播的压缩波传播更快且衰减更强烈.同时,内核各向异性结构随深度而变化：内核顶部约100~400 km接近各向同性,而在内核最深处300~600 km内则可能存在一个具有不同各向异性特征的内内核.地球内核的东西半球差异表现在多方面：在内核顶部~100 km厚度内,东半球的各向同性速度比西半球快约0.8%,东半球具有较强的衰减（Q=250）,而西半球则具有较弱的衰减（Q=600）;西半球的顶部各向同性层厚度约为100 km,而东半球顶部各向同性层厚度则约为400 km;在各向同性层底下,西半球具有较强的各向异性（~4%）,而东半球则具有较弱的各向异性（~0.7%）.地球内核边界在菲律宾海、黄海、西太平洋以及中美洲下方存在1~14 km高的地形起伏,在鄂霍次克海西南部下方存在4~8 km厚的糊状层.地球内核的这些新发现引发了对许多可能的新物理机制的探讨,也促使我们重新评估我们对外核成分、外核热化学对流、内核凝固过程和地球磁场驱动力的认识.这些结果表明内核凝固过程和地球磁场的热和化学驱动力远比传统观念认为的横向均匀分布复杂得多.内核西半球可能不断凝固并释放潜热和轻元素,而东半球则可能不断熔化并吸收潜热和轻元素,外核对流的驱动力在东西半球可能截然不同,甚至呈现相反方向.这些凝固与熔化交替过程也发生在局部地形起伏区域.在糊状层区域,地球内核凝固释放潜热和化学能,而在大部分无糊状地区,内核凝固只释放潜热.     

日本列岛下的三维地震衰减结构及其对构造和地热的意义

用地震烈度资料反演确定了日本列岛下方三维地震衰减结构.结果清楚地揭示出衰减结构中的明显差异,并且反映出日本列岛下方热结构的横向变化. 利用Hashida和Shimazaki发展的方法反演,就是假设烈度是观测点的S波最大加速度的度量单位,并用以估算衰减结构和震源处的加速度,资料取自1951—1983年日本气象厅报导的大约800个地震的15000个烈度读取值.把日本8个区域的结构联结起来,构制成一幅三维衰减图,它包含三层结构,深度达90 km. 衰减结构图揭示出下述特点:首先,日本东北部和西南部的地壳结构存在着明显的差异.日本东北部,低Q值(高衰减)地区位于岛弧的大陆一侧,而一些高Q值(低衰减)地区则位于岛弧的太平洋一侧.在日本西南部,除了Kyushu地区以外,主要为高Q值地区,而一些小的低Q值地区主要分布于太平洋沿岸.这些地壳的特点一般是一直延伸到地幔顶部.第二,地壳结构的衰减性与地壳年龄有关,低Q值地区与第四纪火山物质分布相对应,高Q值地区与前新生代岩石分布区相对应.由于热结构强烈地依赖于地壳年龄,因而这一特征也说明衰减结构反映了热结构.第三,在上地幔内发现了低Q值点的空间位置对应于构成岛弧-火山链的活火山和其它第四纪火山分布.应当注意的是,甚至在前沿火山带的大陆一侧,在没有火山的地区下方,不再存在低Q值的区域,这暗示着上地幔的衰减性受上涌的底辟所控制,这些上涌的底辟被认为位于火山和火山群下方.第四,上地幔的高Q值带沿Kurile东北Honshu岛弧和沿Ryukyu岛弧的前沿火山带的太平洋一侧分布.高Q值的地幔上覆于下沉板块之上,似乎反映了正在消减的冷的太平洋板块的冷却现象.在这类外弧地区岩石层厚度可能达60km以上,尽管巳经认为它是30 km左右.在日本西南部,那里也存在着高Q值的地幔顶部,其岩石层厚度约60 km. 根据所得的三维衰减结构和其它地球物理的推断结果,提出了日本东北部和西南部可能的地热横剖面.预测日本东北部的地幔顶部比西南部的具有更高的温度,这样的热结构反映了这两个地区地质背景不相同,例如消减板块、推覆岩石层和火山活动.     

中国东北地区上地幔远震P波方位各向异性层析成像研究

采用NECESSArray流动地震台阵2009—2011年期间纪录的154个远震波形资料,使用考虑各向异性的走时层析成像方法获得了中国东北地区上地幔三维P波速度扰动和方位各向异性图像.结果显示,东北地区上地幔P波速度扰动和方位各向异性均存在明显的横向不均匀性.阿尔山火山区下方存在深至地幔转换带的柱状低速异常,可能暗示存在来自深部的岩浆运移通道;410 km以下,阿尔山地区下方低速异常与松辽盆地下方低速异常汇合,同时各向异性快波速度方向FVD整体为NW向分布,表明二者可能具有共同的深部热源补给.在松辽盆地下方100 km,盆地南侧及中部地区FVD呈近E-W向展布,东侧则呈NE-SW向展布,推测可能受到E-W走向的华北克拉通—松嫩地块拼合带及NE向深大断裂的共同影响;410 km以下,FVD整体以NW向分布为主,与SKS结果类似,可能表明SKS各向异性的来源深度较深,推测其形成机制与太平板块西向俯冲有关.长白山火山区下方200 km内FVD展布与块体拼合带走向一致,反映了拼合过程对局部构造变形的影响;300 km以下显示出一致的NW向特征,推断与太平洋板块的西向俯冲有关;520～660 km内火山区西北方存在一个低速异常区,但方位各向异性幅值较大,整体趋势一致,初步推测与来自深部的地幔热柱关系不大,可能与滞留板块的深部脱水作用有关.     

内核地震波速各向异性的成因

地球内核是轴对称各向异性的,其对称轴与地球的极轴之间有１１°左右的夹角,本 文根据地球内核相对于外部地球有差异转动这一观测结果,利用晶体生长理论,对内核地震波 速度各向异性的成因进行了探讨．当从熔融状态结晶时,晶体的生长速度与晶体和熔融态之 间相对运动的线速度成正比涸此当固态内核在液态外核中生长时,沿赤道方向的生长速度比 两极方向快．在万有引力场的作用下内核始终保持近似球形,生长速度较快的赤道附近的物 质会向两极区域流动,形成轴对称的流变场。这一轴对称的流变场伴随着轴对称的应力场,使 得构成地球内核的ｈｃｐ型铁晶体的ｃ轴沿着内核自转轴的方向排列,导致观测到的地球内核地 震波速度各向异性。作为推论,内核相对于外部地球可能同时存在着进动和章动。     

非洲南部地壳与上地幔地震波速度与径向各向异性特征及其对克拉通岩石圈中部不连续面的启示

克拉通地区发育的岩石圈中部不连续面(Mid-Lithosphere Discontinuity, MLD)对于理解克拉通的形成与演化有着重要的意义.非洲南部的卡普瓦尔克拉通(Kaavpvaal craton)较为稳定,是研究MLD地震学特征及其成因机制的一个重点区域.本研究基于多个地震台网105个台站记录的700多个地震事件的面波波形,通过Rayleigh波和Love波成像,构建了非洲南部地壳与上地幔的三维剪切波速度与径向各向异性模型.研究结果表明,卡普瓦尔克拉通的地壳与上地幔呈现相对高速异常,其岩石圈与软流圈界面(LAB)出现在约220 km深.另外,我们在卡普瓦尔克拉通岩石圈内部约100 km深观测到一个速度突变面,可解释为MLD,并在MLD下方观测到低速层.而各向异性在上地幔的垂直方向上并未显示明显的区域性突变,似乎暗示MLD的地震各向异性特征更为复杂.结合前人的研究成果,我们推测卡普瓦尔克拉通MLD与上地幔低速层的成因可能与温度密切相关.而镁值成分异常或岩浆侵入则会局部的改变该克拉通(尤其是其北部)上地幔速度.针对MLD与上地幔低速成因的研究还需结合更多的地球物理数据和岩石实验...     

南美地区下地幔速度界面结构研究

下地幔间断面是地球内部结构研究的重要课题,对于理解地球深部的动力过程具有重要意义.美国西部密集地震台网记录到的南美洲太平洋地区深震的短周期波形资料有利于震源下方下地幔间断面的研究.本文收集了美国西北太平洋地震台网和犹他大学地震台网所记录的南美洲西部俯冲地区15个深震的19组短周期垂向台网资料,并利用4次根倾斜叠加方法提取震源下方下地幔中速度界面上发生转换的次生震相SdP,据此发现南美洲西部下方下地幔中800~1200 km深度范围内存在明显的转换点集中,主要分布在900,1000和1100 km三个深度附近,三个速度界面具有不同的起伏形态,应为在研究区域双层地幔对流中间边界层.     

东北地区660km间断面附近波速结构研究

我国东北地区位于西北太平洋和达-贝尼奥夫俯冲带前缘,其深部速度结构对理解板块俯冲行为以及地幔物质的交换有重要意义.利用区域三重震相模拟方法,对中国地震观测台网记录到的两个深源地震P波和SH波波形数据,进行了相对到时和波形的拟合,获得了我国东北地区660 km间断面附近波速结构.结果表明,研究区域下方的间断面没有发生明显...     

基于背景噪声和地震面波联合反演华北克拉通中部岩石圈结构

基于ChinArray三期项目布设于华北克拉通中部的流动台阵观测数据,利用背景噪声互相关和地震面波层析成像获取了研究区内6—140 s周期的瑞雷面波频散,使用蒙特卡罗非线性反演方法获得了华北克拉通中部岩石圈的高分辨率三维S波速度结构。结果显示华北克拉通不同地块的岩石圈速度结构存在显著的横向差异:其中鄂尔多斯盆地腹地整体表现为高速特征,延伸至200 km以下,但其东南缘存在小范围的低速异常;东部的华北盆地整体表现为低速特征,具有较薄的地壳和岩石圈厚度;中部造山带南北两端以及南北重力梯度线下方存在相连接的低速区域,在深处延伸至华北盆地下方;在下地壳和上地幔顶部,大同火山群区域的低速体逐渐向西偏移至鄂尔多斯盆地东北角下方;而在上地幔中,该区域的低速异常随深度增加而逐渐减弱,低速体延伸至东南方向的华北盆地下方。基于本研究获得的S波速度模型,我们认为:鄂尔多斯盆地腹地保持了克拉通特性,但其东南缘存在局部的岩石圈改造作用;华北盆地发生了强烈的岩石圈破坏减薄和地壳伸展变形;中部造山带南北端以及南北重力梯度线下方的岩石圈发生了局部的改造减薄,其机制可能都来源于华北盆地下方地幔热物质的上涌;大同火山群下方上涌的热物质从鄂尔多斯盆地东北角下方侵入下地壳,在地壳内上升过程中受到上地壳的阻挡,向东流动至大同火山群下方,形成了大同火山群的岩浆活动,其深部来源可能与西向俯冲的太平洋停滞板块有关。      

中国东北地区远震P波走时层析成像研究

利用中国东北流动和固定台网的234个宽频带地震仪记录的远震波形数据,采用波形相关方法拾取了57251个有效相对走时残差数据,进一步采用FMTT(Fast Marching Teleseismic Tomography)层析成像的方法,反演获取了研究区下方深达800 km的P波速度结构.结果显示:在长白山下方发现有一个高速异常结构,这可能就是俯冲到欧亚大陆板块下方的太平洋板块,由于板块的部分下沉,使得板块的形状并没有呈现出明显的板片状.长白山、阿尔山、五大连池火山下方都有低速异常体,长白山和阿尔山下的低速异常向下延伸至地幔转换带,可能与其上部的火山形成有关.五大连池火山下方的低速异常向下延伸至200 km左右,不同埋深的低速异常结构可能意味着五大连池与长白山和阿尔山有着不同的成因.松辽盆地呈现以高速异常为主导高低速异常混合分布的特性,暗示松辽盆地可能有岩石圈拆沉的过程,盆地南部下方的低速异常与长白山和阿尔山下的低速异常有连通性,可能是下地幔热物质上涌的一个通道.     

地球内核的地震学研究进展

介绍和讨论了用地震学观测资料和方法研究内核所取得的各种不同的最新结果.内核差异旋转的研究结果争论很大,Souriau和宋晓东给出的差异转速值分别为(0±0.2)°/a和(0.15-1.1)°/a.内核上部数百公里厚度的层区内,西半球比东半球各向异性强,即存在明显的半球尺度上的差异.资料和研究表明,在内核浅部似乎是各向同性的,而其余部分是各向异性的,由此需要提出一个过渡带模型来解释内核各向异性的径向和横向变化.通过大量资料分析还发现,在半径约300km的中心区域,其各向异性比浅部更强.这成为"最内核"存在的证据,并从而展示了一个全新的内核结构:上内核、过渡带、下内核、最内核.介质品质因子的研究指出内核高波速区却是波动能量高衰减区,与在地幔中两者的相关规律性很不相同.内核的横波研究虽然更为困难,但也有少数学者做了努力.     

Anelastic structure of the upper mantle beneath the northern Philippine Sea

We investigated the upper mantle anelastic structure beneath the northern Philippine Sea region, including the Izu-Bonin subduction zone and the Shikoku Basin. We used regional waveform data from 69 events in the Pacific and the Philippine Sea slabs, recorded on F-net and J-array network broadband stations in western Japan. Using the S–P phase pair method, we obtained differential attenuation factors, δt^*, which represent the relative whole path Q. We conducted a tomographic inversion using 978 δt^* values to invert for a fine-scale (50–100 km) three-dimensional anelastic structure.

The results shows two high-Q regions (Q_P>1000) which are consistent with the locations of the Pacific and the Philippine Sea slabs. Also there is a low-Q (Q_P110) area extending to the deeper parts (350–400 km) of the model just beneath the old spreading center and the Kinan Seamount Chain in the Shikoku Basin. A small depth dependence of the laterally averaged Q_P was found, with values of 266 (0–250 km), 301 (250–400 km), and 413 (400–500 km).     

黏声方程Q值反射波反演

地震波在非弹性介质中的衰减效应常用品质因子Q度量.相对准确的Q模型对提高强衰减介质中地震波成像的质量至关重要.本文提出了黏声介质反射波形反演(QRWI)方法来重建地下宏观Q模型.在缺乏大偏移距和低频地震数据时,该方法以黏声波方程为波场传播引擎,利用反射波核函数对模型中深部的敏感性去提取背景Q值.当速度高、低波数成分均已知时,基于波形拟合的QRWI可以获得较高分辨率的反演结果.由于地下介质速度的高波数扰动很难准确估计,本文通过引入峰值频移目标函数,极大地降低了QRWI对速度高波数成分的依赖.理论合成数据实验结果表明,本文方法反演得到的宏观Q模型可以满足衰减补偿逆时偏移成像的要求.     

Weak velocity anomaly in the Earth’s outer core from seismic data

Experimental data on the differential travel time t _BC–t _DF of seismic waves PKP_DF and PKP_BC in the Earth’s core under Africa and Australia are analyzed. The differential travel-time residuals beneath Africa in a narrow range of angles from 21° to 25° between the direction of the seismic ray in the core and the Earth’s rotation axis exhibit a scoop-shaped peculiarity not accounted for by cylindrical anisotropy in the inner core. A model with a 0.2–0.8% P-wave velocity anomaly with a radius of 1375 km in the cylindrical region in the outer core is proposed, which closely fits the experimental data. We suggest that the velocity anomaly is generated by the dynamical processes occurring in the outer core, namely, the growth of the inner core and the convection in the outer core, both leading to the formation of a low-density anomaly in the outer core.     

Seismic anisotropy and velocity structure beneath the southern half of the Iberian Peninsula

Travel times of 11,612 Pn arrivals collected from 7675 earthquakes are inverted to image the uppermost mantle velocity and anisotropy structure beneath the southern half of the Iberian Peninsula and surrounding regions. Pn phases are routinely identified and picked for epicentral distances from 200 to 1200 km. The method used in this study allows simultaneous imaging of variations of Pn velocity and anisotropy. The results show an average uppermost mantle velocity beneath the study area of 8.0 km/s. The peninsular area covered by the Iberian massif is characterized by high Pn velocity, as expected in tectonically stable regions, indicating areas of the Hercynian belt that have not recently been reactivated. The margins of the Iberian Peninsula have undergone a great number of recent tectonic events and are characterized by a pronouncedly low Pn velocity, as is common in areas greatly affected by recent tectonic and magmatic activity. Our model indicates that the Betic crustal root might be underlined by a negative anomaly beneath the southeastern Iberian Peninsula. In the Atlantic Ocean, we find a sharp variation in the uppermost mantle velocities that coincides with the structural complexity of the European and African plate boundary in the Gulf of Cadiz. Our results show a very pronounced low-velocity anomaly offshore from Cape San Vicente whereas high velocities are distributed along the coast in the Gulf of Cadiz. In the Alboran Sea and northern Morocco, the direction of the fastest Pn velocity found is almost parallel to the Africa–Eurasia plate convergence vector (northwest–southeast) whereas to the north, this direction is almost parallel to the main trend of the Betic Cordillera, i.e. east–west in its central part and north–south in the curvature of the Arc of Gibraltar. This suggests that a significant portion of the uppermost mantle has been involved in the orogenic deformation that produced the arcuate structure of the Betic Cordillera. However, we assume that the Neogene extension had no major influence on a lithospheric scale in the Alboran Sea. Our results also show a quite complex pattern of anisotropy in the southwest Iberian lithospheric mantle since the relationship between the direction of fastest Pn velocity and major Hercynian tectonic trends cannot be directly established.     

Longshot experiments to study velocity anisotropy in the oceanic lithosphere of the northwestern Pacific

Several long-range explosion seismology experiments have been conducted in the northwestern Pacific basin, where one of the oldest oceanic lithospheres is postulated to exist. The experiments were conducted from 1974 to 1980. Highly sensitive ocean-bottom seismographs which had been developed for longshot experiments were used. The lengths of the profiles ranged from 1000 to 1800 km, and the directions were chosen to provide wide azimuthal coverage. One of the aims of this series of experiments was to test the existence of velocity anisotropy on a large, regional scale.The results show that the oceanic lithosphere has anisotropy wherein the velocity changes by 4–7%. The anisotropy extends from a depth of at least 40 to 140 km beneath the sea bottom; however, the magnitude of the anisotropy may vary with depth. The azimuth of the maximum velocity is 150–160° clockwise from north, and coincides with the “fossil” direction of spreading of the Pacific plate, whereas it differs from the present direction of plate motion by ～ 30°. The azimuth does not seem to depend on depth. In the direction of maximum velocity, the lithosphere is basically two-layered: 8.0–8.2 and 8.6 km s^?1. The depth of the interface is 50–60 km beneath the sea floor.     

利用中国地震台网（CSN）记录到的PKP波研究中太平洋下地幔底部的小尺度P波速度变化

PKP震相包含了下地幔底部P波速度结构的重要信息.中国地震台网（CSN）台站记录到的南美洲地震的PKP波的射线，对中太平洋下的D″层有很好的采样.本研究采用这些PKP波的AB和DF两个分支的走时差，研究了中太平洋下地幔底部P波速度的小尺度变化.AB DF的走时差减小了上地幔横向不均匀性的影响，而对下地幔底部P波速度的横向变化十分敏感.与此同时，AB DF的走时差也减小了地震定位误差的影响，消除地震发震时间测定误差的影响.本研究的结果表明，在中太平洋的地幔底部存在着大范围的AB DF走时正残差，也即低速异常区，这可能是太平洋下超大地幔热柱的源处.观测到的P波速度异常的空间分布总体上与Grand通过层析成像得到的CMB的S波的速度异常相一致，并在变化的幅度上很好地相关，P波速度的扰动值（在D″层大约为2%）是Grand 速度模型中的S波异常的36%.这一结果有助于太平洋下超大地幔热柱的结构和性质的进一步研究.     

Error bars for the global seismic Q profile

The radial attenuation profile of the Earth is needed to account for dispersion effects when interpreting seismic velocities and can provide important constraints on composition. To date, most radial Q models have been produced using traditional damped inversions of free oscillation and surface wave data. Because such inversions can severely underestimate the model uncertainties that are needed to guide mineralogical and dynamic interpretation, and because the quality of data has continued to improve, we revisit this seismic inverse problem using a model space search approach already proven effective with similar data. We do, indeed, observe model uncertainties at least an order of magnitude greater than earlier estimates. At the same time, we find that Q is determined well enough to confirm that the data favor several important features previously disputed because of questions of consistency. These include shear attenuation that drops significantly in the lower third of the lower mantle and bulk attenuation that is negligible in the inner core but stronger in the outer core and lower mantle than suggested by most models.     

Anisotropic tomography of the Atlantic Ocean

We present the first regional three-dimensional model of the Atlantic Ocean with anisotropy. The model, derived from Rayleigh and Love wave phase velocity measurements, is defined from the Moho down to 300 km depth with a lateral resolution of about 500 km and is presented in terms of average isotropic S-wave velocity, azimuthal anisotropy and transverse isotropy.The cratons beneath North America, Brazil and Africa are clearly associated with fast S-wave velocity anomalies. The mid-Atlantic ridge (MAR) is a shallow structure in the north Atlantic corresponding to a negative velocity anomaly down to about 150 km depth. In contrast, the ridge negative signature is visible in the south Atlantic down to the deepest depth inverted, that is 300 km depth. This difference is probably related to the presence of hot-spots along or close to the ridge axis in the south Atlantic and may indicate a different mechanism for the ridge between the north and south Atlantic. Negative velocity anomalies are clearly associated with hot-spots from the surface down to at least 300 km depth, they are much broader than the supposed size of the hot-spots and seem to be connected along a north-south direction.Down to 100 km depth, a fast S-wave velocity anomaly is extenting from Africa into the Atlantic Ocean within the zone defined as the Africa superswell area. This result indicates that the hot material rising from below does not reach the surface in this area but may be pushing the lithosphere upward.In most parts of the Atlantic, the azimuthal anisotropy directions remain stable with increasing depth. Close to the ridge, the fast S-wave velocity direction is roughly parallel to the sea floor spreading direction. The hot-spot anisotropy signature is striking beneath Bermuda, Cape Verde and Fernando Noronha islands where the fast S-wave velocity direction seems to diverge radially from the hot-spots.The Atlantic average radial anisotropy is similar to that of the PREM model, that is positive down to about 220 km, but with slightly smaller amplitude and null deeper. Cratons have a lower than average radial anisotropy. As for the velocities, there is a difference between north and south Atlantic. Most hot-spots and the south-Atlantic ridge are associated with positive radial anisotropy perturbation whereas the north-Atlantic ridge corresponds to negative radial anisotropy perturbation.     

Lowermost mantle anisotropy beneath the Pacific: Imaging the source of the Hawaiian plume

We utilized recordings of seismic shear phases provided by several North American broadband seismometer arrays to provide unique constraints on shear wave anisotropy beneath the northern and central Pacific Ocean. Using a new analysis method that reduces measurement errors and enables the analysis of a larger number of available waveforms, we examined relative travel times of teleseismic S and Sdiff that sample a large area of lowermost mantle structure. The results of this study provide evidence for small-scale lateral and depth variations in shear wave anisotropy for a broad region of the lowermost mantle beneath the Pacific Ocean. In particular, we image a localized zone of anomalously strong anisotropy whose strength increases toward the top of D″ beneath Hawaii. Our results, combined with a previous study of V_P/V_SH ratios, indicate that ancient subducted slab material may be responsible for observations beneath the northern Pacific, while lenses or layers of core–mantle boundary reaction products or partial melt, oriented by horizontal inflow of mantle material to the Hawaiian plume source, can explain observations beneath the central Pacific.