Structure and physical properties of the Earth''''s interior

Introduction Progress in the study on the structure and physical properties of the Earths interior has been made in the last 4 years. ZANG, et al (1999) had reviewed the studies on the structure, geodynamics and the physical properties of the Earths interior in China during 1994~1998. This review will summarize the work done by Chinese geophysicists on the structure and physical properties of the Earths interior from 1999 to 2002. The contents are mainly on the structure and physics of the…     

Structure and physical properties of the garth＇s interior

The studies on the structure and physical properties of the Earth‘s interior done by Chinese geophysicists from 1999 to 2002 were reviewed in this paper. It includes several research areas: the structure of the Earth‘s interiors using seismic tomography, anisotropy of the upper mantle in China and its adjacent areas, quality factor Qβ for S waves, subduction zone, mantle discontinuities, physical properties of Earth‘s materials and others. The review concerns mainly the contents, the methods and the results of the studies. It can be seen that new progress in the study on the structure and physical properties of the Earth‘s interior has been made in the last 4 years in China. It is shown on three aspects: advancement made on some preexistent areas; pioneering on some new fields and new methods adopted.     

地球内部结构及物性研究的进展及问题

本文对近几年中国地球物理学家在地球内部结构和物质性质方面的研究工作进行总结.从地球内部结构的地震波速度成像,地幔介质的各向异性,地幔间断面及地幔介质物性进行了综述,指出在一些原有的研究领域,工作更加深入,方法更加先进,而且进行了广泛的国际合作,合作的范围也逐渐扩大,方式多样,并开拓了一些新的研究方向.在肯定我们近几年取得的一些新的进展的同时,也提出了地球内部结构研究中应进一步研究的问题.     

地幔对流与深部物质运移研究的新进展

现代固体地球科学已经认识到,地幔对流不再是少数动力学家的假想,它是地幔热动力系统的主要构架.地幔对流和板块运动驱动机理关系的研究已经从简单的主动或被动驱动的讨论转向对统一热动力系统的探讨.包括地幔热柱在内的地幔对流的深入研究不仅成为研究地幔热动力系统演化的主线,也成为研究大陆形成和演化驱动机理的主线.与此同时,以地震层析成像为主体的地震、地球物理观测资料和以地幔岩石化学组份为主体的地球化学观测成为认识地幔对流的强有力的工具.然而,地球化学和地球物理观测之间存在明显的差异,一些依赖于地球化学数据构思的新的热动力学框架对地幔对流的研究构成了强烈的挑战.     

基于电性结构模型的青藏高原东缘上地幔热结构研究

研究青藏高原东缘地区的深部物质结构对于理解青藏高原的隆升及扩张机制具有重要的科学意义.本文将青藏高原东缘实测大地电磁测深剖面反演所得的岩石圈电性结构模型与高温高压岩石物理实验测得的上地幔矿物和熔融体导电性定量关系相结合,通过Hashin-Shtrikman(HS)边界条件建立上地幔电导率与温度、熔融百分比等参数的定量关系,在此基础上计算得到了青藏高原东缘上地幔热结构及熔融百分比分布模型.研究结果表明在青藏高原东缘地区通过大地电磁测深方法所探测到的上地幔低阻体可以解释为由高温作用所产生的局部熔融区域.其中,松潘—甘孜地块上地幔高导体对应的温度介于1300～1500℃之间,熔融百分比可高达10%,支持前人将松潘—甘孜地块内部的低阻体解释为局部熔融的观点.龙门山断裂带以东、四川盆地西缘的上地幔高导体温度介于1200～1400℃之间,熔融百分比介于1%～5%左右,表明扬子克拉通的西缘可能正在经历一定程度的活化作用.龙门山断裂带下方的上地幔高阻体温度介于1100℃附近,基本没有发生局部熔融,具有较冷的刚性块体特征,与该区域频发的地震活动相吻合.四川盆地东部的扬子上地幔温度介于800～900℃之间,没有发生局部熔融,符合古老稳定的克拉通块体的基本特征.     

南极上地幔结构异常对长周期自由振荡的影响

2012年发生的苏门答腊大地震激起了强烈的环形地球自由振荡,本文利用南极26个地震台站记录的此次大地震激发的₀T₁₀简正模,分析南极上地幔结构异常对长周期自由振荡的影响,我们将震后20 h的自由振荡观测数据与利用PREM地球模型模拟的结果进行比较,结果表明：在震后较短时间内区域性（区域的范围远远小于简正模的波长）上地幔结构异常能显著影响长周期自由振荡质点的偏振,引起简正模强烈的偏振异常.以往研究主要关注地球自转和全球范围的上地幔结构异常对长周期自由振荡简正模的影响,局部范围的上地幔结构异常对长周期自由振荡的影响并未被重视.对南极地区₀T₁₀垂向偏振异常的进一步分析表明：南极大陆上地幔存在方位各向异性,上地幔各向异性主要分布在横贯南极山脉下方,深度范围约为70~660 km.利用震后较短时间内的长周期地球自由振荡观测资料可以对局部区域上地幔的各向异性及其深度范围提供约束,可作为剪切波分裂和面波层析成像技术的补充.     

动态地幔柱尾管结构

动态地幔柱模式被广泛用于讨论地球科学中的一些重要课题,如巨大火成区的成因,冈瓦纳古陆解体的原因,板块内中小尺度动力过程的驱动因素等．但是这个基于实验研究而建立的模式中,忽略了地幔柱尾管特征及其作用．地幔柱尾管内温度和速度分布是研究地幔柱上升过程的必要条件．本文从控制尾管结构的基本方程出发,给出了一个定常轴对称地幔柱温度和速度分布的近似分析解．从而得到尾管结构的基本特征：影响尾管内温度分布的主导因素是地幔柱的热流通量,而尾管内上涌速度的大小则不仅取决于热流通量,主要是取决于地幔粘度随深度的变化方式．结果表明,对弱地幔柱,尾管的热损失可能是不可忽略的,而对强地幔柱,径向质量传递可能是不可忽略的.     

Influence of the Load Wavelength on the Permeability of a Viscosity Interface in the Mantle

Assuming a radially stratified Newtonian mantle in a steady-state approximation, we demonstrate that the permeability of a viscosity interface at 660-km depth strongly depends on the wavelength of buoyancy forces driving the flow. The flow induced by long-wavelength loads penetrates through the boundary freely even if the viscosity increases by two orders. In contrast, the boundary is practically impermeable for short-wavelength loads located in the upper mantle. Thus, a stepwise increase of viscosity is a significant obstacle for small descending features in the upper mantle, but huge upper mantle downwellings, or upwellings formed in the-lower mantle can overcome it easily. This indicates that certain care is necessary in interpreting the seismic structure of the mantle by means of flow models. The global tomographic image includes only the first few degrees of the harmonic series and, consequently, its interpretation in terms of a present-day flow field results in a predominantly whole-mantle circulation even for extreme viscosity contrasts.     

Redox state of amphibole-bearing mantle peridotite from Nüshan, Anhui Province in eastern China and its implications

Using secondary spinel standard method, we have measured precisely the compositions of spinels of amphibole-bearing mantle peridotite xenoliths from Nüshan in eastern China, and calculated the mantle oxygen fugacities recorded by the xenoliths. Results indicate that the mantle metasomatism for forming amphiboles in Nüshan region of Anhui has resulted in the decrease of mantle redox, which is in contrast with theoretical estimation and previous research results from other areas around the world. Combining with related studies on the mantle of eastern China, we give a reasonable explanation to the 'new finding' and further elucidate the compositions and nature of mantle fluids in eastern China.     

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.     

High-P/T experimental studies and water in the silicate mantle

Water (or H) in the silicate mantle is a key element in influencing Earth’s climate, habitability, geochemical evolution, geophysical properties and geodynamical processes, and has received increasing attention in the past decades. Experimental work under simulated high-pressure and high-temperature conditions is a powerful tool in characterizing the species, distribution, storage capacity and various physicochemical impacts of water in the mantle. In recent years, significant approaches have been acquired about some key physical, chemical and dynamical properties of water in the mantle and their various impacts, as a result of extensive studies by high-pressure and temperature experiments, and our knowledge of Earth’s water cycle, especially the deep water cycle, on both temporal and spatial scales has been greatly enhanced. In this paper, a brief review based mainly on experimental studies is presented concerning the current understanding and some recent approaches of water in the silicate mantle, such as the possible origin, amount, storage and the effect on mantle properties.     

Rheological properties of deep subducted oceanic lithosphere and their geodynamic implications

According to the experimental studies on the rheology of two important mantle rocks (eclogite and harzburgite), the rheological properties of the deep subducted oceanic lithosphere are investigated by assuming a simplified harzburgite type slab model with moderate thickness of basaltic layer. When the mantle convergence rate is small or the subducting slab has been trapped in the mantle for an enough long time, the strength profile of the slab is characterized by a strong subducting crustal component lying on a weak subducting upper mantle. However, if the convergence rate is large enough, the subducting slab will be featured only by a rigid cold center. Our study suggests that the detachment of the subducting crust component from the underlying upper mantle is only likely to happen in hot slow subducting slabs, but not the cold fast subducting lithosphere. Rheological properties of the harzburgitic and the eclogitic upper mantle vary with depths. The eclogitic upper mantle is stronger than the peridotitic upper mantle across the upper mantle. Transition zone is the high strength and high viscosity layer in the upper mantle except the lithosphere.     

Crust-mantle structure feature and the seismic activity of the main tectonic units in the North Tanlu fault zone

IntroductionThe Northern Tanlu fault zone (from Yingkou to Luobei) crosses the northeast mainland ofChina. Because of its large scale, long history activity and controlling earthquakes prominently, itis paid closely attention by geologists, and a imp amount of geological survey has been done inthese years (Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources of Liaoning Province, 1989; Bureau ofGeology and Mineral Resources of Jinn Province, 1988; Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources of Heilongi…     

Nature of heterogeneity of the upper mantle beneath the northern Philippine Sea as inferred from attenuation and velocity tomography

We investigated the physical properties in the upper mantle beneath the Philippine Sea using a theoretical relation derived by Karato [Mapping water content in the upper mantle. Subduction factory, AGU Monograph, in press]. From the attenuation model of Shito and Shibutani [Phys. Earth Planet. Interact., in press] and the velocity model of Widiyantoro et al. [Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 173 (1999) 91], observed attenuation and velocity anomalies were evaluated to explain the temperature, water content, and chemical heterogeneities in the target area. The results indicate that the observed anomalies in the shallower regions (50–200 km) may be due to chemical composition effects (e.g., concentration of iron), in addition to the temperature and water content anomalies. In contrast, for the deep upper mantle (300–400 km), the observations can be explained by only the effects of high water content (10–50 times higher than the average mantle). These inferred properties of the mantle are consistent with the tectonic history of the Philippine Sea region, which has had a long history of subduction and active magmatism.     

上地幔高导层与内生金属矿产及油气藏的关系

依据大地电磁测深所发现的上地幔高导层顶面深度可以给出大陆岩石圈-软流圈界面(LAB)的空间发育特征,为认识岩石圈结构及壳幔相互作用等提供重要信息.本文在1996年编制的中国大陆上地幔高导层顶面深度图的基础上,补充了1995—2010年大地电磁测深结果和大地热流数据,以1°×1°网度编制了新的中国大陆上地幔高导层顶面深度图.我国上地幔高导层顶面深度变化很大,具有南北分带,东西分块的特征,呈东浅、西深、北浅、南深的格局,从最浅的50~60km到最深的230km,平均深度为100~120km.据上地幔高导层顶面分布形态,全国共可划分出27个隆起区.通过与中国已知内生金属矿产和油气田的分布对比,发现我国大陆80%以上中生代内生金属矿床分布在上地幔高导层隆起带或其梯度带上方.中国大陆东部含油气盆地主体对应上地幔隆起区,油气田多位于隆起区上方或其边部的过渡带上;西部主体位于幔坳区,主要油气田对应盆地中心的幔坳向周边幔隆过渡的梯度带上;中部表现为仅盆地腹地对应幔坳,盆地周边对应规模较大的上地幔隆起带,主要油气田位于隆起带.总的来看内生金属矿床一般分布在上地幔隆起区靠近造山带一侧,而油气田一般分布在上地幔隆起区靠近盆地一侧.软流圈的不断上隆,造成岩石圈减薄、拉张,张性断裂的出现成为地球深部物质和热量向地壳上部运移的有利通道,为内生金属矿产的形成提供了成矿物质和能量保障,也为含油气盆地带来了生烃催化剂、热能和无机成因的石油与天然气.地球深部超临界流体的存在对上地幔高导层的形成、成矿物质运移可能发挥了重要作用.     

Dissecting large earthquakes in Japan: Role of arc magma and fluids

We synthesized information from recent high-resolution tomographic studies of large crustal earthquakes which occurred in the Japanese Islands during 1995–2008. Prominent anomalies of low-velocity and high Poisson's ratio are revealed in the crust and uppermost mantle beneath the mainshock hypocenters, which may reflect arc magma and fluids that are produced by a combination of subducting slab dehydration and corner flow in the mantle wedge. Distribution of 164 crustal earthquakes ( M 5.7–8.0) that occurred in Japan during 1885–2008 also shows a correlation with the distribution of low-velocity zones in the crust and uppermost mantle. A qualitative model is proposed to explain the geophysical observations recorded so far in Japan. We consider that the nucleation of a large earthquake is not entirely a mechanical process, but is closely related to the subduction dynamics and physical and chemical properties of materials in the crust and upper mantle; in particular, the arc magma and fluids.     

浙皖地区地壳-上地幔结构和华南与扬子块体边界

基于屯溪－温州剖面宽角反射地震资料,拟合反演了地壳浅层和深部结构,并利用非纵剖面记录构制了上幔顶部结构图象。结果表明,江绍断裂带是本区最明显的构造分界,其西北一侧的扬子块体和东南侧的华南块体地壳和上地幔顶部结构以及地球物理特征明显不同。金（华）衢（州）盆地下方地幔上隆,上地幔岩石层中有低速体,可能是一个复杂的岩浆房构造。地幔岩石层呈现出由ＳＥ至ＮＷ向仰冲的叠瓦式片状构造,提示该区明显受水剂压应力控制。     

中国东部海域及邻区岩石层地幔的P波速度结构与构造分析

利用中国大陆东部及台湾地区、日本和琉球群岛的地震观测数据，通过体波地震层析技术反演了中国东部海域及其邻近地区的P波速度结构.以此为依据分析了不同地区的岩石层性质和深部动力学条件，探讨了中朝与扬子块体、扬子与华夏块体在海区的深部边界及其构造属性，揭示出菲律宾海板块与欧亚大陆的碰撞以及板片俯冲下沉、弧后扩张作用对中国东部海域岩石层结构的影响.结果表明，中国东部海域的岩石层地幔存在明显的横向非均匀性，它们与区域构造的形成演化有一定的联系.中国大陆东部的五莲－青岛断裂与朝鲜半岛西缘断裂、济州岛南缘断裂共同构成中朝和扬子块体的边界，江绍断裂向东延伸至朝鲜半岛南端成为分隔扬子和华夏块体的边界；东海陆架与冲绳海槽的岩石层结构差异明显，东海陆架具有中国东部地区的岩石层特征，属于欧亚大陆向海域的延伸；冲绳海槽的岩石层强烈减薄，为大陆向大洋过渡的区域；沿着日本－琉球－台湾俯冲带，菲律宾海板块俯冲下沉引起的地幔扰动对中国东部海域产生了较大的影响，欧亚大陆与菲律宾海板块之间的相互碰撞导致台湾地区岩石层明显增厚.     

Electrical Structure in Marine Tectonic Settings

This review paper presents recent research on electrical conductivity structure in various marine tectonic settings. In at least three areas, marine electromagnetic studies for structural exploration have increasingly progressed: (1) data accumulations, (2) technical advances both for hardware and software, and (3) interpretations based on multidisciplinary approaches. The mid-ocean ridge system is the best-studied tectonic setting. Recent works have revealed evidence of conductive zones of hydrothermal circulation and axial magma chambers in the crust and partial melt zones of the mid-ocean ridge basalt source in the mantle. The role of water or dissolved hydrogen and its redistribution at mid-ocean ridges is emphasized for the conductivity pattern of the oceanic lithosphere and asthenosphere. Regions of mantle upwelling (hotspot or plume) and downwelling (subducting slab) are attracting attention. Evidence of heterogeneity exists not only in the crust and the upper mantle, but also in the mantle transition zone. Electrical conductive zones frequently overlap seismic low-velocity zones, but discrepancies are also apparent. Some studies have compared conductivity models with the results of seismic and other studies to investigate the physical properties or processes. A new laboratory-based conductivity model for matured oceanic lithosphere and asthenosphere is proposed. It takes account of both the water distribution in the mantle as well as the thermal structure. It explains observed conductivity patterns in the depth range of 60–200 km.     

南海深部地球动力学特征及其演化机制

利用地热学、流变学和重力学方法，计算了南海岩石层温度结构、流变特征及地幔对流格局.南海莫霍面温度在600-1000℃之间.岩石层底界面温度在1150-1300℃之间，有效粘滞系数为1020-1021Pa·s，与冰期回弹资料确定的地幔粘度吻合，表明南海深部具备产生地幔热对流的物理条件.研究认为地幔物质由北西向南东方向的运移以及印澳-欧亚板块的碰撞，导致南海北部大陆边缘向洋扩张、离散和断裂解体.在向洋离散过程中，陆-洋岩石层底部地幔局部对流使中央海盆扩张和北部陆缘发生差异性块断运动.