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Mantle Structure and Flow Across the ContinentâOcean Transition of the Eastern North American Margin: Anisotropic SâWave Tomography
Abstract:
Little has been seismically imaged through the lithosphere and mantle at rifted margins across the continentâocean transition. A 2014â2015 community seismic experiment deployed broadband seismic instruments across the shoreline of the eastern North American rifted margin. Previous shearâwave splitting along the margin shows several perplexing patterns of anisotropy, and by proxy, mantle flow. Neither margin parallel offshore fast azimuths nor null splitting on the continental coast obviously accord with absolute plate motion, paleoâspreading, or riftâinduced anisotropy. Splitting measurements, however, offer no depth constraints on anisotropy. Additionally, mantle structure has not yet been imaged in detail across the continentâocean transition. We used teleseismic S, SKS, SKKS, and PKS splitting and differential travel times recorded on oceanâbottom seismometers, regional seismic networks, and EarthScope Transportable Array stations to conduct joint isotropic/anisotropic tomography across the margin. The velocity model reveals a transition from fast, thick, continental keel to low velocity, thinned lithosphere eastward. Imaged short wavelength velocity anomalies can be largely explained by edgeâdriven convection or shearâdriven upwelling. We also find that layered anisotropy is prevalent across the margin. The anisotropic fast polarization is parallel to the margin within the asthenosphere. This suggests margin parallel flow beneath the plate. The lower oceanic lithosphere preserves paleoâspreadingâparallel anisotropy, while the continental lithosphere has complex anisotropy reflecting several Wilson cycles. These results demonstrate the complex and active nature of a margin which is traditionally considered tectonically inactive
Mantle Structure and Flow Across the ContinentâOcean Transition of the Eastern North American Margin: Anisotropic SâWave Tomography
Abstract Little has been seismically imaged through the lithosphere and mantle at rifted margins across the continentâocean transition. A 2014â2015 community seismic experiment deployed broadband seismic instruments across the shoreline of the eastern North American rifted margin. Previous shearâwave splitting along the margin shows several perplexing patterns of anisotropy, and by proxy, mantle flow. Neither margin parallel offshore fast azimuths nor null splitting on the continental coast obviously accord with absolute plate motion, paleoâspreading, or riftâinduced anisotropy. Splitting measurements, however, offer no depth constraints on anisotropy. Additionally, mantle structure has not yet been imaged in detail across the continentâocean transition. We used teleseismic S, SKS, SKKS, and PKS splitting and differential travel times recorded on oceanâbottom seismometers, regional seismic networks, and EarthScope Transportable Array stations to conduct joint isotropic/anisotropic tomography across the margin. The velocity model reveals a transition from fast, thick, continental keel to low velocity, thinned lithosphere eastward. Imaged short wavelength velocity anomalies can be largely explained by edgeâdriven convection or shearâdriven upwelling. We also find that layered anisotropy is prevalent across the margin. The anisotropic fast polarization is parallel to the margin within the asthenosphere. This suggests margin parallel flow beneath the plate. The lower oceanic lithosphere preserves paleoâspreadingâparallel anisotropy, while the continental lithosphere has complex anisotropy reflecting several Wilson cycles. These results demonstrate the complex and active nature of a margin which is traditionally considered tectonically inactive