A Study of Crustal and Upper Mantle Structure for the Eastern Tennessee Seismic Zone using P-wave Transfer Functions

We develop crust and mantle models of the Eastern Tennessee Seismic Zone (ETSZ) using imaging and inversion of the radial component P-wave transfer functions for stations in the Center for Earthquake Research and Information\u27s (CERI) eastern Tennessee seismic network. We find complex structure in the upper 10 km in addition to an upper mantle high velocity zone with Vp values from ~8.2-8.56 km/s. This high velocity zone most likely extends from the west into the ETSZ and may be preserved mantle structure from the Granite Rhyolite province. Moho in the area is mostly gradational. However, velocity discontinuities can be seen at places indicating a fairly stable Moho depth of ~45-50 km. We suggest that the NY-AL lineament represents a major deep crustal to upper mantle feature

A machine-learning derived model of seafloor sediment accumulation

Abstract Previous studies regarding the depositional pattern and quantity of accumulated seafloor sediment tend to be regional, limited in scope and involving costly and time-consuming geologic field campaigns and laboratory work. Presented herein is a global map of predicted modern (postindustrial, 20th and 21st century) oceanic mass accumulation rates of 5-arc-minute pitch and in log10-space, trained on observed marine mass accumulation rates from 43 peer reviewed sources (n = 1744) and predicted using a k-nearest neighbor geospatial algorithm. The resultant model predicts ~3.3 × 104 Mt. yr−1 of sediment accumulating onto the sea floor (R2 = 0.88). Most sediment accumulates proximal to major river outlets and deltas. Continental regions with the highest sediment accumulation are Asia and Oceania. This model is the first of its kind to predict the rate and quantity of sediment accumulating on to the ocean floor, globally, using decades of regional real-world observations. The generated global map of modern, benthic mass accumulation rates also serves to highlight areas of interest for future study in related fields, such as sediment dynamics and seafloor stability

Crustal and upper mantle velocity structure in the vicinity of the eastern Tennessee seismic zone based upon radial P wave transfer functions

Teleseismic transfer function analysis is used to investigate crust and upper mantle velocity structure in the vicinity of the active eastern Tennessee seismic zone (ETSZ). The ETSZ is associated with the New York-Alabama (NY-AL) magnetic lineament, a prominent aeromagnetic anomaly indicative of Grenville-age, basement structure. Radial component, P wave transfer functions for 10 short-period stations operated by the Center for Earthquake Research and Information are inverted for velocity structure. Velocity profiles are also determined for three broadband stations by converting the instrument response to that of an S-13 short-period seismometer. Distinct differences in the velocity profiles are found for stations located on either side of the NY-AL magnetic lineament; velocities west of the lineament are lower than velocities to the east of the lineament in the upper 10 km and in the depth range 30 to 50 km. A gradational Moho boundary is found beneath several stations located in the Valley and Ridge province. A Moho boundary is absent at four Valley and Ridge stations located east of the magnetic lineament and south of 35.5°N

A machine learning approach using legacy geophysical datasets to model Quaternary marine paleotopography

High-resolution subsurface marine mapping tools, including chirp and 3D seismic, enable the reconstruction of ancient landscapes that have been buried and subsequently submerged by marine transgression. However, the established methods for paleotopographic reconstruction require time consuming field and data interpretation efforts. Here we present a novel methodology using machine learning to estimate Marine Isotope Stage 2 (MIS2) paleotopography over a large (22 000 km2) area of the Northern Gulf of Mexico with meter-scale accuracy (2.7 m mean prediction error, 4.3 m 1-σ mean uncertainty). A relatively small area (3300 km2) of high-resolution (30 × 30 m) interpreted paleotopography is used as training and validation data, while modern bathymetry and MIS2 paleovalley location (binary deep/shallow paleotopography) are used as predictors. This approach merges the high-resolution of modern mapping techniques and the broad coverage of low-resolution legacy geophysical data. Machine learning-modeled paleotopography is not a substitute for precise high-resolution paleotopography reconstruction techniques, but it can be used to reasonably approximate paleotopography over large areas with greatly reduced expense and expertise

An assessment of crustal and upper-mantle velocity structure by removing the effect of an ice layer on the P-wave response: An application to antarctic seismic studies

Standard P-wave receiver function analyses in polar environments can be difficult because reverberations in thick ice coverage often mask important P-to-S conversions from deeper subsurface structure and increase ambient noise levels, thereby significantly decreasing the signal-to-noise ratio of the data. In this study, we present an alternative approach to image the subsurface structure beneath ice sheets. We utilize downward continuation and wavefield decomposition of the P-wave response to obtain the up- and downgoing P and S wavefield potentials, which removes the effects of the ice sheet. The upgoing P wavefield, computed from decomposition of the waveform at a reference depth, is capable of indicating ice layer thickness. This simple step removes the necessity of modeling ice layer effects during iterative inversions and hastens the overall velocity analysis needed for downward continuation. The upgoing S wave is employed and modeled using standard inversion techniques as is done with receiver functions at the free surface using a least-squares approximation. To illustrate our proof of concept, data from several Antarctic networks are examined, and our results are compared with those from previous investigations using P- and S-wave receiver functions as well as body- and surface-wave tomographic analyses. We demonstrate how our approach satisfactorily removes the ice layer, thus creating a dataset that can be modeled for crustal and upper-mantle structure. Solution models indicate crustal thicknesses as well as average crustal and upper-mantle shear-wave velocities

Imaging the Antarctic Mantle Using Adaptively Parameterized P-wave Tomography: Evidence for Heterogeneous Structure beneath West Antarctica

Previously developed continental-scale surface wave models for Antarctica provide only broad interpretations of the mantle structure, and the best resolved features in recent regional-scale seismic models are restricted above ~300–400 km depth. We have developed the first continental-scale P-wave velocity model beneath Antarctica using an adaptively parameterized tomography approach that includes data from many new seismic networks. Our model shows considerable, previously unrecognized mantle heterogeneity, especially beneath West Antarctica. A pronounced slow velocity anomaly extends between Ross Island and Victoria Land, further grid south than previous studies indicate. However, at least for mantle depths ≥~200 km, this anomaly does not extend grid north along the Transantarctic Mountains (TAMs) and beneath the West Antarctic Rift System. The boundary between these slow velocities and fast velocities underlying East Antarctica is ~100–150 km beneath the front of the TAMs, consistent with flexural uplift models. The lateral extent of the low velocity anomaly is best explained by focused, rift-related decompression melting. In West Antarctica, Marie Byrd Land is underlain by a deep (~800 km) low velocity anomaly. Synthetic tests illustrate that the low velocities also extend laterally below the transition zone, consistent with a mantle plume ponded below the 660 km discontinuity. The slow anomalies beneath Ross Island and Marie Byrd Land are separate features, highlighting the heterogeneous upper mantle of West Antarctica

Epistasis between Pax6Sey and genetic background reinforces the value of defined hybrid mouse models for therapeutic trials

The small eye (Sey) mouse is a model of PAX6-aniridia syndrome (aniridia). Aniridia, a congenital ocular disorder caused by heterozygous loss-of-function mutations in PAX6, needs new vision saving therapies. However, high phenotypic variability in Sey mice makes development of such therapies challenging. We hypothesize that genetic background is a major source of undesirable variability in Sey mice. Here we performed a systematic quantitative examination of anatomical, histological, and molecular phenotypes on the inbred C57BL/6J, hybrid B6129F1, and inbred 129S1/SvImJ backgrounds. The Sey allele significantly reduced eye weight, corneal thickness, PAX6 mRNA and protein levels, and elevated blood glucose levels. Surprisingly, Pax6Sey/Sey brains had significantly elevated Pax6 transcripts compared to Pax6+/+ embryos. Genetic background significantly influenced 12/24 measurements, with inbred strains introducing severe ocular and blood sugar phenotypes not observed in hybrid mice. Additionally, significant interactions (epistasis) between Pax6 genotype and genetic background were detected in measurements of eye weight, cornea epithelial thickness and cell count, retinal mRNA levels, and blood glucose levels. The number of epistatic interactions was reduced in hybrid mice. In conclusion, severe phenotypes in the unnatural inbred strains reinforce the value of more naturalistic F1 hybrid mice for the development of therapies for aniridia and other disorders