Seismic Tomography

QuickTime
Using earthquakes to image theand a of the earth
interior
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Layer Depth (km)
0
Crust
35
Upper
Mantle
660
Lower
Mantle
2,890
Outer Core
5,150
Inner Core
 Wave Types

Surface waves - primarily perturb the near-surface

P-waves - compressional waves, can be imaged to depth of the outer core
S-waves - transverse waves, can be imaged to depth of the outer core

Robertson, 2007
Seismic stations used in global tomographic reconstructions

QuickTime and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.

Zhao, 2001
 Difficulties

-constrained by frequency and locations of earthquakes

-seismic waves do not follow straight paths
-low resolution, poorly spaced receiver network

-wavelengths (10s to 100s of km) are similar to resolution of structures for

which images are desired
-multiple possible explanations for velocity deviations
-vertical structure especially difficult to differentiate
Influence of additional
factors

QuickTime and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.

Humphreys et. al., 2003

 Multiple Inversion Possibilities

Squeezed to 150 km Squeezed to 200 km

QuickTime and a QuickTime and a

TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture. are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Despite these difficulties.

seismic tomography still provides worthwhile information

about the interior structure of the earth.
 Global deviations from average P-wave velocity

QuickTime and a QuickTime and a

TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture. are needed to see this picture.

Zhao, 2001
 Western US deviations from average P-wave velocity

QuickTime and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.

Karlstrom and Keller, 2005

 Rocky Mountains

QuickTime and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.

Karlstrom et. al., 2005

 Hawaiian hotspot from two directions

QuickTime and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.

Zhao, 2001
 References
Anderson, D.L. and A.M. Dziewonski, 1984, Seismic Tomography: Scientific American, v. 251, p. 60-68.

Humphreys, E., E. Hessler, K. Dueker, G.L. Farmer, E. Erslev, and T. Atwater, 2003, How Laramide-Age Hydration
of North American Lithosphere by the Farallon Slab Controlled Subsequent Activity in the Western United States:
International Geology Review, v. 45, p. 575-595.

Karlstrom, K.E. and G.R. Keller, 2005, Introduction, in Karlstrom, K.E. and G.R. Keller, eds., The Rocky Mountain
region; an evolving lithosphere; tectonics, geochemistry, and geophysics: Geophysical Monograph, v.154, p.421-
441.
Karlstrom, K.E. and others, 2005, Synthesis of Results from the CD-ROM Experiment: 4-D Image of the
Lithosphere Beneath the Rocky Mountains and Implications for Understanding the Evolution of Continental
Lithosphere, in Karlstrom, K.E. and G.R. Keller, eds., The Rocky Mountain region; an evolving lithosphere;
tectonics, geochemistry, and geophysics: Geophysical Monograph, v.154, p.421-441.

Levander, A., F. Niu, C.A. Lee, and X. Cheng, 2006, Imag(in)ing the continental lithosphere: Tectonophysics, v.
416, p. 167-185.

Nolet, G., R. Allen, and D. Zhao, 2007, Mantle plume tomography: Chemical Geology, v. 241, p. 248-263.

Robertson, E.C., 2007, The Interior of the Earth: USGS General Interest Publication,
http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/interior/.

Zhao, D., 2001, Seismic structure and origin of hotspots and mantle plumes: Earth and Planetary Science Letters,
v. 192, p. 251-265.