Quantifying the density contrasts of the Earth’s inner core boundary(ICB)is crucial to understand core-mantle coupling and the generation of the geodynamo.The PKiKP/PcP amplitude ratio is commonly used to obtain the density contrast at the ICB,but its applications are limited by scattered observed data.In this study,we selected the PKiKP and PcP phases reflected at the same region of inner-core and core-mantle boundaries beneath Northeast Asia from different earthquakes for the first time,and the observations suggested that the PKiKP/PcP amplitude ratio is widely scattered.We also compared the PKiKP and PcP amplitudes,which demonstrated that the scatter cannot be attributed only to ICB anomalies but might also arise from raypath differences and heterogeneities throughout the crust and mantle.By fitting the observed PKiKP/PcP amplitude ratio,we obtained a density contrast of approximately 0.65 g cm^(-3) and a compressional velocity contrast of approximately 0.87 km s^(-1) at the ICB beneath Northeast Asia.The larger contrast values indicate the possible occurrence of local crystallization occurring at the inner core surface.
We conducted the ambient noise tomography to image the shallow crustal structure of southern Tibet. The2D maps of phase velocity anomalies at the periods of10–16 s show that the low velocities are mainly confined along or near some of the rift zones. While the maps at the periods of 18–25 s show that the coherent patterns that the low velocities expand outside of the rift zones. It means that the low velocities are prevailing in the middle crust of southern Tibet. According to the previous study of surface wave tomography with teleseismic data,we find that the low velocities from the lower crust to the lithospheric mantle are also restricted to the same rift zones. Thus,the integrated knowledge of the distribution of the low velocities in southern Tibet provides some new insight on the formation of the north–south trending rift zones. Compiling the multidiscipline evidences,we conclude that the rifting was an integrated process of the entire lithosphere in the early stage(*26–10 Ma),but mainly occurred within the upper crust due to the weakening a decoupling in the low velocity middle crust in the late stage(later than *8 Ma).
Mingming JiangYinshuang AiShiyong ZhouYongshun John Chen
郯庐断裂渤海湾北段纵贯辽宁省,现今仍然活动,1975年海城M_S7.3地震就发生在该断裂系统上.利用2005年5月至2006年4月布设的渤海湾流动地震台阵观测数据,结合辽宁省固定地震台网数据,重新拾取了780个区域小地震,并使用双差地震定位方法获得了546个地震事件的定位结果.通过自助法得到双差定位的平均水平误差和深度误差分别为1.5和1.9km.结果显示在观测周期内,郯庐断裂渤海湾北段主断裂地震不活跃,但是主断裂东侧的海城河断裂和太子河断裂小震沿断裂呈条带状密集分布.利用gCAP(general Cut and Paste)方法计算了区域地震震源机制解,选取出4个可信的震源机制解;综合前人已有结果,认为研究区的小地震震源机制主要以走滑与正断为主,与区域构造应力场吻合良好.海城河和太子河断裂的地震活动深达中下地壳,结合热流数据和岩石物理实验,推测研究区中下地壳由干燥的镁铁质岩石组成.
