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Decadal change of seismic structure in the Earth’s lowermost mantle

Author

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  • Xin Zhang

    (University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Lianxing Wen

    (State University of New York at Stony Brook)

Abstract

Studying temporal changes of seismic property could provide a direct mean to monitor dynamic processes in the Earth’s lowermost mantle, yet no related seismic observations were discovered. Here, we report temporal changes of seismic data between a pair of nearly co-located earthquakes occurring on 2000/07/07 and 2009/12/17 and infer two types of decadal-scale structural changes in the lowermost mantle: (1) a 10s km-scale shrinkage or movement of an ultra-low velocity zone near the core-mantle boundary, and (2) opposing shear wave anisotropy changes in the top and bottom portions of the lowermost ~300 km mantle. These findings suggest that ultra-low velocity zones are deformed as partially molten materials or moved by vigorous localized material flows and the region of the lowermost mantle possesses a separate layer circulation. This report demonstrates the capability of seismic monitoring of deep mantle dynamics and calls for new geodynamical models to account for these previously unrecognized features.

Suggested Citation

  • Xin Zhang & Lianxing Wen, 2025. "Decadal change of seismic structure in the Earth’s lowermost mantle," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-63814-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-63814-3
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sebastian Rost & Edward J. Garnero & Quentin Williams & Michael Manga, 2005. "Seismological constraints on a possible plume root at the core–mantle boundary," Nature, Nature, vol. 435(7042), pages 666-669, June.
    2. S. Labrosse & J. W. Hernlund & N. Coltice, 2007. "A crystallizing dense magma ocean at the base of the Earth’s mantle," Nature, Nature, vol. 450(7171), pages 866-869, December.
    3. Thorne Lay & Quentin Williams & Edward J. Garnero, 1998. "The core–mantle boundary layer and deep Earth dynamics," Nature, Nature, vol. 392(6675), pages 461-468, April.
    4. Qian Yuan & Mingming Li & Steven J. Desch & Byeongkwan Ko & Hongping Deng & Edward J. Garnero & Travis S. J. Gabriel & Jacob A. Kegerreis & Yoshinori Miyazaki & Vincent Eke & Paul D. Asimow, 2023. "Moon-forming impactor as a source of Earth’s basal mantle anomalies," Nature, Nature, vol. 623(7985), pages 95-99, November.
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