A groundbreaking study using full-waveform inversion (FWI) technology has revealed previously undetected anomalies in Earth’s lower mantle. Researchers from ETH Zurich and Utrecht University detected positive wave speed anomalies, which contradict earlier interpretations that linked them to subducted slabs.
The team used advanced FWI techniques to unveil numerous anomalies, including distinct features in the Western Pacific Ocean and South America. These findings suggest multiple potential sources for the anomalies, such as thermochemical heterogeneities, basalt enrichment, and delaminated lithospheric material.
FWI’s ability to detect subtle variations has proven transformative in mantle research, reducing biases introduced by uneven seismic station distribution. The study’s results align with previous geochemical and geodynamic predictions of persistent mantle heterogeneity.
The discovery challenges previous assumptions about mantle processes and introduces new methods for exploring the Earth’s interior. The researchers’ findings have significant implications for our understanding of the Earth’s thermal history and mantle convection.
Reference: Schouten et al., Nature (2024)
Source: https://watchers.news/epicenter/hidden-mantle-anomalies-detected-using-full-waveform-inversion