Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Article
  • Published:

Upper-mantle seismic discontinuities and the thermal structure of subduction zones

Nature volume 356, pages 678–683 (1992)Cite this article

Abstract

The precise depths at which seismic velocities change abruptly in the upper mantle are revealed by the analysis of data from hundreds of seismometers across the western United States. The boundary near 410km depth is locally elevated, that near 660 km depressed. The depths of these boundaries, which mark phase transitions, provide an in situ thermometer in subduction zones: the observed temperature contrasts require at least moderate thickening of the subducting slab near 660 km depth. In addition, a reflector near 210 km depth may mark the bottom of the aesthenosphere.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Jeanloz, R. Geophys. Res. Lett. 18, 1743–1746 (1991).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Shearer, P. M. & Masters, T. G. Nature 355, 791–795 (1992).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. Silver, P. G., Carlson, R. W. & Olson, P. A. Rev. Earth planet. Sci. 16, 477–541 (1990).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Helmberger, D. V. & Engen, G. J. geophys. Res. 79, 4017–4029 (1974).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. Shearer, P. M. J. geophys. Res. 96, 18147–18182 (1991).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. Revenaugh, J. & Jordan, T. H. J. geophys. Res. 96, 19763–19780 (1991).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. Wald, L. A. & Heaton, T. H. J. geophys. Res. 96, 12099–12125 (1991).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. Van der Hilst, R., Engdahl, E. R., Spakman, V. & Nolet, G. Nature 353, 37–43 (1991).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  9. Stark, P. B. & Frohlich, C. J. geophys. Res. 90, 1859–1869 (1985).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. Richards, M. A. & Wicks, C. W. Jr Geophys. J. 101, 1–35 (1990).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. Ito, E. & Takahashi, E. J. geophys. Res. 94, 10637 (1989).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. Fischer, K., Creager, K. & Jordan, T. H. J. geophys. Res. 93, 4773 (1988).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. Akaogi, M., Ito, E. & Navrotsky, A. J. geophys. Res. 94, 15671–15688 (1989).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  14. Katsura, T. & Ito, E. J. geophys. Res. 94, 15663–15671 (1989).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  15. Sung, C. M. & Burns, R. G. Earth planet Sci. Lett. 32, 165–170 (1976).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Iidaka, T. & Suetgetsu, D. Nature (in the press).

  17. Solomon, S. C. & U, K.T.P. Phys. Earth planet Sci. Lett. 11, 97–108 (1975).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  18. Helffrich, G. R., Stein, S. & Wood, B. J. J. geophys. Res. 94, 753–763 (1989).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Green, H. W. & Burnley, P. C. Nature 341, 733–737 (1989).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  20. Kirby, S. H., Durham, W. B. & Stern, L. A. Science 252, 216–225 (1991).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Lehmann, I. Ann. Geophys. 15, 93–118 (1959).

    Google Scholar 

  22. Anderson, D. L. J. geophys. Res. 84, 7555–7561 (1979).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  23. Bowman, J. R. & Kennett, B. L. N. Geophys. J. Int. 101, 355–366 (1990).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  24. Given, J. W. & Helmberger, D. V. J. geophys. Res. 85, 7183–7184 (1980).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  25. Kanamori, H. Bull. Earthquake Res. Inst. 45, 657 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  26. Kato, M. & Hirahara, K. Geophys. J. Int. 106, 551–558 (1991).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  27. Revenaugh, J. & Jordan, T. H. J. geophys. Res. 96, 19781–19810 (1991).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  28. Anderson, D. L. & Bass, J. Nature 320, 321–328 (1986).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Gurnis, M. & Hager, B. H. Nature 335, 317–321 (1988).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  30. Duffy, T. & Ahrens, T. J. J. geophys. Res. (in the press).

  31. Kennett, B. L. N. IASPI 1991 Seismological Tables (Research School of Earth Sciences, Australia National Univ., 1991).

    Google Scholar 

  32. Dziewonski, A. M. & Woodhouse, J. H. J. geophys. Res. 88, 3247–3271 (1983).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. United States Geological Survey, Branch of Seismology, 345 Middlefield Road, MS 977, Menlo Park, California, 94025, USA

    John E. Vidale & Harley M. Benz

Authors
  1. John E. Vidale
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Harley M. Benz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Vidale, J., Benz, H. Upper-mantle seismic discontinuities and the thermal structure of subduction zones. Nature 356, 678–683 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1038/356678a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/356678a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing