DISTRIBUTION OF LOW-ELASTICITY ZONES IN THE EARTH'S MANTLE

Abstract

The authors analyzed statistically the distribution of zones of low and high elasticity in the earth's mantle, using as inputs the charts of velocity vS of transverse (S) waves at depths of 50, 150, 350, 550, 570, 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500 and 2950 km, measured in a tomographic study by A.M. Dziewonski et al. The deviation of the S-wave velocity from the average value for a given depth was as great 2 to 4 percent at depths of up to 670 km and 0.5 to 1 percent at depths of more than 670 km.