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Investigation of Artifacts in MTZ Receiver Functions Using Spectral-element Method Synthetics

Description: 

Estimates of the depths of the 400-km and 670-km mantle discontinuities and the thickness H of the mantle transition zone rely on traveltime corrections for wave speed variations in the mantle. With a focus on North America, we explore how well topography of the 400-km and 670-km can be constrained using waveforms, receiver functions, and common-conversion-point (CCP) images computed with the spectral-element method. In 3D input models, the 400-km and 670-km are horizontal boundaries. P-wave and S-wave velocities in the mantle are taken from global or regional-scale tomographic models.

If we calculate CCP images and make traveltime corrections using the same model, we obtain 5-km high topography of the 400-km and 670-km and 5-km variations of H due to inaccurate ray theory. If we calculate traveltime corrections using a different model than assumed in the input model, the 400-km and 670-km have residual topography of about 10 km. This is large compared to topography inferred from USArray data. It is difficult to predict the artifacts because the spatial correlation between the undulations and the assumed velocity structures of the tomographic models is low.

We will present experiments and statistical analyses to illustrate that CCP images must be interpreted carefully given the inaccuracies of ray theory and uncertainties in the velocity structure of the mantle.

Session: New Frontiers in Seismic Observations and Modeling with Innovative Methods and Emerging Data on Earth and Other Planets [Poster]

Type: Poster

Date: 4/17/2026

Presentation Time: 08:00 AM (local time)

Presenting Author: Jeroen Ritsema

Student Presenter: No

Invited Presentation: 

Poster Number: 119

Authors