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Absolute Compressional-wave Speed of the Earth’s Outer Core Constrained by Global Correlation Wavefields

Description: 

The compressional-wave (P-wave) speed of the Earth’s outer core provides a fundamental constraint on its composition and thermodynamic state. While numerous seismological and geophysical studies have been foundational in investigating the P-wave velocity structure of the outer core, resolving its entire profile, particularly regarding absolute velocity estimates, remains a significant and ongoing challenge. In this study, we introduce a new class of observations that constrain the P-wave speed of the outer core over a wide range of depths. We utilize the global correlation wavefield, derived from the stack of earthquake late-coda cross-correlations, which has recently emerged as a novel dataset and also a powerful tool for studying the Earth’s deep interior. We identified new and prominent correlation features which exhibits significant sensitivity to the absolute compressional-wave speed of the outer core across a broad range of depths, and we quantify the sensitivities. Further analyses yeild absolute measurement of the P-wave velocity profile of the outer core, which offers new insights into the structure and dynamics of the entire liquid core and also demonstrates the power of global correlation wavefields for probing the deep- planetary and Earth interiors.

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: Sheng Wang

Student Presenter: No

Invited Presentation: 

Poster Number: 121

Authors