On the nature of the P-wave velocity gradient in the inner core beneath Central America

Abstract

We conduct an experiment to investigate whether linearity in the observed velocity gradient in the volume of the inner core sampled by the PKP ray paths beneath Central America is a robust approximation. Instead of solving an optimization problem, we approach it within the Bayesian inference. This is an ensemble approach, where model specification is relaxed so that instead of only one solution, groups of reasonable models are acceptable. Furthermore, in transdimensional Bayesian inference used here, the number of basis functions needed to model observations is by itself an unknown. Our modeling reveals that in the ensemble of models, the most likely are those containing only 2 nodes (linear trend). Thus our result justifies the assumption used for the determination of inner core rotation with respect to the rest of the mantle that the observed gradient is constant in its nature (linear). Recent observations in seismology suggest that it is likely that the spatial variability in elastic parameters is a widespread phenomenon in the inner core. Future array observations will further constrain spatial extent and magnitude of velocity changes and show whether there is a significant difference between these observations in the two quasi-hemispheres of the inner core.

Keywords

solid earth physics / deep geophysics

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