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Inversion of gravity and bathymetry in oceanic regions for long-wavelength variations in upper mantle temperature and compositionLong-wavelength variations in geoid height, bathymetry, and SS-S travel times are all relatable to lateral variations in the characteristic temperature and bulk composition of the upper mantle. The temperature and composition are in turn relatable to mantle convection and the degree of melt extraction from the upper mantle residuum. Thus the combined inversion of the geoid or gravity field, residual bathymetry, and seismic velocity information offers the promise of resolving fundamental aspects of the pattern of mantle dynamics. The use of differential body wave travel times as a measure of seismic velocity information, in particular, permits resolution of lateral variations at scales not resolvable by conventional global or regional-scale seismic tomography with long-period surface waves. These intermediate scale lengths, well resolved in global gravity field models, are crucial for understanding the details of any chemical or physical layering in the mantle and of the characteristics of so-called 'small-scale' convection beneath oceanic lithosphere. In 1991 a three-year project to the NASA Geophysics Program was proposed to carry out a systematic inversion of long-wavelength geoid anomalies, residual bathymetric anomalies, and differential SS-S travel time delays for the lateral variation in characteristic temperature and bulk composition of the oceanic upper mantle. The project was funded as a three-year award, beginning on 1 Jan. 1992.
Document ID
19940015658
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Contractor Report (CR)
Authors
Solomon, Sean C.
(Massachusetts Inst. of Tech. Cambridge, MA, United States)
Jordan, Thomas H.
(Massachusetts Inst. of Tech. Cambridge, MA, United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
September 17, 1993
Subject Category
Oceanography
Report/Patent Number
NAS 1.26:192272
NASA-CR-192272
Accession Number
94N20131
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-3036
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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