Finite-Frequency Tomography of USArray Receiver Functions

Abstract:

Seismic waves diffract around structure perturbations when the length scale of lateral heterogeneities is comparable to the size of the Fresnel zone. Our recent studies based on wave propagation simulations show that Born sensitivity kernels can be used in seismic tomography to account for diffractional effects in surface waves as well as body waves. In addition to direct seismic phases, teleseismic receiver functions which take advantage of secondary waves converted at seismic discontinuities can provides important constraints on discontinuity structures. In this study, we calculate finite-frequency sensitivity of receiver functions to perturbations in seismic discontinuities in the mantle transition zone. The boundary sensitivity kernels based on Born approximation are formulated in the framework of traveling-wave mode summation to account for complete wave interactions within the measurement window. The sensitivity kernels allow us to employ frequency-dependent receiver functions in tomographic inversions to map the topography of the 410-km and 660-km discontinuities. We will discuss preliminary results on the structure of mantle transition zone discontinuities beneath the continental US imaged from finite-frequency receiver-function tomography using seismograms recorded at USArray TA stations.