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Stutzmann et al. 2000
Stutzmann, E., Vinnik, L., Ferreira, A. and Singh, S. (2000). Constraint on the S-wave velocity at the base of the mantle. Geophysical Research Letters 27: doi: 10.1029/1999GL010984. issn: 0094-8276.

Some recent seismic studies have suggested the presence of a thin ultra-low P-wave velocity layer (ULVZ) at the base of the mantle, which is interpreted to be due to presence of partial melting. Partial melting would lead to a strong decrease of the S-wave velocity for which there is no seismic evidence. Such a decrease in the S-wave velocity would produce a strong precursor to SKS phase from the conversion of S to P at the upper boundary of the layer. We analyze records of events from the subduction zones in the south-west Pacific region obtained at stations in North America. At the source side, the converted phases propagate in the region, where the ultra-low P-wave velocity has been found earlier. Our analysis demonstrates that either the S-wave velocity drop in this layer is much smaller than predicted by the hypothesis of melting, or the layer is so thin (less than about 10--15 km) that it can not be detected with our technique. ¿ 2000 American Geophysical Union

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Abstract

Keywords
Seismology, Body wave propagation, Seismology, Core and mantle, Tectonophysics, Earth's interior—composition and state, Information Related to Geographic Region, Pacific Ocean
Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
http://www.agu.org/journals/gl/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
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