Imaging the Galapagos mantle plume with an unconventional application of floating seismometers.

ABSTRACT: We launched an array of nine freely floating submarine seismometers near the Galápagos islands, which remained operational for about two years. P and PKP waves from regional and teleseismic earthquakes were observed for a range of magnitudes. The signal-to-noise ratio is strongly influenced by the weather conditions and this determines the lowest magnitudes that can be observed. Waves from deep earthquakes are easier to pick, but the S/N ratio can be enhanced through filtering and the data cover earthquakes from all depths. We measured 580 arrival times for different raypaths. We show that even such a limited number of data gives a significant increase in resolution for the oceanic upper mantle. This is the first time an array of floating seismometers is used in seismic tomography to impro

SUBMITTER: Nolet G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6362208 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature