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Global mapping of topography on the 660-km discontinuity

Abstract

Long-period precursors to the SS seismic phase are used to produce global maps of topography for the discontinuity at 660 km depth in the upper mantle. These maps indicate discontinuity depth variations of up to 30 km and suggest a correlation between regional depressions in the 660-km discontinuity and subduction zones—a result more consistent with models in which the subducting slabs are deflected horizontally at the discontinuity than with models of unhindered slab penetration into the lower mantle.

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Shearer, P., Masters, T. Global mapping of topography on the 660-km discontinuity. Nature 355, 791–796 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1038/355791a0

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