Triplicate waveform modeling is used to resolve SH (Vs) and P (Vp ) wave velocity structures in the upper mantle transition zone (TZ) beneath northwestern (NW) Tibet. Focal depth move out stacking is proposed to enhance the identification of triplicate phases, and can be used to test consistency of our data. Our results show that the Vs and Vp structures are decorrelated, and that a large Vs jump occurred across the 660-km discontinuity, with a small Vs gradient above it. Conversely, the Vp model is characterized by a relatively small contrast across the discontinuity, accompanied by a high Vp gradient in the TZ. There seem no significant depth anomalies of the 660-km discontinuity in both models. The seismic structure in TZ beneath NW Tibet are similar to recent studies beneath the central Qiangtang and western Lhasa terrains. Taking the lower TZ structures under India as references, Vs is normal but Vp appears slightly high, and thus a high ratio of Vp/Vs was indicated beneath NW Tibet. Combined results with experiment information from mineral studies, we suggest that the differential anomalies of Vp and Vs can be attributed to a chemical heterogeneity, such as increased Al content in the lower TZ. Considering the tectonic evolution of Tibet, the chemical heterogeneity may be associated with subduction or detachment of the Tethys oceanic slab.
Sliding-window cross-correlation method is firstly adopted to identify sPn phase, and to constrain focal depth from regional seismograms, by measuring the time separation between sPn and Pn phases. We present the focal depths of the 17 moderate-sized aftershocks (MS≥5.0) of the Wenchuan MS8.0 earth-quake, using the data recorded by the regional seismic broadband networks of Shaanxi, Qinghai, Gansu, Yunnan and Sichuan. Our results show focal depths of aftershocks range from 8 to 20 km, and tend to cluster at two average depths, separate at 32.5°N, i.e., 11 km to the south and 17 km to the north, indicating that these aftershocks are origin of upper-to-middle crust. Combined with other results, we suggest that the Longmenshan fault is not a through-going crustal fault and the Pingwu-Qingchuan fault may be not the northward extension of the Longmenshan thrust fault.
