GrowYourIC: a step towards a coherent model of the Earth's inner core seismic structure
File(s)G-3_GrowYourIC.pdf (25.52 MB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Lableis, M
Waszek, L
Day, E
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
A complex inner core structure has been well-established from seismic studies, showing radial and lateral heterogeneities at various length scales. Yet, no geodynamic model is able to explain all the features observed. One of the main limits for this is the lack of tools to compare seismic observations and numerical models successfully. We use here a new Python tool called GrowYourIC to compare models of inner core structure. We calculate properties of geodynamic models of the inner core along seismic ray paths, for random or user-specified datasets. We test kinematic models which simulate fast lateral translation, super-rotation, and differential growth. We explore first the influence on a real inner core data set, which has a sparse coverage of the inner core boundary. Such a data set is however able to successfully constrain the hemispherical boundaries due to a good sampling of latitudes. Combining translation and rotation could explain some of the features of the boundaries separating the inner core hemispheres. The depth shift of the boundaries, observed by some authors, seems unlikely to be modelled by a fast translation, but could be produced by slow translation associated to super-rotation.
Date Issued
2017-10-20
Date Acceptance
2017-10-13
Citation
Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 2017, 18 (11), pp.4016-4026
ISSN
1525-2027
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
Start Page
4016
End Page
4026
Journal / Book Title
Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems
Volume
18
Issue
11
Copyright Statement
© 2017. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.
Subjects
04 Earth Sciences
02 Physical Sciences
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Publication Status
Published online
Date Publish Online
2017-10-20