Seismic Images of Crust and Upper Mantle Beneath Tibet: Evidence for Eurasian Plate Subduction

• DOI: 10.1126/science.1078115
• Publication Date: 2002-11-08T02:30:35Z
• Authors: R. Kind; X. Yuan; J. Saul; D. Nelson; S. V. Sobolev; J. Mechie; W. Zhao; G. Kosarev; J. Ni; U. Achauer; M. Jiang
• Keywords: Slab; Collision zone; Classification of discontinuities; Eurasian Plate; Crustal recycling; Convergent boundary

Seismic data from central Tibet have been combined to image the subsurface structure and understand evolution of collision India Eurasia. The 410- 660-kilometer mantle discontinuities are sharply defined, implying a lack subducting slab beneath plateau. appear slightly deeper northern Tibet, that average temperature above transition zone is about 300 degrees C hotter in north than south. There prominent south-dipping converter uppermost might represent top Eurasian lithosphere underthrusting margin