Note on Strain Release Variation with Depth

• Published in: Annals of geophysics Vol. 17; no. 3; pp. 337 - 352
• Main Author: A. G. GALANOPOULOS
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV) 21.06.2011
• ISSN: 2037-416X; 1593-5213; 2037-416X
• DOI: 10.4401/ag-5212

In the present paper an attempt is made to approach the problem of the upper mantle structure by studying the strain relea.se variation with depth. If the method and data used in this paper are adequate, we may be allowed to say that although there is no strain release evidence for the depth of the upper boundary of the asthenospliere zone on account of lack of adequate accuracy in the determination of focal depths, nevertheless there is ample indication of a discontinuity at about 125 km depth. The abrupt change in the rate of decrease in the strain release with depth near this level clearly indicates that a sudden decrease in the yield strength of the material in the earth should occur at about this depth. I t might even be possible to think that the melting point of some kind of crystal grains or rocks in the earth is attained at that depth. However, this does not involve a completely molten state. This state should rather occur at depths where there is a complete lack of strain release. Regionally this state is attained at different depths, but in some regions the partially molten state, i. e. the heterogeneity of the mantle, probably recurs or increases due to the pressure increase or some other reason and reaches a minor maximum beyond which it might be possible to speculate that the heterogeneity of the mantle falls off rapidly and a continuous layer of material in molten state covers the whole earth. If data from other sources will confirm this structure, there will be good reasons to think of redefining the upper boundaries of surface and intermediate shocks at depths of 125 and 425 km or thereabouts, respectively.