Fig. 3: Representative cross-sections through model VoiLA-P19.
From: Subduction history of the Caribbean from upper-mantle seismic imaging and plate reconstruction
Velocity anomalies on this and subsequent figures are relative to global model AK13567. Plan views are shown in panel (a) 40–100 km, (b) 160–240 km, (c) 320–410 km) and (d) 530–660 km depth. Red arrows indicate the possible locations of gaps/reduced anomalies in the slab, green arrows indicate low velocities in the mantle wedge. Dark-blue dotted lines on panel (a) show the locations of the cross-sections shown in panels e–h; solid black lines labelled M02 through M08 and T02 to T08 indicate the location of the dipping cross-sections in Fig. 6. In e–h, structures are masked (grey) where resolution is limited, i.e. at depths less than 300 km above and behind the slab. Seismicity shown as green dots is from the relocated VoiLA dataset29. e, f Profiles A and C show a continuous slab throughout the upper mantle below Hispaniola and the northern LAA, respectively. g The slab below St Lucia follows the seismicity, and above 100–150 km depth is overlain by a particularly slow mantle wedge. At about 400 km depth, there is a ~200-km lateral offset in the slab. h Cross-section G south of Grenada contains what looks like a lateral tear in the slab. Slab dip increases significantly below this tear. Further cross-sections in Supplementary Figs. 12, 13.
