Fig. 3: The observed seismic anisotropy and predicted mantle flow fields with different lithospheric structures.
From: Western US intraplate deformation controlled by the complex lithospheric structure
a Predicted horizontal mantle flow with a lateral varying lithosphere thickness (LTM1) at 150 km depth relative to the stable North American plate and observed azimuthal seismic anisotropy52 (yellow bars show the fast-propagating direction of shear waves) at 100 km overlying the LAB depth. b Comparison of predicted horizontal mantle flow at 150 km between the model with a lateral varying lithosphere thickness (LTM1) and the model with a constant lithosphere thickness (LTM2). In both panels, the colored contours indicate the upper surface of the JdF slab36,37 at different depths, and the dashed black boxes represent a slab tear, which allows hot asthenospheric material to flow through. The green dashed line in (b) marks the location of LAB at 75 km, approximating the lithospheric thickness step in LTM1.
