Vastly Different Heights of LLVPs Caused by Different Strengths of Historical Slab Push

Two large low velocity provinces (LLVPs) are observed in Earth's lower mantle, beneath Africa and the Pacific Ocean, respectively. The maximum height of the African LLVP is similar to 1,000 km larger than that of the Pacific LLVP, but what causes this height difference remains unclear. LLVPs are often interpreted as thermochemical piles whose morphology is greatly controlled by the surrounding mantle flow. Seismic observations have revealed that while some subducted slabs are laterally deflected at similar to 660-1,200 km, other slabs penetrate into the lowermost mantle. Here, through geodynamic modeling experiments, we show that rapid sinking of stagnant slabs to the lowermost mantle can cause significant height increases of nearby thermochemical piles. Our results suggest that the African LLVP may have been pushed more strongly and longer by surrounding mantle flows to reach a much shallower depth than the Pacific LLVP, perhaps since the Tethys slabs sank to the lowermost mantle.

Automated summary

Two large low velocity provinces (LLVPs) are observed in Earth's lower mantle, beneath Africa and the Pacific Ocean, respectively. The height difference between the African and Pacific LLVPs remains unclear. This study suggests that rapid sinking of stagnant slabs to the lowermost mantle can cause significant height increases of nearby thermochemical piles. The African LLVP may have been pushed more strongly and longer by surrounding mantle flows, resulting in a shallower depth compared to the Pacific LLVP.