Global electromagnetic induction constraints on transition-zone water content variations

Small amounts of water can significantly affect the physical properties of mantle materials, including lowering of the solidus(1), and reducing effective viscosity(2) and seismic velocity(3). The amount and distribution of water within the mantle thus has profound implications for the dynamics and geochemical evolution of the Earth(4,5). Electrical conductivity is also highly sensitive to the presence of hydrogen in mantle minerals(6). The mantle transition zone minerals wadsleyite and ringwoodite in particular have high water solubility(4), and recent high pressure experiments show that the electrical conductivity of these minerals is very sensitive to water content(7-9). Thus estimates of the electrical conductivity of the mantle transition zone derived from electromagnetic induction studies have the potential to constrain the water content of this region. Here we invert long period geomagnetic response functions to derive a global-scale three-dimensional model of electrical conductivity variations in the Earth's mantle, revealing variations in the electrical conductivity of the transition zone of approximately one order of magnitude. Conductivities are high in cold, seismically fast, areas where slabs have subducted into or through the transition zone. Significant variations in water content throughout the transition zone provide a plausible explanation for the observed patterns. Our results support the view(10,11) that at least some of the water in the transition zone has been carried into that region by cold subducting slabs.