Collaborative Research: Northeast China Extended Seismic Array: Deep subduction, mantle dynamics and lithospheric evolution beneath Northeast China

We propose to install a total of 130 broadband seismic station in northeast China. Combining the data collected by the permanent regional networks of the China Earthquake Administration, we plan to develop a seismic image of the mantle beneath Northeast China from the crust to depths on the order of 1000 km. The seismic image of the crust and mantle will include a three-dimensional P and S velocity model with scale lengths of 50 km or less, a reflectivity profile, and a map of anisotropy. They will be used to answer two fundamental questions regarding to the dynamics and evolution of Earths mantle are 1) what processes occur when subducting slabs interact with the 660 km depth boundary separating the upper and lower mantle and 2) what is the nature of Archean mantle lithosphere and how does it evolve with time.