Shear Wave Splitting Analysis and Seismic Anisotropy beneath the Northern Transantarctic Mountains

Using data from the Transantarctic Mountains (TAMs) Northern Network, shear-wave splitting analysis has been employed to constrain azimuthal anisotropy beneath a portion of the northern TAMs. Splitting measurements were made for PKS, SKS, and SKKS phases with the eigenvalue method in SplitLab. The results show two distinct geographic regions of anisotropy: one behind the TAMs front and the other along the Ross Sea coastline. The anisotropic structure behind the TAMs front is best attributed to relict fabric associated with past tectonic episodes. Along the coastline, the anisotropy is interpreted to reflect mantle flow associated with rift-related decompression melting and Cenozoic extension.