@article {saikia_seismic_2021,
	title = {Seismic Attenuation at the Equatorial Mid-Atlantic Ridge Constrained by Local Rayleigh Wave Analysis From the PI-LAB Experiment},
	journal = {Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems},
	volume = {22},
	number = {12},
	year = {2021},
	note = {_eprint: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1029/2021GC010085},
	month = {12/2021},
	pages = {e2021GC010085},
	abstract = {The ocean lithosphere represents a simple realisation of the tectonic plate, offering a unique opportunity to better understand its physical and chemical properties in relationship to those of the underlying asthenosphere. While seismic velocity is frequently used to image the plate, seismic attenuation (Qμ-1) offers an important complimentary observation. We use fundamental mode Rayleigh waves from 17 local, M > 4.2 earthquakes recorded at stations located on 0{\textendash}80 My old lithosphere near the equatorial Mid-Atlantic Ridge. We determine the attenuation coefficient () for periods between 15 and 40 s and invert for 1-D average shear wave quality factor values () and shear wave velocity (Vs). We find values of 175 {\textpm} 16 at 50 km depth, decreasing to 90 {\textpm} 15 at greater than 60 km. Comparison of our and Vs measurements to previous observations from oceanic settings shows agreement in terms of higher and Vs in the lithosphere in comparison to the asthenosphere. The observations from oceanic settings are in general agreement with the laboratory predictions for -Vs relationships for thermal models. However, a small amount of partial melt (1\%) is required to explain several previous observations. Our result also compares favorably to previous observations of lithospheric and asthenospheric attenuation with respect to frequency. Melt is not required for the 1-D average of our study area, consistent with previous electromagnetic and seismic imaging that suggested melt in punctuated and/or thin channel anomalies rather than over broad regions of the mantle.},
	keywords = {attenuation, Mid Atlantic Ridge, surface wave},
	issn = {1525-2027},
	doi = {10.1029/2021GC010085},
	url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1029/2021GC010085},
	author = {Saikia, Utpal and Rychert, Catherine A. and Harmon, Nicholas and Michael Kendall, J.}
}
@article {saikia_upper_2021,
	title = {Upper Mantle Anisotropic Shear Velocity Structure at the Equatorial Mid-Atlantic Ridge Constrained by Rayleigh Wave Group Velocity Analysis From the PI-LAB Experiment},
	journal = {Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems},
	volume = {22},
	number = {3},
	year = {2021},
	note = {_eprint: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1029/2020GC009495},
	month = {02/2021},
	pages = {e2020GC009495},
	abstract = {The evolution of ocean lithosphere and asthenosphere are fundamental to plate tectonics, yet high resolution imaging is rare. We present shear wave velocity and azimuthal anisotropy models for the upper mantle from Rayleigh wave group velocities from local earthquake and ambient noise at 15{\textendash}40-s period recorded by the Passive Imaging of the Lithosphere Asthenosphere Boundary experiment at the equatorial Mid-Atlantic Ridge covering 0{\textendash}80-Myr-old seafloor. We find slow velocities along the ridge, with faster velocities beneath older seafloor. We image a fast lid (25{\textendash}30-km thick) beneath the ridge that increases to 50{\textendash}60 km beneath older seafloor. Punctuated, \~{}100 km wide low velocity anomalies exist off-axis. There are multiple layers of azimuthal anisotropy, including (i) a lithosphere (20{\textendash}40 km depth) characterized by strong anisotropy (4.0\%{\textendash}7.0 \%) with fast-axes that rotate from ridge subparallel toward the absolute plate motion/spreading direction at distances >60 km from the ridge, and (ii) weak anisotropy (1.0\%{\textendash}2.0\%) at >40 km depth. Our results are consistent with conductive cooling of lithosphere, although with some complexities. Thickened lithosphere beneath the ridge supports lateral conductive cooling beneath slow-spreading centers. Undulations in lithospheric thickness and slow asthenospheric velocities are consistent with small scale convection and/or partial melt. Lithospheric anisotropy can be explained by vertical flow and a contribution from either fluid or mineral filled cracks organized melt beneath the ridge and plate motion induced strain off axis. Deep azimuthal anisotropy is suggestive of upwelling beneath the ridge and three-dimensional flow possibly caused by small scale convection off-axis.},
	keywords = {asthenosphere, azimuthal anisotropy, Lithosphere, Mid-Atlantic Ridge, shear wave velocity},
	issn = {1525-2027},
	doi = {10.1029/2020GC009495},
	url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1029/2020GC009495},
	author = {Saikia, Utpal and Rychert, Catherine and Harmon, Nicholas and Kendall, J. M.}
}
