Hemispherical transition of seismic attenuation at the top of the earth’s inner core

In contrast to the liquid outer core, the earth’s inner core is mostly solid, and its composition is more pure iron. Based on dynamic arguments related to the freezing process of the inner core, and the observation of much lower P-wave quality factor in the inner core (Qab450) than in the outer core (QaN10,000), it has been suggested that a mushy layer with liquid inclusions may exist at the top of the inner core. On the other hand, seismic measurements indicate that Qa increases towards the center of the inner core. We here present estimates of Qa in the depth range 32–110 km beneath the Inner Core Boundary (ICB), based on the measurement of PKIKP/PKiKP amplitude ratios after a narrow band-pass filtering (0.7–2.0 Hz). Our measurements indicate that there are pronounced hemispherical differences in the values of Qa (~335 and ~160 in the western (1808W to 408E) and eastern (408E to 1808E) hemispheres, respectively), and in the depth of transition from decreasing to increasing Qa (b32 km beneath the ICB in the eastern hemisphere and ~85 km in the western hemisphere). Below 85 km, the hemispherical pattern disappears. We also confirm the existence of a correlated hemispherical pattern in P velocity down to 85 km. The P velocity and Qa variations are compatible with an interpretation in terms of small hemispherical variations of temperature at the top of the inner core and their influence on the morphology of porosity and connectivity of liquid inclusions in the mushy zone. The disappearance of the differences in Qa beneath 85 km provide constraints on the likely depth extent of the mushy zone. D 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.