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Published December 1976 | Published
Journal Article Open

Seismic-wave transmission across the Caribbean plate: High attenuation on concave side of Lesser Antilles Island Arc

Rial, J. A.

Abstract

High attenuation of short-period body waves and extremely low surface-wave group velocities have been found for seismic paths that traverse the crust and upper mantle beneath the concave side of the Lesser Antilles island arc (eastern Caribbean). The observations can be explained in terms of the currently accepted models of lithospheric plate subduction at other island arcs such as Fiji-Tonga, Marianas and the Aegean, a characteristic of which is the existence of an abnormally low Q zone in the crust and upper mantle above the down-going slab. The Greater Antilles island arc appears to be tectonically distinct, as subduction is not evident there and no anomalous low-Q zone exists south of Puerto Rico and Hispaniola. The Aves swell is probably not related tectonically to the low-Q zone, or to the subduction process, at least presently.

Additional Information

© 1976 Seismological Society of America. Manuscript received September 22, 1975. This study was entirely supported by the Consejo de Desarrollo Cientifico y Humanistico, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas. The investigation was carried out at the Department of Geology and Mineralogy of the University of Michigan. The author is indebted to Dr. H. N. Pollack, whose constant help and advice made this study possible, and to Dr. R. Chander, whose valuable suggestions are gratefully acknowledged.

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August 19, 2023
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October 17, 2023