Detection of ridge-like structures in the Pacific Large Low-Shear-Velocity Province

Waveform tomography is conducted for SH velocity structures of the entire mantle using approximately 3.5 times the data used for obtaining the previous model, SH18CE. The resultant new model, SH18CEX, exhibits a cluster of ridge-like low-velocity anomalies in the western part of the Pacific Large Low-Shear-Velocity Province (LLSVP). The location of the ridge-like anomalies is in good agreement with the location of the abrupt change in the topography of the D″ discontinuity. These results suggest that the LLSVP is associated with a cluster of ridge-like-piles, rather than a single large pile spread over the entire region. The piles probably consist of intrinsically dense material; however, either their volume or density contrast may not be sufficiently large to develop large-scale domes.