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We present SKS splitting measurements in the Western Indian Ocean, recorded on 20 land and 57 seafloor seismometers deployed by the RHUM-RUM experiment (Réunion Hotspot and Upper Mantle – Réunions Unterer Mantel). We discuss our splitting observations within their geodynamic settings and compare them to SKS splitting parameters predicted from an azimuthally anisotropic Rayleigh wave tomography model that includes the RHUM-RUM data. We find that anisotropic directions poorly correlate with the present-day motion of the Somali plate, which at <2.6 cm/yr may be too slow to cause strongly sheared fabric in the asthenosphere. Fast split directions ( Φ ) between La Réunion and the Central Indian Ridge (CIR) trend E–W and provide strong, first seismological evidence for near-horizontal flow in the asthenosphere that connects the Réunion mantle upwelling with the CIR, supporting a long-standing hypothesis on plume–ridge interaction. In the vicinity of the Réunion hotspot, we observe a seismic anisotropy pattern indicative of a parabolic asthenospheric flow controlled by the Réunion mantle upwelling and its consecutive asthenospheric spreading. We furthermore observe ridge-normal Φ along the CIR and ridge-parallel Φ along the Southwest Indian Ridge (SWIR), both mainly attributed to asthenospheric mantle flows. In the Mozambique Channel between East-Africa and Madagascar, we attribute E–W trending Φ to frozen lithospheric structures, recording the paleo-orientation of the spreading ridges that enabled Madagascar's separation away from Africa. Based on the synopsis of this and previous SKS splitting studies at mid-ocean ridges, we propose that ridge-normal Φ may develop at fast and intermediate spreading ridges (e.g., CIR and East Pacific Rise) and ridge-parallel Φ could be characteristic to slow spreading ridges (e.g., SWIR, Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the paleo-ridges in the Mozambique Channel). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We deployed five broadband three-components seismic stations in the Iles Eparses in the south-west Indian Ocean and on Mayotte Island, between April 2011 and January 2014. These small and remote oceanic islands suffer the effects of strong ocean swells that affect their coastal environments but most islands are not instrumented by wave gauges to characterize the swells. However, wave action on the coast causes high levels of ground vibrations in the solid earth, so-called microseismic noise. We use this link between the solid earth and ocean wave activity to quantify the swells locally. Spectral analyses of the continuous seismic data show clear peaks in the 0.05–0.10 Hz frequency band (periods between 10 and 20 s), corresponding to the ocean wave periods of the local swells. We analyze an example of austral swell occurring in August 2013 and a cyclonic event (Felleng) that developed in January 2013, and quantify the ground motion at each station induced by these events. In both cases, we find a linear polarization in the horizontal plane with microseismic amplitude directly correlated to the swell height (as predicted by the global swell model WaveWatchIII), and a direction of polarization close to the predicted swell propagation direction. Although this analysis has not been performed in real time, it demonstrates that terrestrial seismic stations can be efficiently used as wave gauges, and are particularly well suited for quantifying extreme swell events. This approach may therefore provide useful and cheaper alternatives to wave buoys for monitoring swells and the related environmental processes such as beach erosion or coral reef damages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The presence of two regional seismic networks in southeastern France provides us high-quality data to investigate upper mantle flow by measuring the splitting of teleseismic shear waves induced by seismic anisotropy. The 10 three-component and broadband stations installed in Corsica, Provence, and western Alps efficiently complete the geographic coverage of anisotropy measurements performed in southern France using temporary experiments deployed on geodynamic targets such as the Pyrenees and the Massif Central. Teleseismic shear waves (mainly SKS and SKKS) are used to determine the splitting parameters: the fast polarization direction and the delay time. Delay times ranging between 1.0 and 1.5 s have been observed at most sites, but some larger delay times, above 2.0 s, have been observed at some stations, such as in northern Alps or Corsica, suggesting the presence of high strain zones in the upper mantle. The azimuths of the fast split shear waves define a simple and smooth pattern, trending homogeneously WNW–ESE in the Nice area and progressively rotating to NW–SE and to NS for stations located further North in the Alps. This pattern is in continuity with the measurements performed in the southern Massif Central and could be related to a large asthenospheric flow induced by the rotation of the Corsica–Sardinia lithospheric block and the retreat of the Apenninic slab. We show that seismic anisotropy nicely maps the route of the slab from the initial rifting phase along the Gulf of Lion (30–22 Ma) to the drifting of the Corsica–Sardinia lithospheric block accompanied by the creation of new oceanic lithosphere in the Liguro–Provençal basin (22–17 Ma). In the external and internal Alps, the pattern of the azimuth of the fast split waves follows the bend of the alpine arc. We propose that the mantle flow beneath this area could be influenced or perhaps controlled by the Alpine deep penetrative structures and that the Alpine lithospheric roots may have deflected part of the horizontal asthenospheric flow around its southernmost tip. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We present new shear-wave splitting measurements performed at 16 stations on the East European Craton, and discuss their implications in terms of upper-mantle anisotropy for this geophysically poorly-known region. Previous investigations of mantle anisotropy in Central Europe have shown fast directions aligning smoothly with the craton''s margin and various suggestions have been proposed to explain their origin such as asthenospheric flow or lithospheric frozen-in deformation. Here, we aim at investigating the continuation of this shear-wave splitting pattern further to the East, into the East European Craton. For the craton, the interpretation appears to be less ambiguous than for central Europe since several arguments support lithospheric anisotropy in this region: 1) The large-scale coherence within either of the four constituting blocks and the significant variations between the blocks on a small-scale, 2) the weak correlation with absolute plate motion vectors, and 3) the good correlation between anisotropy and crustal features, for which we use magnetic field alignments as a proxy. Rather good correlation of these magnetic features with seismic fast orientations strongly supports the idea of vertically coherent deformation throughout upper mantle and crust. The observed splitting orientations thus reflect the last tectonic events of each block, frozen-in into the lithosphere for hundreds of millions of years. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We compare a global compilation of shear-wave splitting measurements with azimuthal seismic anisotropy parameters inferred from surface-wave tomography. The currently available splitting dataset is taken from a novel comprehensive collection of available publications that is updated interactively online. The comparison between the two types of data is made by calculating predicted splitting parameters from the anisotropic tomography model. Comparing these predicted splitting parameters with the observed ones, we find a considerable correlation between the two datasets at global scale. This result is noteworthy, since such correlation did not seem to exist in previous studies. The spatial resolution associated with the two types of methods is rather different. While surface waves have good vertical resolution and poor lateral resolution of several hundreds of kilometers, SKS splitting measurements have good lateral, but poor vertical resolution. The correlation can be understood in light of recent propositions that anisotropy seen by SKS splitting constrains mostly the upper mantle, and therefore a similar depth region as surface waves. The correlation also confirms the generally good quality of the shear-wave measurements, as well as that of the anisotropic tomography model. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

From the acoustic data acquired by the RHUM-RUM (Réunion Hotspot and Upper Mantle Réunions Unterer Mantel) Ocean Bottom Seismometer (OBS) network between October 2012 and November 2013, this study revealed baleen whale occurrence in the western Indian Ocean (IO). Low-frequency songs from three species (Antarctic Blue Whales, Pygmy Blue Whales and Fin Whales) as well as P-calls (or Spot-calls) from an unknown species were recorded on the dataset. The wide arrangement of the OBS network (2000 km × 2000 km) provided valuable information to draw seasonal patterns of occurrence and distribution all over the area. These species occurred sympatrically in the western IO, at least during austral autumn months emphasizing the importance of this region for these populations. This data set helped to refine the knowledge on their spatio-temporal distribution and complete the picture built by previous studies. A tighter sub-network of 8 OBSs deployed on the South West Indian Ridge provided ideal inter-sensor spacing for whale tracking. We demonstrated the capability of such array of detecting and tracking the three different whale species up to 50 km and for several hours. As a result and to understand the effect of acoustic wave propagation, songs from the tracking were described at a close and remote distance of the sensor. This work could also help to understand the local behavior of these species during austral autumn months in this area of the western Indian Ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A detailed magnetic mapping using Anisotropy of Magnetic Susceptibility (AMS) technique was carried out in Pointe Géologie archipelago (Terre Adélie, East Antarctica) that represents a hot crust having experienced a long-lived anatectic event during Paleoproterozoic times, 1.69Ga ago. AMS measurements allowed to better analyse the tectonic structure of the crystalline basement that is built up by rocks affected by various degrees of partial melting and then, devoid of clear strain markers. AMS sampling was performed from main rocks types of Pointe Géologie: migmatites including leucosomes and melanosomes, coarse-grained pink granites, anatexites and mylonitic gneisses. For melanosomes, the magnetic foliation is dominantly in agreement with the observed field foliation, i.e. dominantly N–S sub-vertical in shear zones and gently inclined in dome structures. AMS technique reveals a sub-horizontal magnetic lineation in migmatites from shear zones and a gently plunging one in dome structures. Magnetic properties of leucosomes and of coarse-pink granitic dykes contrast with melanosomes. The bulk susceptibility and anisotropy degree are significantly lower in granitic magmas that in melanosomes. In addition, in well-defined leucosomes, granitic dykes and anatexites, the magnetic ellipsoid is characterized by a higher plunge of the magnetic lineation, which tends to be vertical. This is associated to a rheological contrast between the solid-state deformation suffered by oxide grains in the melanosomes and their reorientation in a viscous flow during the transfer of felsic melt to the granitic dykes. Magnetic structure of leucosomes, granitic dykes and anatexites highlights the role of the gravity-induced upwelling of a crust undergoing high degree of partial melting in a transpressional regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We discuss mantle structure and dynamics under the Gibraltar arc. For that region, a large variety of geodynamic models has been proposed, and there was, up to recently, no consensus on which of these models is the best one to describe the geodynamic situation of the region. The key to distinguishing the different models probably lies in the upper mantle, and we propose two specially adapted seismological techniques that help to distinguish each of the two models that are more frequently invoked. These are, on one hand, the subduction-rollback (SR) model, and on the other, continental delamination or convective removal (CDCR). The first technique that we use is based on observations of dispersed P-wavetrains that are expected for certain ray directions. Observations made on the Gibraltar arc suggest the presence of subducted oceanic lithosphere under the Alboran Sea. The second technique is based on shear-wave splitting of SKS phases, and it allows us to look for the radially-oriented flow that must be present in the mantle beneath the Alboran Sea, for a CDCR mechanism. There are however no indications of any radial flow up to this point. Both approaches therefore suggest that subduction-rollback is the best model to explain the complex geodynamic situation under the region. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We present a graphical user interface to facilitate the processing of teleseismic shear-wave splitting observations. In contrast to a fully automated technique, we present a manual, per-event approach that maintains user control during the sequence of processing. The SplitLab environment is intended to undertake the repetitive processing steps while enabling the user to focus on quality control and eventually the interpretation of the results. Pre-processing modules of SplitLab create a database of events and link the corresponding seismogram files. The seismogram viewer tool uses this database to perform the measurement interactively. Post-processing of the combined results of such a project includes a viewer and export option. Our emphasis lies in the application to teleseismic shear-wave splitting analysis, but our code can be extended easily for other purposes. SplitLab can be downloaded at http://www.gm.univ-montp2.fr/splitting/. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]