We use waveform cross-correlation to analyze the recordings of eight earthquakes (2009-2018) beneath the Indian Ocean at stations from the Chinese Digital Seismic Network. We obtain 929 high quality residual traveltime differences between the phases ScS and S (Differential traveltimes.dat). We interpret variations of δt up to 10 seconds as due to horizontal shear-velocity variations in D” beneath northern India, Nepal, and southwestern China. The shear velocity can vary by as much as 7% over distances shorter than 300 km. Our observations provide additional observational evidence that compositional heterogeneity and possibly melt contribute to the seismic structure of the lower mantle characterized by long-term subduction and mantle downwelling.
LI Guohui BAI Ling
