Tomography with P, PP and pP delay-time data and the three-dimensional mantle structure below the Caribbean region

Abstract

I address in this thesis two principal topics. Firstly, in chapters 2 and 3 I discuss improvements on the method of P delay-time tomography which were necessary to obtain reliable tomographic images of the mantle structure below the Caribbean region. These improvements include the reduction of reference model artifacts and the incorporation of seismic waves other than the direct P wave. Although inspired by complications specific for the Caribbean region, these improvements are directly applicable to other seismic tomographic studies with body waves. Secondly, I present and discuss new tomographic images of the aspherical mantle structure below the Caribbean region· in chapters 5 and 6. I investigate the structure of the upper mantle and of the lower mantle to a depth of approximately 1300 km, and relate it to tectonic phenomena that have been important for the tectonic evolution of the Caribbean region.