Global Search of PKP Precursors With Graph Neural Network: Implications for Scatterers in the Lowermost Mantle

Abstract Seismic waves preceding the core phase PKIKP, known as PKP precursors, have been used to map small scatterers near the core‐mantle boundary (CMB). However, their low signal‐to‐noise ratio has required manual identification, hindering systematic and comprehensive analysis. Here, we develop GraphCursor, a model based on Graph Neural Networks (GNNs), to detect PKP precursors across multiple stations. Trained on manually picked precursors, GraphCursor identifies 37,512 precursor waveforms from 5,499 global earthquakes (2000–2024). We locate scatterers by stacking multistation probability functions and estimate their strengths relative to global averages. Our exhaustive search produces unprecedentedly abundant scatterers, including new discoveries of those beneath Antarctica. The distribution of most global scatterers largely correlates with ultra‐low velocity zones (ULVZs). GraphCursor's potential extends to identifying other deep seismic phases and aids in promoting the discovery of new deep Earth structures.

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Publication Details

Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
Published
2025-08-31
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1029/2025gl115952
Primary Topic
High-pressure geophysics and materials
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Global Search of PKP Precursors With Graph Neural Network: Implications for Scatterers in the Lowermost Mantle

Zefeng Li, Xu Si, Shang Ma, Jiewen Li et al.
Geophysical Research Letters
High-pressure geophysics and materials
article

Global Search of PKP Precursors With Graph Neural Network: Implications for Scatterers in the Lowermost Mantle

Zefeng Li, Xu Si, Shang Ma, Jiewen Li, Daoyuan Sun, Yulong Su, Jun Zhu
article en

Abstract

Abstract Seismic waves preceding the core phase PKIKP, known as PKP precursors, have been used to map small scatterers near the core‐mantle boundary (CMB). However, their low signal‐to‐noise ratio has required manual identification, hindering systematic and comprehensive analysis. Here, we develop GraphCursor, a model based on Graph Neural Networks (GNNs), to detect PKP precursors across multiple stations. Trained on manually picked precursors, GraphCursor identifies 37,512 precursor waveforms from 5,499 global earthquakes (2000–2024). We locate scatterers by stacking multistation probability functions and estimate their strengths relative to global averages. Our exhaustive search produces unprecedentedly abundant scatterers, including new discoveries of those beneath Antarctica. The distribution of most global scatterers largely correlates with ultra‐low velocity zones (ULVZs). GraphCursor's potential extends to identifying other deep seismic phases and aids in promoting the discovery of new deep Earth structures.

Geophysical Research LettersVol. 52(17)
University of Science and Technology of China (CN), Georgia Institute of Technology (US), China University of Geosciences (CN)
National Natural Science Foundation of China, University of Science and Technology of China
Openalex Percentile: Top 76%
High-pressure geophysics and materials
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