Forward modeling the perovskite-postperovskite transition in seismically anisotropic models beneath a slab

Seismic observations of the lowermost mantle in subduction regions show strong seismic anisotropy as well as a seismic discontinuity. Both observations appear consistent with a perovskite to post-perovskite phase transition. The single crystal velocities of the post-perovksite phase are both faster and more anisotropic. How the seismic discontinuity appears in reflection studies will depend on the retainment of texturing across the phase transitions. In this study we test the texturing across the phase transition and its seismic detectability by forward modeling through a combination of geodynamics and mineral physics tools. Tracers in a 3D geodynamical model with a subducting slab (constrained at the surface) track the velocity gradient tensor along the slab. This information is fed into a viscoplastic polycrystal plasticity model along with major mineral components and different assumptions for their active slip systems and elastic properties. We include a perovskite to post-perovskite phase transition. We assume different models converting from perovskite to post-perovskite textured material, of which the simplest is a total randomization. Away from the discontinuity, the strong texturing towards the CMB will overprint the signature of any of these assumptions. Here we present radially anisotropic models expressed in terms of seismic SH and SV velocities, illustrating the seismic sensitivity to the texture conversion within the transition. Our geodynamical model has a large number of tracers that track different areas in the subducting slab and represent lateral variations in deformation. These variations result in a family of modeled seismic discontinuities, representing the spread in depth and sharpness of the discontinuity measured by seismic ScS precursor studies.