Statistical analysis on the correlation between plate motion and seismic anisotropy as well as stress field

With the 7 959 observation seismic data and 21 750 stress data which have been collected from various sources, and combined the characteristics of each plate ’ s absolute motion, this paper statistically analyzed the correlation between plate motion and seismic anisotropy as well as stress field, and studied how the plate motion affects characteristic of seismic anisotropy and stress field. The statistical results indicate that a quite positive correlation between plate motion and seismic anisotropy exists in the Arabian, Caribbean, Juan de Fuca, North American, Nazca, Pacific and South American plates, whereas the correlation in plates of African, Antarctic, Australian, Eurasian, Indian and Philippine is relatively poor. Discussion and analysis shows that, whole the block motion dragging asthenospheric flow, lattice preferred orientation of olivinite, fossil anisotropy and mantle flow or lithosphere flow control or affect the consistency between seismic anisotropy and the plate motion to a certain extent. Various factors such as plate basal drag force, ridges thrust, buoyancy, collision and subduction constrain the relation between plate motion and stress field in a combined action, resulting in a good correlation in African, Cocos, Eurasian, Juan de Fuca, North American, Nazca, Philippine and South American plates, and a poor correlation in other plates. For the subduction zone areas, the image of correlativity between plate motion and seismic anisotropy as well as stress field is intricate due to the complexity of the subduction mechanism and the non-directional flow of asthenosphere, lithospheric mantle, and it needs further research in combination with the specific subduction zone structure.