A free plate surface and weak oceanic crust produce single-sided subduction on Earth

Publication type:
Journal article
Metadata:
Autoren
  • F Crameri
  • PJ Tackley
  • I Meilick
  • TV Gerya
  • BJP Kaus
Autoren-URL
https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=fis-test-1&SrcAuth=WosAPI&KeyUT=WOS:000300241000001&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=WOS_CPL
DOI
10.1029/2011GL050046
eISSN
1944-8007
Externe Identifier
  • Clarivate Analytics Document Solution ID: 891UB
ISSN
0094-8276
Zeitschrift
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
Artikelnummer
ARTN L03306
Datum der Veröffentlichung
2012
Status
Published
Titel
A free plate surface and weak oceanic crust produce single-sided subduction on Earth
Sub types
  • Article
Ausgabe der Zeitschrift
39

Data source: Web of Science (Lite)

Other metadata sources:
Abstract
<jats:p>Earth's lithosphere is characterized by the relative movement of almost rigid plates as part of global mantle convection. Subduction zones on present‐day Earth are strongly asymmetric features composed of an overriding plate above a subducting plate that sinks into the mantle. While global self‐consistent numerical models of mantle convection have reproduced some aspects of plate tectonics, the assumptions behind these models do not allow for realistic single‐sided subduction. Here we demonstrate that the asymmetry of subduction results from two major features of terrestrial plates: (1) the presence of a free deformable upper surface and (2) the presence of weak hydrated crust atop subducting slabs. We show that assuming a free surface, rather than the conventional free‐slip surface, allows the dynamical behavior at convergent plate boundaries to change from double‐sided to single‐sided. A weak crustal layer further improves the behavior towards steady single‐sided subduction by acting as lubricating layer between the sinking and the overriding plate. This is a first order finding of the causes of single‐sided subduction, which by its own produces important features like the arcuate curvature of subduction trenches.</jats:p>
Autoren
  • F Crameri
  • PJ Tackley
  • I Meilick
  • TV Gerya
  • BJP Kaus
DOI
10.1029/2011gl050046
eISSN
1944-8007
ISSN
0094-8276
Ausgabe der Veröffentlichung
3
Zeitschrift
Geophysical Research Letters
Sprache
en
Online publication date
2012
Datum der Veröffentlichung
2012
Status
Published
Herausgeber
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Herausgeber URL
http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2011gl050046
Datum der Datenerfassung
2023
Titel
A free plate surface and weak oceanic crust produce single‐sided subduction on Earth
Ausgabe der Zeitschrift
39

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