TY - JOUR A1 - Richter, Maximilian A1 - Brune, Sascha A1 - Riedl, Simon A1 - Glerum, Anne A1 - Neuharth, Derek A1 - Strecker, Manfred T1 - Controls on asymmetric rift dynamics BT - Numerical modeling of strain localization and fault evolution in the Kenya Rift JF - Tectonics / American Geophysical Union, AGU ; European Geophysical Society, EGS N2 - Complex, time-dependent, and asymmetric rift geometries are observed throughout the East African Rift System (EARS) and are well documented, for instance, in the Kenya Rift. To unravel asymmetric rifting processes in this region, we conduct 2D geodynamic models. We use the finite element software ASPECT employing visco-plastic rheologies, mesh-refinement, distributed random noise seeding, and a free surface. In contrast to many previous numerical modeling studies that aimed at understanding final rifted margin symmetry, we explicitly focus on initial rifting stages to assess geodynamic controls on strain localization and fault evolution. We thereby link to geological and geophysical observations from the Southern and Central Kenya Rift. Our models suggest a three-stage early rift evolution that dynamically bridges previously inferred fault-configuration phases of the eastern EARS branch: (1) accommodation of initial strain localization by a single border fault and flexure of the hanging-wall crust, (2) faulting in the hanging-wall and increasing upper-crustal faulting in the rift-basin center, and (3) loss of pronounced early stage asymmetry prior to basinward localization of deformation. This evolution may provide a template for understanding early extensional faulting in other branches of the East African Rift and in asymmetric rifts worldwide. By modifying the initial random noise distribution that approximates small-scale tectonic inheritance, we show that a spectrum of first-order fault configurations with variable symmetry can be produced in models with an otherwise identical setup. This approach sheds new light on along-strike rift variability controls in active asymmetric rifts and proximal rifted margins. KW - asymmetric rifting KW - rift variability KW - numerical model KW - structural KW - inheritance KW - Kenya Rift Y1 - 2021 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1029/2020TC006553 SN - 0278-7407 SN - 1944-9194 VL - 40 IS - 5 PB - American Geophysical Union CY - Washington ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Baes, Marzieh A1 - Sobolev, Stephan A1 - Gerya, Taras V. A1 - Brune, Sascha T1 - Plume-induced subduction initiation BT - single-slab or multi-slab subduction? JF - Geochemistry, geophysics, geosystems N2 - Initiation of subduction following the impingement of a hot buoyant mantle plume is one of the few scenarios that allow breaking the lithosphere and recycling a stagnant lid without requiring any preexisting weak zones. Here, we investigate factors controlling the number and shape of retreating subducting slabs formed by plume-lithosphere interaction. Using 3-D thermomechanical models we show that the deformation regime, which defines formation of single-slab or multi-slab subduction, depends on several parameters such as age of oceanic lithosphere, thickness of the crust and large-scale lithospheric extension rate. Our model results indicate that on present-day Earth multi-slab plume-induced subduction is initiated only if the oceanic lithosphere is relatively young (<30-40 Myr, but >10 Myr), and the crust has a typical thickness of 8 km. In turn, development of single-slab subduction is facilitated by older lithosphere and pre-imposed extensional stresses. In early Earth, plume-lithosphere interaction could have led to formation of either episodic short-lived circular subduction when the oceanic lithosphere was young or to multi-slab subduction when the lithosphere was old. KW - subduction zone KW - plume KW - numerical model KW - singleslab KW - multi-slab Y1 - 2020 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GC008663 SN - 1525-2027 VL - 21 IS - 2 PB - American Geophysical Union CY - Washington ER - TY - GEN A1 - Baes, Marzieh A1 - Sobolev, Stephan Vladimir A1 - Gerya, Taras V. A1 - Brune, Sascha T1 - Plume-induced subduction initiation BT - Single-slab or multi-slab subduction? T2 - Postprints der Universität Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe N2 - Initiation of subduction following the impingement of a hot buoyant mantle plume is one of the few scenarios that allow breaking the lithosphere and recycling a stagnant lid without requiring any preexisting weak zones. Here, we investigate factors controlling the number and shape of retreating subducting slabs formed by plume-lithosphere interaction. Using 3-D thermomechanical models we show that the deformation regime, which defines formation of single-slab or multi-slab subduction, depends on several parameters such as age of oceanic lithosphere, thickness of the crust and large-scale lithospheric extension rate. Our model results indicate that on present-day Earth multi-slab plume-induced subduction is initiated only if the oceanic lithosphere is relatively young (<30-40 Myr, but >10 Myr), and the crust has a typical thickness of 8 km. In turn, development of single-slab subduction is facilitated by older lithosphere and pre-imposed extensional stresses. In early Earth, plume-lithosphere interaction could have led to formation of either episodic short-lived circular subduction when the oceanic lithosphere was young or to multi-slab subduction when the lithosphere was old. T3 - Zweitveröffentlichungen der Universität Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe - 1167 KW - subduction zone KW - plume KW - numerical model KW - singleslab KW - multi-slab Y1 - 2021 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-522742 SN - 1866-8372 IS - 2 ER - TY - THES A1 - Schröder, Sarah T1 - Modelling surface evolution coupled with tectonics T1 - Modellierung von Oberflächenprozessen gekoppelt mit Tektonik BT - A case study for the Pamir BT - Eine Fallstudie zum Pamir N2 - This study presents the development of 1D and 2D Surface Evolution Codes (SECs) and their coupling to any lithospheric-scale (thermo-)mechanical code with a quadrilateral structured surface mesh. Both SECs involve diffusion as approach for hillslope processes and the stream power law to reflect riverbed incision. The 1D SEC settles sediment that was produced by fluvial incision in the appropriate minimum, while the supply-limited 2D SEC DANSER uses a fast filling algorithm to model sedimantation. It is based on a cellular automaton. A slope-dependent factor in the sediment flux extends the diffusion equation to nonlinear diffusion. The discharge accumulation is achieved with the D8-algorithm and an improved drainage accumulation routine. Lateral incision enhances the incision's modelling. Following empirical laws, it incises channels of several cells width. The coupling method enables different temporal and spatial resolutions of the SEC and the thermo-mechanical code. It transfers vertical as well as horizontal displacements to the surface model. A weighted smoothing of the 3D surface displacements is implemented. The smoothed displacement vectors transmit the deformation by bilinear interpolation to the surface model. These interpolation methods ensure mass conservation in both directions and prevent the two surfaces from drifting apart. The presented applications refer to the evolution of the Pamir orogen. A calibration of DANSER's parameters with geomorphological data and a DEM as initial topography highlights the advantage of lateral incision. Preserving the channel width and reflecting incision peaks in narrow channels, this closes the huge gap between current orogen-scale incision models and observed topographies. River capturing models in a system of fault-bounded block rotations reaffirm the importance of the lateral incision routine for capturing events with channel initiation. The models show a low probability of river capturings with large deflection angles. While the probability of river capturing is directly depending on the uplift rate, the erodibility inside of a dip-slip fault speeds up headward erosion along the fault: The model's capturing speed increases within a fault. Coupling DANSER with the thermo-mechanical code SLIM 3D emphasizes the versatility of the SEC. While DANSER has minor influence on the lithospheric evolution of an indenter model, the brittle surface deformation is strongly affected by its sedimentation, widening a basin in between two forming orogens and also the southern part of the southern orogen to south, east and west. N2 - Im Rahmen dieser Studie werden 1D und 2D Erosionsmodelle im Gebirgsmaßstab implementiert und mit Modellen für tektonische Deformation gekoppelt. Die Kopplungsmethode erlaubt unterschiedlich räumliche und zeitliche Auflösungen im tektonischen und im Erosionsmodell. Es werden sowohl vertikale als auch horizontale Bewegungen zwischen den Modellen transferiert. Darüber hinaus enthält die Kopplungsmethode ein Glättungsverfahren, um eventuelle Instabilitäten des tektonischen Modelles zu kompensieren. Beide Erosionsmodelle beziehen Hangerosion, Flusseinschneidung und Sedimentation ein. Der 1D Code nutzt Hack's Law, um die Wassermengen zu berechnen. Er garantiert Massenerhaltung, indem er Sedimente in Senken speichert. Das 2D Erosionsmodell DANSER basiert auf einem zellulären Automaten. Ein zusätzlicher steigungsabhängiger Faktor erweitert lineare zu nichtlinearer Diffusion. Wassermengen werden mit Hilfe des D8-Algorithmus und einer veränderten Form von O'Callaghans (1984) Algorithmus akkumuliert. Laterale Einschneidung, berechnet durch einen neuen Verteilungs-Algorithmus, verbessert die Modellierung von Flusssystemen. Flüsse sind dabei repräsentiert durch eine unterschiedliche Anzahl an Zellen orthogonal zur Fließrichtung. Ihre Breite wird nach empirischen Gesetzen ermittelt. Die präsentierten Anwendungen dienen der Studie des Pamirgebirges. Zunächst werden die Modellparameter anhand von Einschneidungs- und Erosionsraten sowie Sedimentdurchflüssen kalibriert. Ein digitales Höhenmodell dient als Anfangstopographie und zur Extraktion von Flussprofilen. Laterale Einschneidung zeigt eine deutliche Verbesserung zu bisher vorhandenen Modellen. Sie ermöglicht die Erhaltung der Flussbreite und zeigt hohe Einschneidungsraten in engen Flusspassagen. Modelle von Flussanzapfungen in einem System paralleler Verwerfungen bestätigen die Wichtigkeit von lateraler Einschneidung für Flussanzapfungsmodelle, die Hangerosion einbeziehen. Während die Modelle eine geringe Wahrscheinlichkeit von Flussanzapfungen mit hohem Ablenkungswinkel zeigen, belegen sie auch, dass deren (allgemeine) Wahrscheinlichkeit direkt von der Hebungsrate der Verwerfungen abhängt. Die Erodibilität beschleunigt lediglich die Geschwindigkeit von Flussanzapfungen. Ein Modell, das die Codes SLIM 3D und DANSER koppelt, dokumentiert die vielseitige Verwendbarkeit des neuen Codes: Es zeigt einen geringen Einfluss von Oberflächenprozessen auf die Lithosphärendeformation, während die Sedimentationsroutine erheblich auf spröde Oberflächendeformationen einwirkt. Das Modell legt nahe, dass Sedimentation ein zwischen zwei entstehenden Gebirgen gelegenes Becken weitet. Außerdem weitet sich der südlich von der interkontinentalen Kollisionszone gelegene Teil des Gebirge-Models ebenfalls durch Sedimentation. KW - erosion KW - coupling KW - SEC KW - surface evolution KW - thermo-mechanics KW - surface processes KW - DANSER KW - Pamir KW - Tien-Shan KW - Tian-Shan KW - tectonics KW - modelling KW - modeling KW - numerical model KW - simulation KW - surface KW - fluvial incision KW - hillslope diffusion KW - finite differences KW - finite elements KW - Eulerian grid KW - DANSER KW - DANSER KW - Erosion KW - Modellierung KW - Tektonik KW - Koppelung KW - SEC KW - numerische Modellierung KW - Oberflächenprozesse KW - Pamir KW - Tien-Shan KW - Tian-Shan KW - Tiefendeformation KW - Software KW - Simulation KW - Oberfläche KW - fluviale Einschneidung KW - Hangerosion KW - finite Differenzen KW - finite Elemente KW - Eulerische Gitter Y1 - 2015 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-90385 ER -