Subduction initiation in mid-ocean induced by mantle suction flow
- Pre-existing weakness zones in the lithosphere such as transform faults/fracture zones and extinct mid-oceanic ridges have been suggested to facilitate subduction initiation in an intra-oceanic environment. Here, we propose that the additional forcing coming from the mantle suction flow is required to trigger the conversion of a fracture zone/transform fault into a converging plate boundary. This suction flow can be induced either from the slab remnants of former converging plate boundaries or/and from slabs of neighbouring active subduction zones. Using 2-D coupled thermo-mechanical models, we show that a sufficiently strong mantle flow is able to convert a fracture zone/transform fault into a subduction zone. However, this process is feasible only if the fracture zone/transform fault is very close to the mid-oceanic ridge. Our numerical model results indicate that time of subduction initiation depends on the velocity, domain size and location of mantle suction flow and age of the oceanic plate.
Author details: | Marzieh BaesORCiD, Stephan SobolevORCiDGND, Javier QuinterosORCiD |
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DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggy335 |
ISSN: | 0956-540X |
ISSN: | 1365-246X |
Title of parent work (English): | Geophysical journal international |
Publisher: | Oxford Univ. Press |
Place of publishing: | Oxford |
Publication type: | Article |
Language: | English |
Date of first publication: | 2018/08/13 |
Publication year: | 2018 |
Release date: | 2021/01/06 |
Tag: | Numerical modelling; Subduction zone processes; oceanic transform and fracture zone processes |
Volume: | 215 |
Issue: | 3 |
Number of pages: | 8 |
First page: | 1515 |
Last Page: | 1522 |
Organizational units: | Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät / Institut für Geowissenschaften |
DDC classification: | 5 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik / 55 Geowissenschaften, Geologie / 550 Geowissenschaften |
Peer review: | Referiert |
Publishing method: | Open Access / Green Open-Access |