eprintid: 146995
rev_number: 50
eprint_status: archive
userid: 608
dir: disk0/00/14/69/95
datestamp: 2010-10-28 09:45:24
lastmod: 2021-09-19 22:35:28
status_changed: 2012-08-28 16:06:35
type: article
metadata_visibility: show
item_issues_count: 0
creators_name: Conrad, CP
creators_name: Lithgow-Bertelloni, C
title: Influence of continental roots and asthenosphere on plate-mantle coupling
ispublished: pub
divisions: UCL
divisions: B04
divisions: C06
divisions: F57
keywords: Lithospheric stress-field, Driving forces, Convection, Motion, Tectosphere, Tomography, Topography, Viscosity
note: Copyright 2006 by the American Geophysical Union
abstract: The shear tractions that mantle flow exerts on the base of Earth's lithosphere contribute to plate-driving forces and lithospheric stresses. We investigate the sensitivity of these tractions to sub-lithospheric viscosity variations by comparing shear tractions computed from a mantle flow model featuring laterally-varying lithosphere and asthenosphere viscosity with those from a model with layered viscosity. Lateral viscosity variations generally do not change the direction of shear tractions, but deeply penetrating continental roots increase traction magnitudes by a factor of 2-5 compared to 100 km thick lithosphere. A low-viscosity asthenosphere decreases traction magnitudes by a smaller amount, and is important only if >100 km thick. Increased plate-mantle coupling beneath thick continental lithosphere may increase plate-driving forces, surface deformation, and mantle-derived lithospheric stresses in these regions. By contrast, a low-viscosity asthenosphere does not decouple the lithosphere from mantle flow, highlighting the geological importance of mantle tractions on the lithosphere.
date: 2006-03-15
publisher: AMER GEOPHYSICAL UNION
official_url: http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2005GL025621
vfaculties: VMPS
oa_status: green
language: eng
primo: open
primo_central: open_green
article_type_text: Article
verified: verified_batch
elements_source: Web of Science
elements_id: 189380
doi: 10.1029/2005GL025621
language_elements: EN
lyricists_name: Lithgow-Bertelloni, Carolina
lyricists_id: CLITH46
full_text_status: public
publication: Geophysical Research Letters
volume: 33
number: 5
article_number: L05312
issn: 0094-8276
citation:        Conrad, CP;    Lithgow-Bertelloni, C;      (2006)    Influence of continental roots and asthenosphere on plate-mantle coupling.                   Geophysical Research Letters , 33  (5)    , Article L05312.  10.1029/2005GL025621 <https://doi.org/10.1029/2005GL025621>.       Green open access   
 
document_url: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/146995/1/2005GL025621.pdf