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.
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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.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Influence of continental roots and asthenosphere on plate-mantle coupling |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1029/2005GL025621 |
| Publisher version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2005GL025621 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | Copyright 2006 by the American Geophysical Union |
| Keywords: | Lithospheric stress-field, Driving forces, Convection, Motion, Tectosphere, Tomography, Topography, Viscosity |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences > Dept of Earth Sciences |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/146995 |
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