蒙古-贝加尔地区上地幔小尺度对流及 地球动力学意义

上地幔小尺度对流是控制区域地球动力学过程的主要机制之一,蒙古-贝加尔地区的一些区域动力学过程被认为与上地幔小尺度对流相关.本文目的在于利用重力资料研究蒙古-贝加尔地区的上地幔小尺度对流,并探讨其与构造动力学的关系.基于区域均衡重力异常与上地幔小尺度对流的相关方程,本文利用区域均衡重力异常资料反演了蒙古-贝加尔地区上地幔小尺度对流流场及作用于岩石层底部的应力场.结果显示,蒙古-贝加尔地区地幔流场及对流应力场呈现非常复杂的图像,流场及应力场分布与地表构造具有很好的相关性.西伯利亚地台和蒙古褶皱带下地幔流场和对流应力场均较弱,这与这些地区现今较弱的构造活动性是一致的.贝加尔裂谷区下存在地幔上升流,对流应力场呈拉张状态,但应力场的幅值较小(约8 MPa),表明地幔对流不是贝加尔裂谷开裂的主要控制因素.Hangay高原、阿尔泰和戈壁-阿尔泰下存在地幔上升流,对流应力场为拉张状态,这一方面可能构成Hangay高原隆升的深部动力机制,另一方面,也为Amurian板块西边界划分提供了动力背景.     

卫星重力资料揭示的新疆天山地区构造动力学状态

利用最新的地球重力场模型,计算了新疆及邻近地区的自由空气重力异常、大地水准面扰动异常、地壳和上地幔平均密度异常以及地幔对流引起的岩石层底界面粘滞应力场分布．根据计算结果,对新疆天山地区的构造动力学特征进行了分析和推断,认为天山处于地幔对流形成的挤压沉降环境中,在南北不对称的挤压应力作用下快速隆升,挤压应力场中心在天山以南．这种应力场特征有利于塔里木板块向天山之下俯冲的观点．天山南北两侧的准噶尔盆地南缘和塔里木盆地北缘,是地壳内质量缺失区,是由于南北两侧地壳向天山下挤压而弯曲造成的．中国天山东段的深部密度分布特征与中段和西段的不同,可能是地幔对流分布的东西向差异造成的．      

青藏高原-天山地区岩石层构造运动的地幔动力学机制

利用全球重力大地水准面异常、板块绝对运动及全球地震层析成像数据,计算了青藏高原-天山地区岩石层下部地幔大尺度对流格局以及此种尺度对流驱动下岩石层内应力场分布;同时,利用区域均衡重力异常数据反演青藏高原中、北部到天山地区上地幔小尺度对流模型．结果表明,大尺度的地幔物质运移过程可能驱动着中国大陆岩石层整体从西部以南北方向为主的运动转向东部地区以北东和南东方向的运动;而该区域上地幔小尺度上升流动支持了现代青藏高原和天山地区的抬升运动．提出和讨论了青藏高原隆升的“断离隆升-挤压隆升-对流隆升”三阶段模式,并探讨了大陆岩石层构造运动的地幔深部动力学背景．     

俯冲构造vs.地幔柱构造——板块运动驱动力探讨

板块构造是指地球外壳岩石圈块体在地球表面的(水平)运动及其相互作用.自50年前板块构造理论建立以来,对板块运动的动力来源这一问题一直存在争议.早期的观点认为是"自下而上"机制,即板块运动受控于板块之下的地幔对流系统,特别是起源于核幔边界的地幔柱作用于板块底部,促使大陆裂解,并驱动板块运动.而现今较为普遍接受的观点则是"自上而下"机制,即认为板块运动的驱动力主要来源于板块自身的负浮力(即重力大于浮力),板块构造和地幔对流均受控于板块的俯冲作用,因此板块构造又被称为俯冲构造.这一观点得到了众多地质和地球物理观测的支持.进一步研究表明,个别板块增速、减速与单一地幔柱活动在百万年时间尺度具有耦合关系;多个板块内稳定克拉通地区地表隆升、沉积速率与地幔柱相关的岩浆活动在亿年时间尺度存在时空相关性;而全球范围的超大陆聚合、裂解与超级地幔柱活动在二十亿年以来的地质历史时期表现为周期性耦合关系.这些不同时空尺度的耦合现象均表明,板块构造与地幔柱构造在地球演化过程中是紧密联系、相互作用的,地幔柱构造对板块运动产生了不可忽视的影响.因此,需要将板块构造和地幔柱构造这两大地球构造体系加以联合,开展综合分析与研究,才能获得对板块构造和整个地球动力系统运行机制的全面认识.     

横向黏度变化的全地幔对流应力场初步研究

将地幔地震波速度异常转换为地幔横向黏度变化(达到3个数量级),在球坐标系下计算了瑞雷数为106、上边界为刚性、下边界为应力自由等温边界条件下的岩石层底部的地幔对流极型和环型应力场.结果表明,地幔对流极型应力场与地表大尺度构造具有良好的对应关系:俯冲带和碰撞带的应力呈现挤压状态,而洋中脊处的应力则呈现拉张状态.地幔对流环...     

地幔动力学研究进展--地幔对流

分类而且系统地回顾了地幔对流研究的进展情况.发现虽然静态地幔对流模型(没有考虑地球自转或差异旋转效应)在拟合某些地表观测如重力异常、大地水准面异常以及地下应力场时取得了较满意的结果,但是却对于某些全球尺度的地质特征如0°、180°半球的非对称性显得难以适应,因此建议性地提出了今后地幔对流的可能发展方向.     

从克拉通破坏到板块动力模型的研究

华北克拉通破坏动力机制研究导致了全球动力系统及“板块动力模型”研究.板块运动最有可能的动力是地幔物质流动,但由于地幔物质流动的成因至今尚未查明,所以板块构造学说研究仍处于“运动模型”阶段,而没有进入“动力模型”阶段.如果地幔密度异常是驱动地幔物质流动的成因,那么就有可能基于重力学方法以“板块动力模型”的形式建立地幔密度异常驱动模式;软流圈中可能存在着动力特性不同的区块,地幔密度正异常代表物质盈余、区块内的物质要向区块外移动,地幔密度负异常代表物质亏损、区块外的物质要向区块内移动.本项目采用重力和地震资料相结合研究地球的整体分层,根据重力大地水准面联合地震波速度结构反演求解地幔密度异常,再根据地球正常密度假说和板块运动重力学机制的观点并与现有“板块运动模型”相结合,分析地幔密度异常动力区块,初步建立“基于重力学机制的板块动力模型”;为最终建立多学科机制的“全球板块动力模型”,迈出重要一步.     

地幔对流对全球岩石圈应力产生与分布的作用

利用动力学模拟方法研究地幔对流对于大尺度岩石圈内部应力场形成的作用. 地幔物质内部的密度横向非均匀及表面板块运动引起地幔流动,并在岩石圈底部产生一个应力场. 该应力场作为面力将造成岩石圈本身变形,从而产生岩石圈内部的应力分布. 模拟计算结果表明,大部分俯冲带及大陆碰撞带区域应力均呈现挤压特征,如环太平洋俯冲带及印度－欧亚碰撞带等;而东太平洋洋脊、大西洋洋脊及东非裂谷处应力状态均表现为拉张;并且绝大多数热点位置处于应力拉张区域,这与目前对全球构造应力状态的理解是一致的. 计算的岩石圈内部最大水平主压应力的方向与观测表现出相当的一致,其结果总体上吻合得较好,然而在局部区域（例如西北太平洋的俯冲带、青藏高原等地区）存在着较大的差异. 研究表明,地幔对流是造成岩石圈内部大尺度应力状态及分布的一个重要因素.     

地幔深部运动,全球构造格局及中国地震应力场背景

本文探讨了形成岩石层内部应力场两种可能的力源:地幔对流产生的作用于岩石层底部的切向拖曳力和沿板块边界分布力系对岩石层内应力场的影响.发现这两种力同时作用控制了中国大陆应力场的基本格局,它们产生的应力场主压应力方向和用地震震源机制解、钻孔应力测量及地质构造推断的中国应力场分布基本吻合.     

地幔深部运动,全球构造格局及中国地震应力场背景c

本文探讨了形成岩石层内部应力场两种可能的力源:地幔对流产生的作用于岩石层底部的切向拖曳力和沿板块边界分布力系对岩石层内应力场的影响.发现这两种力同时作用控制了中国大陆应力场的基本格局,它们产生的应力场主压应力方向和用地震震源机制解、钻孔应力测量及地质构造推断的中国应力场分布基本吻合.      

The mantle convection pattern and force source mechanism of recent tectonic movement in China

The Runcorn stress equations and 2–30° harmonic coefficients of the geopotential have been applied to determine the mantle convection pattern beneath China. The pattern is compared with geophysical and geological observations and it is found that the directional change belts of mantle flows coincide with the major fault belts between tectonic units of China. The stress field generated by mantle flows, except in the Tian Shan region, also coincide with the stress field of recent tectonic movement in China. The Tarim and Junggar basins are formed by tensional stresses due to divergent mantle convection currents under northwest China. The formation of the Qinhai-Xizang (Tibet) plateau is due mainly to the compression of the Tarim block and Indian plate, caused by convergent mantle convection currents. The shear-fault belts in central China (100–105°E) are generated by the running change belt of mantle flows, a well-known N-S seismic zone. In eastern China, tensional faults, grabens, lake and sea depressions are related to the eastward displacement of continental lithosphere exerted by eastward dispersal mantle flows under this region.This paper provides new material for further study of the force source mechanism of recent tectonic movement from the viewpoint of mantle convection currents.     

Evolution of the deformation and stress patterns of the East Asia continent under multi-driving force

Introduction Seismological observation and all kinds of ways of geodesy measurement imply that there is significant correlation between crustal movement and seismic activity (MEI, 1993). Therefore, it is very important to get the materials of the continental crust deformation and the patterns of stress field for the studying of the mechanism and prediction of the continental strong earthquake. Data of the continental deformation and patterns of stress field can be mainly obtained by the follo…     

区域重力异常和上地幔小尺度对流相关方程及对流拖曳力场

建立了区域重力均衡异常的物理模型，假定区域重力均衡异常源于上地幔密度分布横向不均匀以及由上地幔小尺度对流产生的边界形变．导出了区域重力均衡异常和上地幔小尺度对流之间的相关方程，讨论了该方程在地球动力学研究中的应用．应用几种模型计算上地幔小尺度对流产生的作用于岩石层底部的拖曳力场．结果表明，将这一相关方程用于利用区域重力均衡异常研究地壳及上地幔应力状态，将有广阔的前景．     

Hotspot distribution, gravity, mantle tomography: evidence for plumes

Thermal convection is the motor of Earth dynamics and therefore is the link between plate motions, hotspots, seismic velocity variations in the mantle, and anomalies of the gravity field. Small scale mantle anomalies, such as plumes, do, however, generally escape detection by tomographic methods. It is attempted to approach the problem of detection in a somewhat statistical manner. Correlations are sought between spherical harmonic expansions of the fields under study: the hotspot distribution, mantle velocity variations, gravity, heat flow. Using spherical harmonic representations of global fields implies integration and averaging over the whole globe. Thus, although relationships may remain masked in the space domain by a multitude of effects, tendencies may become visible in the spectra or in appropriate averages.The main results are the following: There is a significant long wavelength (n=2,3) negative correlation between the hotspot density and the P-wave velocity variation in the lower mantle. Positive hotspot density of degree 2 to 9 generally correlates with low seismic velocity in all depths of the upper mantle and with positive gravity. This fits well with plume-type convection. These results are also confirmed regionally for a number of individual mid-ocean ridges and hotspots. The hotspot density and the free air anomalies are distinctly positive above regions of low velocity extending to great depth. The effect is not distinct at ridges with shallow velocity anomalies. In a general way, we suggest that the antipodal upwellings (Pacific, Africa) are divided by downwelling currents around the shrinking Pacific. Plate boundaries can easily move away from their past connections with the deeper mantle. Small scale plume currents seem to be depicted in the hotspot expansion. © 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.     

Mantle convection pattern and subcrustal stress field under Asia

Gravitational field models derived from satellite tracking and surface gravity data have been used to derive the forces in the earth's mantle under Asia. Based on studies of tectonic forces from these models, a subcrustal stress field under China has been obtained. The stresses are due to mantle convection. According to the stress patterns, the east and west China blocks and five seismic zones are identified. The tensional stresses exerted by the upwelling mantle convection flows under the crust of Tibet seem to be related to the Tibetan uplift. The compressional orogenic region from the southern tip of Lake Baikal, through Tien Shan, Hindu Kush and the Himalayas to northern Burma appears to be connected with the downwelling mantle convection flows. It is found that the directions of the subcrustal stresses under China are disposed perpendicularly to the major fault systems and seismic belts. The results of stress calculations show that the crust of north China should be in compression and that stresses within it should be sufficient to form the Shansi Graben and Linfen Basin Systems and fracture the lithosphere. This gives a possible explanation of why strong earthquakes occurred in north China which is an isolated narrow region of highest seismicity far from plate boundaries. The tensional stress fields, caused by the upwelling mantle convection flows, are found to be regions of structural kinship characterized by major concentrations of mineral and metal deposits in China.     

Rheology of the mantle and tectonics of the oceanic lithospheric plates

The modern concepts of the rheology of viscous mantle and brittle lithosphere, as well as the results of the numerical experiments on the processes in a heated layer with a viscosity dependent on pressure, temperature, and shear stress, are reviewed. These dependences are inferred from the laboratory studies of olivine and measurements of postglacial rebound (glacial isostatic adjustment) and geoid anomalies. The numerical solution of classical conservation equations for mass, heat, and momentum shows that thermal convection with a highly viscous rigid lithosphere develops in the layer with the parameters of the mantle with the considered rheology under a temperature difference of 3500 K, without any special additional conditions due to the self-organization of the material. If the viscosity parameters of the lithosphere correspond to dry olivine, the lithosphere remains monolithic (unbroken). At a lower strength (probably due to the effects of water), the lithosphere splits into a set of separate rigid plates divided by the ridges and subduction zones. The plates submerge into the mantle, and their material is involved in the convective circulation. The results of the numerical experiment may serve as direct empirical evidence to validate the basic concepts of the theory of plate tectonics; these experiments also reveal some new features of the mantle convection. The probable structure of the flows in the upper and lower mantle (including the asthenosphere), which shows the primary role of the lithospheric plates, is demonstrated for the first time.     

The upper mantle flow beneath the North China Platform

In this paper we establish an upper mantle convection model which is constrained by regional isostatic gravity anomalies. Comparing the computed convection patterns with the tectonic features of the North China Platform we find that there are two positive anomaly centers connected with upward flows. These anomalies belong to the tectonic units of the Shan-Xi geoanticline and the Lu-Xi geoanticline. The centers of downward flows are connected with the tectonic units of the Liao-Ji geosyncline. It is reasonable to suggest that the upward mantle flows push the lithosphere upward and generate the observed positive isostatic gravity anomaly. The downward mantle flows pull the lithosphere down and generate the negative anomaly. However, the use of simple analysis makes it difficult to explain the complex lithospheric dynamics of this region. In order to understand lithospheric structures and tectonic features we must investigate the mechanical properties of the lithosphere and the relationship between the lithosphere and the mantle. These problems are discussed in the last section of this paper.