Effects of plate and slab viscosities on the geoid

The effects of plate rheology (strong plate interiors and weak plate margins) and stiff subducted lithosphere (slabs) on the geoid and plate motions, considered jointly, are examined with three-dimensional spherical models of mantle flow. Buoyancy forces are based on the internal distribution of subducted lithosphere estimated from the last 160 Ma of subduction history. While the ratio of the lower mantle/upper mantle viscosity has a strong effect on the long-wavelength geoid, as has been shown before, we find that plate rheology is also significant and that its inclusion yields a better geoid model while simultaneously reproducing basic features of observed plate motion. Slab viscosity can strongly affect the geoid, depending on whether a slab is coupled to the surface. In particular, deep, high-viscosity slabs beneath the northern Pacific that are disconnected from the surface as a result of subduction history produce significant long-wavelength geoid highs that differ from the observation. This suggests that slabs in the lower mantle may be not as stiff as predicted from a simple thermally activated rheology, if the slab model is accurate.     

Softening of the subcontinental lithospheric mantle by asthenosphere melts and the continental extension/oceanic spreading transition

The majority of ophiolitic peridotites in the Alpine–Apennine system show evidence of extensive interaction between subcontinental lithospheric mantle and fractional melts of asthenospheric origin. This interaction led to petrological, structural, and geochemical changes in the lithospheric mantle, and was accompanied by a temperature increase to near-asthenospheric values, resulting in the thermomechanical erosion of the lithosphere. We term the parts of mantle lithosphere thus affected the asthenospherized lithospheric mantle or ALM.The thermal and rheological consequences of thermomechanical erosion are explored by modelling the temperature and rheological properties of the thinned lithosphere as a function of thickness of ALM and time since asthenospherization (i.e., since the beginning of thermal relaxation). Results are given both in terms of rheological profiles (strength envelopes) and total lithospheric strength (TLS) for different lower crustal rheologies. The TLS decreases as a consequence of thermomechanical erosion. This decrease is a non-linear function of the thickness of the ALM. While practically negligible if less than 50% of lithospheric mantle is affected, it becomes significant (up to almost one order of magnitude) if thermomechanical erosion approaches the Moho. The maximum decrease in TLS is achieved within a short time span (1–2 Ma) after the end of the heating episode.As a working hypothesis, we propose that thermomechanical erosion of the lithospheric mantle, related to lithosphere/asthenospheric melts interaction, can be an important factor in a geologically rapid decrease in TLS. This softening could lead to whole lithospheric failure and consequently to a transition from continental extension to oceanic spreading.     

Southern limit of mantle-derived geothermal helium emissions in Tibet: implications for lithospheric structure

The isotopic composition of helium emitted from geothermal springs in the southern Tibetan plateau, reported as R_c/R_A (R_c=air corrected sample ³He/⁴He, R_A=air ³He/⁴He), ranges from 0.013 to 0.38, and defines two principal domains. In southernmost central Tibet, helium isotope ratios are typical of radiogenic helium production in the crust (R_c/R_A<0.05, crustal helium domain). Further north, there is a resolvable ³He anomaly consistent with a mantle contribution (R/R_A>0.1, mantle helium domain). The highest values of 0.27–0.38 R_A occur at the southern end of the Karakoram fault. The boundary between the two domains lies 50–100 km north of the Indus-Zangpo suture zone. There seems to be no association between the ³He anomaly and zones of active normal faulting and litho-tectonic crustal units, such as the ultramafic rocks of the Indus-Zangpo suture zone and the Gangdese intrusive belt. Although scavenging of mantle-derived helium, stored in large ultrabasic and basic intrusions in the crust, cannot be ruled out entirely, we argue that the ³He anomaly most plausibly reflects degassing of volatiles from young (Quaternary) mantle-derived melts intruded into the crust. As such, it defines the southern limit of recent mantle melting and mantle melt extraction beneath the Tibetan plateau. The southern limit of the ³He anomaly coincides with the junction between the Indian and Asian plates, in the region where the Indian lithospheric slab steepens and is subducted beneath Tibet as suggested by seismic studies. Recent mantle melting and melt extraction is confined to the Asian mantle, but the southern limit of the melt zone may have migrated northwards during the last 10 Ma as the Indian lithosphere has progressively underthrust the Himalayas and Tibet.     

Reconciling strong slab pull and weak plate bending: The plate motion constraint on the strength of mantle slabs

Although subducting slabs undergo a bending deformation that resists tectonic plate motions, the magnitude of this resistance is not known because of poor constraints on slab strength. However, because slab bending slows the relatively rapid motions of oceanic plates, observed plate motions constrain the importance of bending. We estimated the slab pull force and the bending resistance globally for 207 subduction zone transects using new measurements of the bending curvature determined from slab seismicity. Predicting plate motions using a global mantle flow model, we constrain the viscosity of the bending slab to be at most ~ 300 times more viscous than the upper mantle; stronger slabs are intolerably slowed by the bending deformation. Weaker slabs, however, cannot transmit a pull force sufficient to explain rapid trenchward plate motions unless slabs stretch faster than seismically observed rates of ~ 10^− 15 s^− 1. The constrained bending viscosity (~ 2 × 10²³ Pa s) is larger than previous estimates that yielded similar or larger bending resistance (here ~ 25% of forces). This apparent discrepancy occurs because slabs bend more gently than previously thought, with an average radius of curvature of 390 km that permits subduction of strong slabs. This gentle bending may ultimately permit plate tectonics on Earth.     

Shear stress on the base of a lithospheric plate

This paper is a review of the theoretical and observational evidence bearing on the magnitude of the shear stress which acts on the base of a lithospheric plate. Estimates based on the viscosity of the upper mantle do not yield useful limits. Arguments based on the thermal stability of the upper mantle indicate that the basal shear stress is no larger than a few bars. An indirect measurement of the rheology and shear stress can be made by studying the diffusion of stress and displacement following a large decoupling earthquake. When applied to the 1965 Rat Island Earthquake, this method yields a basal shear stress of about 2 bars. These results indicate that for small plates the forces produced by basal shear stress are probably small in comparison with forces acting on plate boundaries. To a first approximation, the smaller plates act as if they were decoupled from the mantle below. These stress estimates lead to a model in which the motion of the smaller lithospheric plates is governed almost entirely by the forces acting on their edges. Forces due to basal shear stress may be comparable to forces acting on the edges of large lithospheric plates. Thus, complete decoupling may not be a good approximation for such plates.     

震后形变和岩石圈流变学结构

岩石圈流变学结构是控制不同构造环境下岩石圈形变的关键因素之一. 随着空间大地测量观测技术的发展, 基于空间大地测量数据的震后形变研究对揭示断裂带内的力学性质和区域性岩石圈流变学结构已成为可能. 该文首先基于岩石力学的摩擦和流变学实验, 对余滑和分布式韧性流的构造物理背景进行了分别阐述, 并介绍了震后形变数值模拟中本构关系和数值模型的发展. 数值模型主要有解析、 半解析和纯数值3类, 涉及的本构关系包括基于速率-状态摩擦准则的余滑以及分布式韧性流中常用的线性流变学模型(麦克斯韦尔体和标准线性固体)和瞬态流变学模型(宏观经验性的伯格斯(Burgers)体和微观幂律流变律). 然后以美国南加州1992年Landers M_W7.3地震和1999年Hector Mine M_W7.1地震震后形变研究为例, 介绍了震后形变的研究进展. 最后回顾了大陆岩石圈流变学结构的研究进展, 并以震后形变研究中的流变学结构(“三明治模型”和“焦糖布丁模型”)存在的争议为例, 说明了岩石圈流变学结构研究所具有的挑战性.     

鄂尔多斯盆地中-新生代岩石圈厚度演化——来自地热学的证据

盆地热历史可以为揭示深部动力学过程提供时间和空间上的连续信息. 本文利用镜质体反射率古温标模拟了鄂尔多斯盆地从东到西7口典型井的热历史, 并在此基础上计算了盆地中生代晚期、古近纪初期以及现今的"热"岩石圈厚度. 结果显示, 鄂尔多斯盆地在早白垩世末期经历了一次热流高峰, 热流值为73~78 mW/m2, 此后的热流值一直降低至今,现今的平均值61.8 mW/m2; 早白垩世末期盆地"热"岩石圈厚度也经历了一次减薄高峰, 平均"热"岩石圈厚度为65 km左右, 此后逐渐增厚至现今的125 km左右. 鄂尔多斯盆地现今"热"岩石圈厚度中等, 早古生代200 km的厚岩石圈已不存在; 早白垩世末期是其地质发展历史的一个重大变革期, 此时"热"岩石圈厚度发生减薄, 深部构造活动强烈导致浅部盆地抬升剥蚀剧烈, 周缘岩浆活动强烈, 多种能源矿产形成, 这与华北克拉通东部构造转折的时间以及华北克拉通破坏的高峰时限具有一致性.     

The thermal state and composition of the lithospheric mantle beneath the Leizhou Peninsula, South China

Two localities on the Leizhou Peninsula, southern China (Yingfengling and Tianyang basaltic volcanoes) yield a wide variety of mantle-derived xenoliths including Cr-diopside series mantle wall rocks and two distinct types of Al-augite series pyroxenites. Metapyroxenites have re-equilibrated granoblastic microstructures whereas pyroxenites with igneous microstructures have not thermally equilibrated to the mantle conditions. An abundant suite of megacrysts and megacrystic aggregates (including garnet, plagioclase, clinopyroxene, ilmenite and apatite) is interpreted as the pegmatitic equivalents of the igneous pyroxenite suite. Layered spinel lherzolite/spinel websterite xenoliths were formed by metamorphic differentiation caused by mantle deformation, inferred to be related to lithospheric thinning. Some metapyroxenites have garnet websterite assemblages that allow calculation of their mantle equilibration temperatures and pressures and the construction of the first xenolith geotherm for the southernmost China lithosphere. Heat flow data measured at the surface in this region yield model conductive geotherms (using average crustal conductivity values) that are consistent with the xenolith geotherm for the mantle. The calculated mean surface heat flux is 110 mW/m². This high heat flux and the high geotherm are consistent with young lithospheric thinning in southern China, and with recent tomography results showing shallow low-velocity zones in this region. The xenolith geotherm allows the construction of a lithospheric rock type section for the Leizhou region; it shows that the crust–mantle boundary lies at about 30 km, consistent with seismic data, and that the lithosphere–asthenosphere boundary lies at about 100 km.     

The thermal signature of subducted lithospheric slabs at the core–mantle boundary

We study the thermal structure around a cold deformable lithospheric slab as it sinks to the core–mantle boundary and migrates along it. We present analytical results for the steady thermal structure established by a steady but spatially varying motion. The analysis gives a time-like criterion for the thermal signature of a cold slab to persist by the time that the slab moves along the core–mantle boundary. The model is used to assess the feasibility of a purely thermal origin for some of the observed seismic reflectors near the core–mantle boundary. Calculations of the time-like criterion show that the dynamical conditions in our model, namely the velocity and the thickness of the descending slab, are hard to reconcile with observations of subduction and seismic features. Seismic reflections and refractions from anomalously fast regions above the core–mantle boundary could be explained as thermal slabs if the thickness of the slab at subduction was larger than 200 km or somewhat less if the slab did not split at the core–mantle boundary. A simple thermal model also predicts from mineral physics a certain correlation between S- and P-wave velocity anomalies, which is not observed. However, a purely thermal origin cannot be ruled out if the slab is buckling. This process could be in agreement with the observations: the amplitude of the seismic anomalies, the vertical extent of high-gradient zones and the P versus S comparisons. Chemical heterogeneities and phase transformations remain alternative or complementary explanations.     

流变边界层及其对华北克拉通热/地震岩石圈底界差异的意义

二维热传导/对流数值模型显示,纯传导的固体岩石圈与纯对流的流体软流圈之间存在一过渡层,即流变边界层,其间传导与对流共同作用来传递热量.流变边界层厚度主要由软流圈黏性系数（η）控制,而受固体岩石圈厚度及热状态影响很小.随着η从1×1021Pa·s降低至1×1019 Pa·s,流变边界层也随之减薄,流变边界层的厚度与lg（η）成正比. 流变边界层的存在是造成热岩石圈与地震岩石圈厚度差异的重要因素. 全球典型克拉通岩石圈的对比结果表明,地震岩石圈厚度普遍大于热岩石圈厚度,二者的差异多数在70~90 km,很好地验证了流变边界层的存在. 研究发现二者的差异在华北克拉通自西向东逐渐减小：由西部鄂尔多斯的约80 km减少至渤海湾盆地的约20 km. 反映出华北克拉通岩石圈下部流变边界层厚度自西向东减薄,意味着软流圈黏性系数自西向东逐渐降低.这可能与中生代太平洋俯冲脱水形成的低黏大地幔楔有关,从一侧面印证了太平洋俯冲对华北克拉通破坏的影响.     

Earthquake stress drops,ambient tectonic stresses and stresses that drive plate motions

A variety of geophysical observations suggests that the upper portion of the lithosphere, herein referred to as the elastic plate, has long-term material properties and frictional strength significantly greater than the lower lithosphere. If the average frictional stress along the non-ridge margin of the elastic plate is of the order of a kilobar, as suggested by the many observations of the frictional strength of rocks at mid-crustal conditions of pressure and temperature, the only viable mechanism for driving the motion of the elastic plate is a basal shear stress of several tens of bars. Kilobars of tectonic stress are then an ambient, steady condition of the earth's crust and uppermost mantle. The approximate equality of the basal shear stress and the average crustal earthquake stress drop, the localization of strain release for major plate margin earthquakes, and the rough equivalence of plate margin slip rates and gross plate motion rates suggest that the stress drops of major plate margin earthquakes are controlled by the elastic release of the basal shear stress in the vicinity of the plate margin, despite the existence of kilobars of tectonic stress existing across vertical planes parallel to the plate margin. If the stress differences available to be released at the time of faulting are distributed in a random, white fasbion with a mean-square value determined by the average earthquake stress drop, the frequency of occurrence of constant stress drop earthquakes will be proportional to reciprocal faulting area, in accordance with empirically known frequency of occurrence statistics.     

大陆岩石圈流变研究进展与高温高压流变实验现状

大陆岩石圈类似于“三明治”的多层流变结构已经被广泛接受,并用于大陆动力学研究的各方面．然而近年来地震资料和高温高压流变实验结果表明,大陆岩石圈流变可能不是单一模式,流变结构具有多样性,而下地壳流变特性是其中最复杂的层次,这不仅受下地壳成分和结构本身的非均匀控制,而且与其含水程度相关．高温高压流变实验已经积累了大量的数据,但基性岩流变实验目前仍然处于数据积累阶段,缺乏系统性,特别是缺少含水基性岩的流变实验结果,因此,加强干的和含水的基性岩流变实验研究是深入认识下地壳岩石流变必不可少的手段和方法之一．     

Cenozoic volcanism and lithospheric tectonic evolution in Qiangtang area, northern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Accompanying with the shortening,thickening and uplifting of the lithosphere,a series of Cenozoic potassic volcanic rock zones are developed in the northern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.From south to north,the volcanic rocks can be divided into three volcanicrock belts:Qiangtang-Nangqian volcanic belt,Middle Kunlun-Hoh Xil volcanic belt and Western Kunlun-Eastern Kunlun volcanic belt[1].Spatiotemporal evolu-tion of the volcanism and the origins of magmas con-strains on the pulsing uplifting and …     

Faulting in zones of lithospheric extension: Quantitative analysis of natural and experimental data

Quantitative relationships between major fault parameters from geological observations and laboratory experiments are compared. Relationships are established between fault length, number, depth of fault penetration, amplitude of displacement and other characteristics. The width of destruction zones is estimated. Spacing between parallel faults of compatible length is evaluated. It is shown that there is a stable correlation between fault length and number, which is independent from the mode of loading the material under destruction. Destruction of the lithosphere is believed to occur according to the laws of deformation of Maxwell elasto-viscous body.     

再论纬向正常密度假说与内波假说的比较

本文对“纬向正常密度假说”和“内波假说”再次进行了讨论,进一步比较了二者的联系和区别.根据岩石圈板块概念和地幔对流假说的基本观点、以及“纬向正常密度假说”和“板块运动重力机制”的基本观点,提出了“软流圈板块”概念.     

A lithospheric model to interpret focal properties of intermediate and shallow shocks in central greece

Summary An attempt has been made to interpret the striking difference, in focal properties, between the intermediate and shallow earthquakes in Central Greece and an observed time sequence of these shocks by a lithospheric model. This model consists of a lithospheric slab descending from the Ionian to the Aegean and a back-arc expanding Aegean lithosphere. Thrust faulting near the top surface of the slab, caused by the sinking of the slab, triggers spreading and normal faulting in the back-arc Aegean region.     

龙门山断裂带及其周边地区重力场 和岩石层力学特性研究

继2008年汶川M_S8.0地震之后, 2013年4月20日又发生了芦山M_S7.0地震, 两次地震的发震构造同属龙门山断裂带. 根据最新的重力和地形资料, 采用岩石层弹性板模型, 计算了龙门山断裂带及其周边地区的二维岩石层有效弹性厚度分布, 并从岩石层的力学特征分析了穿过两次地震震中位置的重力剖面特征; 结合以往在该地区的研究成果, 分析了岩石层的力学变形问题. 结果表明, 以龙门山为界, 四川盆地所在的扬子板块弹性厚度为33(±4) km, 龙门山西北的松潘—甘孜地块的弹性厚度为13(±4) km, 两侧岩石层存在明显的力学强度差异. 包括两次地震震中范围的龙门山断裂带南部区域的有效弹性厚度值小于北部地区, 说明该区域的岩石层更容易发生变形, 可以解释在构造上具备强震发生的岩石层动力学条件.     

Review on study of seismotectonics in China

This paper reviews briefly the progresses made during the last four years (1999～2002) in study of seismotectonics in China, especially appraises the achievements in the fields of the crustal and upper mantle‘s structure, the active faults and tectonic setting of large earthquakes, the crustal deformation, and the numerical simulation. Most earth-quakes occurred in China belong to continental earthquakes. Therefore, Chinese seismologists pay more attention to the continental earthquakes. Based on improvements of the observation systems in China during the ninth Five-Year Plan, the studies on seismotectonics have achieved great progresses.     

Angular velocities of Nubia and Somalia from continuous GPS data: implications on present-day relative kinematics

This study focuses on the break-up of the African tectonic plate into separate Nubian and Somalian blocks, based on recent Global Positioning System (GPS) data. A new, unique velocity field has been obtained by processing all available observations of permanent GPS stations on Africa since 1996. The quantity and distribution of the stations and the length of the time-series of observations exceed that of previous studies by a considerable margin, allowing one to derive a reliable estimate of the differential motion between the Nubia and Somalian plates, which are considered as a single (African) block in the prevailing global tectonic plate models. The estimated relative pole of rotation of Somalia with respect to Nubia is located at 54.8°S; 37.0°E with magnitude −0.069°/Ma, implying distinct opening in the Ethiopian Rift of magnitude ≈7 mm/year and azimuth ≈N94°E, whereas in southeastern South Africa this value is reduced to ≈2 mm/year in almost the same direction. This is in accordance with some of the independent geological and geophysical tectonic models of the Nubia-Somalia plate boundary region. However, the spatial density of the current tracking network is still not optimal to establish the exact location of the entire Somalia-Nubia plate boundary; in particular, the possible branch east of Lake Victoria and heading towards the Mozambique Channel is impossible to confirm or reject at this moment.     

An elasto-visco-plastic model using the finite element method for crustal and lithospheric deformation

A novel numerical model based on solid deformation is presented in this paper. This thermo-mechanical model can simulate the tectonic evolution of crust and (lithospheric and asthenospheric) mantle under different conditions. Our implementation uses the finite element method (FEM) in order to solve the equations. As a Lagrangian approach is employed, remeshing techniques are implemented to avoid distortion problems when a certain deformation threshold is reached. The translation of the state between the old and new mesh is achieved by means of the information stored on Lagrangian particles, which minimizes the diffusion. The model is able to represent elastic, viscous and plastic behaviour inside the studied domain. Three types of creep mechanism (diffusion, dislocation and Peierls) are included. Two different quadrilateral isoparametric elements were implemented and can be employed to perform the calculations. The first one is an element with 4 nodes, selective reduced integration and a stabilization operator to diminish hourglass modes, which reduces the computational time needed. The second one has 8 nodes located in standard positions, uses full integration scheme and has no hourglass modes as it satisfies the Inf-Sup condition. Several test cases with known solutions were run to validate the different aspects of the implementation.