Journal
EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE LETTERS
Volume 257, Issue 1-2, Pages 29-36Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
DOI: 10.1016/j.epsl.2007.02.016
Keywords
subduction; oceanic plate; trench; laboratory experiments
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The motion of oceanic plates is commonly related to the subduction of cold and dense oceanic material into the mantle. These models predict plate velocities from subduction velocities but the trench motion is not directly included in the cornputation. Here, using a recent compilation of a global data set, we found that the motion of trenches (either advancing or retreating with respect to upper plates) scales with their corresponding subducting plates motion. Based on simple experimental tests, we found that subduction of strong slabs inside the upper mantle correctly predicts these kinematic relationships. We deduce that the motion of the trenches represent the surface manifestation of the resistance encountered by the subducting lithosphere to bend and penetrate within the upper mantle. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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