Journal
EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE LETTERS
Volume 193, Issue 1-2, Pages 227-236Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
DOI: 10.1016/S0012-821X(01)00482-4
Keywords
subduction zones; viscosity; gravity anomalies; topography; Tonga Trench; Kermadec Trench
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Geochemical, petrologic and seismological observations indicate that there may be high concentrations of water in the region above a subducting slab (the mantle wedge), which could decrease the viscosity of the mantle locally by several orders of magnitude. Using numerical models we demonstrate that a low viscosity wedge has a dramatic influence on the force balance in a subduction zone and leads to an observable signal in the topography, gravity and geoid. A regional dynamic model of the Tonga-Kermadec subduction zone shows that the viscosity of the wedge is at least a factor of 10 smaller than surrounding mantle lithosphere and asthenosphere. consistent with estimates from seismic dissipation and deformation experiments. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available