Transient Injection of Flow: How Torn and Bent Slabs Induce Unusual Mantle Circulation Patterns Near a Flat Slab

Torn and bent slabs are usually associated with flat-slab subduction where the descending plate develops a horizontal geometry beneath the overlying continent. How such slab dynamics modify the surrounding mantle flow and the overriding plate remains enigmatic. Here, we conduct three-dimensional subduction numerical experiments to investigate the flat slab to steep-angle slab transition region and examine the impact of slab geometry changes on mantle flows. The results show that the along-strike change due to flattening a segment of slab induces oblique flow toward the mantle corner at the transition region where flat slab bends to steep-subducting slab. Slab tears can occur due to the buoyancy contrast between an oceanic ridge and the surrounding dense oceanic crust and/or presence of weak zones. A vertical tear at the side edge of a flat slab causes toroidal flow around the steep-angle slab where sub-slab mantle floods rapidly through the tear. Flow through the tear spreads to all directions including upwelling toward the continental base that may trigger slab and partial melting and thus affect arc magmatism. A horizontal tear that occurs ahead of the flat portion where slab resumes its steep-angle results in enhanced plate-motion parallel flow. Notably, the tear-induced flow behaves as a rapid injection through the slab breach with the peak velocity up to an order of magnitude higher than plate motion, lasting for 1-2 million years after initially tearing. This rapid pulse flow might be recorded in surface tectonics as distinct transient events of topography or metamorphism. Along trench variations in slab geometry due to bending and tearing during flat-slab development induces distinct mantle flowVertical tear generates toroidal flow along steep-subducting plate and horizontal tear induces plate-motion parallel flowTear induced flow is transient and the peak velocity is up to an order of magnitude higher than plate motion

Automated summary

The study finds that the deformation of flat slabs to steep-angle slabs induces oblique mantle flow. Slab tears are caused by the buoyancy contrast between the oceanic ridge and the dense oceanic crust, or the presence of weak zones. Slab tears trigger toroidal mantle flow and continental upwelling, affecting magma activity. Horizontal tears in flat slabs enhance plate-motion parallel flow. The tear-induced flow is transient, with peak velocity an order of magnitude higher than plate motion.