Subduction initiation (SI) is key to study the evolution of the solid Earth and has profound implications for plate motion (

No abstract

It is generally accepted that the subduction polarity reversal (SPR) results from the strong collision of two plates. Yet, the SPR of the Solomon Back-arc Basin is started in the "soft docking" stage, and the mechanism by which the "soft docking" induced subduction initiation (SI) remains elusive. We find that the mass depletion of the plateau influences the evolution of the subduction patterns during SI. And the island arc rheological strength affects the development of the shear zone between an island arc and back-arc basin which favors SI. What's more, with the increase of the rheological strength difference, the SI is more easily to occur, and the contribution of the plateau collision to SI weakens. Hence, by combining the available geological evidence, we suggest that the Solomon Island Arc rheological strength and the Ontong-Java plateau collision jointly controlled the SI during the "soft docking" stage.Hosted file supplemental information.docx available at https://authorea.com/users/523836/articles/ 595329-subduction-initiation-at-the-soloman-back-arc-basin-contributions-from-bothisland-arc-rheological-strength-and-oceanic-plateau-collision Hosted file essoar.10510166.1.docx available at https://authorea.com/users/523836/articles/595329subduction-initiation-at-the-soloman-back-arc-basin-contributions-from-both-island-arcrheological-strength-and-oceanic-plateau-collision Subduction initiation at the Soloman back-arc basin: Contributions from both island arc rheological strength and oceanic plateau collision

No abstract