A benchmark comparison of spontaneous subduction models—Towards a free surface

Schmeling, Harro; Babeyko, Andrey; Enns, A.; Faccenna, Claudio; Funiciello, Francesca; Gerya, Taras; Golabek, Gregor J.; Grigull, Susanne; Kaus, Boris; Morra, Gabriele; Schmalholz, Stefan M.; Hunen, Jeroen van

doi:10.1016/j.pepi.2008.06.028

Cited by 395 publications

(275 citation statements)

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“…All four benchmarks describe multimaterial flow models and some include the modeling of Earth's free surface by means of a sticky air layer. The benchmarks are the Rayleigh-Taylor instability from Van Keken et al (1997), the post-glacial rebound setup from Crameri et al (2012), the free subduction benchmark from Schmeling et al (2008) and the simplified slab detachment setup from Schmalholz (2011). The first benchmark models the overturn of a gravitationally unstable compositional layering and is often used in the geodynamical modeling community.…”

Section: Benchmarksmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1b) was presented as a benchmark in Schmeling et al (2008) and this particular setup had been performed by five different codes therein. It involves three different materials: a sticky air layer, an idealized slab which subducted for a 100 km and a mantle.…”

Section: Subduction Benchmarkmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For instance multiple materials are important to investigate the influence of an oceanic crust on the decoupling of subducting and overriding plates as well as on the buoyancy of the subducting slab (Běhounková andČižková, 2008;van Hunen and van den Berg, 2008;Androvičová et al, 2013); they are also important for research involving subduction termination by continental collision (e.g., Baumann et al, 2010;Magni et al, 2012). Other studies focus on the influence of complex rheologies on slab dynamics (Billen and Hirth, 2007;Andrews and Billen, 2009); finally, the aim of many recent studies has been to investigate the influence and response of a free surface in subduction modeling (e.g., Schmeling et al, 2008;Gerya et al, 2009;Quinquis et al, 2011;Duretz et al, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Using the level set method in geodynamical modeling of multi-material flows and Earth's free surface

et al. 2014

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Abstract. The level set method allows for tracking material surfaces in 2-D and 3-D flow modeling and is well suited for applications of multi-material flow modeling. The level set method utilizes smooth level set functions to define material interfaces, which makes the method stable and free of oscillations that are typically observed in case step-like functions parameterize interfaces. By design the level set function is a signed distance function and gives for each point in the domain the exact distance to the interface as well as on which side it is located. In this paper we present four benchmarks which show the validity, accuracy and simplicity of using the level set method for multi-material flow modeling. The benchmarks are simplified setups of dynamical geophysical processes such as the Rayleigh-Taylor instability, post-glacial rebound, subduction and slab detachment. We also demonstrate the benefit of using the level set method for modeling a free surface with the sticky air approach. Our results show that the level set method allows for accurate material flow modeling and that the combination with the sticky air approach works well in mimicking Earth's free surface. Since the level set method tracks material interfaces instead of materials themselves, it has the advantage that the location of these interfaces is accurately known and that it represents a viable alternative to the more commonly used tracer method.

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Section: Benchmarksmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Subduction Benchmarkmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Using the level set method in geodynamical modeling of multi-material flows and Earth's free surface

et al. 2014

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“…The viscosity of the lower mantle is 50 times that of the upper mantle. A 100 km layer of "sticky air" (Schmeling et al, 2008;Crameri et al, 2012a, b) is placed at the top of the model. The model space is gridded using a grid of 1024 × 256 grid points, with vertical refinement around the air/rock interface.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These models use a pseudo-free surface in the form of a low density layer at the top of the model called sticky air (Schmeling et al, 2008). The viscosity of the air is 10 18 Pa s, 10 times lower than the minimum allowed viscosity of the mantle material.…”

Section: The Surfacementioning

confidence: 99%

The subduction dichotomy of strong plates and weak slabs

2017

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Abstract. A key element of plate tectonics on Earth is that the lithosphere is subducting into the mantle. Subduction results from forces that bend and pull the lithosphere into the interior of the Earth. Once subducted, lithospheric slabs are further modified by dynamic forces in the mantle, and their sinking is inhibited by the increase in viscosity of the lower mantle. These forces are resisted by the material strength of the lithosphere. Using geodynamic models, we investigate several subduction models, wherein we control material strength by setting a maximum viscosity for the surface plates and the subducted slabs independently. We find that models characterized by a dichotomy of lithosphere strengths produce a spectrum of results that are comparable to interpretations of observations of subduction on Earth. These models have strong lithospheric plates at the surface, which promotes Earth-like single-sided subduction. At the same time, these models have weakened lithospheric subducted slabs which can more easily bend to either lie flat or fold into a slab pile atop the lower mantle, reproducing the spectrum of slab morphologies that have been interpreted from images of seismic tomography.

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Quantifying the impact of mechanical layering and underthrusting on the dynamics of the modern India‐Asia collisional system with 3‐D numerical models

et al. 2014

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The impact of mechanical layering and the strength of the Indian lower crust on the dynamics of the modern India-Asia collisional system are studied using 3-D thermomechanical modeling. The model includes an Indian oceanic domain, Indian continental domain, and an Asian continental domain. Each domain consists of four layers: upper/lower crust, and upper/lower lithospheric mantle. The Tarim and Sichuan Basins are modeled as effectively rigid blocks and the Quetta-Chaman and Sagaing strike-slip faults as vertical weak zones. The geometry, densities, and viscosities are constrained by geophysical data sets (CRUST2.0, gravity, and seismology). Both static (no horizontal movement of model boundaries) and dynamic scenarios (indentation) are modeled. It is demonstrated that 3-D viscosity distributions resulting from typical creep flow laws and temperature fields generate realistic surface velocities. Lateral variations in the gravitational potential energy cause locally significant tectonic overpressure (i.e., difference between pressure and lithostatic pressure) in a mechanically strong Indian lower crust (up to~500 MPa for the static scenario and~800 MPa for the dynamic scenario). Different density distributions in the lithosphere as well as different viscosities (3 orders of magnitude) in the Indian lower crust cause only minor differences in the surface velocity field. This result suggests that

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A benchmark comparison of spontaneous subduction models—Towards a free surface

Cited by 395 publications

References 45 publications

Using the level set method in geodynamical modeling of multi-material flows and Earth's free surface

Using the level set method in geodynamical modeling of multi-material flows and Earth's free surface

The subduction dichotomy of strong plates and weak slabs

Quantifying the impact of mechanical layering and underthrusting on the dynamics of the modern India‐Asia collisional system with 3‐D numerical models

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