Future directions in subduction modeling

Gerya, Taras

doi:10.1016/j.jog.2011.06.005

Cited by 251 publications

(112 citation statements)

References 248 publications

(573 reference statements)

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“…In the first, a simple 2D model with a kinematically prescribed slab and a constant subduction rate (Table 1) is used. The advantage of a simple model is the limited parameter space, which allows the investigation of the "metamorphic density" in a systematic manner (Gerya, 2011). Therefore, we calculate the thermal structure down to a depth of 670 km (with a vertical resolution of 1000 m) to generate a steady state subduction zone.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relative impact of mantle densification and eclogitization of slabs on subduction dynamics: A numerical thermodynamic/thermokinematic investigation of metamorphic density evolution

et al. 2014

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Understanding the relationships between density and spatio-thermal variations at convergent plate boundaries is important for deciphering the present-day dynamics and evolution of subduction zones. In particular, the interaction between densification due to mineralogical phase transitions and slab pull forces is subject to ongoing investigations. We have developed a two-dimensional subduction zone model that is based on thermodynamic equilibrium assemblage calculations and includes the effects of melting processes on the density distribution in the lithosphere. Our model calculates the "metamorphic density" of rocks as a function of pressure, temperature, and chemical composition in a subduction zone down to 250 km. We have used this model to show how the hydration, dehydration, partial melting and fractionation processes of rocks all influence the metamorphic density and greatly depend on the temperature field within the subduction system. These processes are largely neglected by other approaches that reproduce the density distribution within this complex tectonic setting. Our model demonstrates that the initiation of eclogitization (i.e., when crustal rocks reach higher densities than the ambient mantle) of the slab is not the only significant process that makes the descending slab denser and generates the slab pull force. Instead, the densification of the lithospheric mantle of the sinking slab starts earlier than eclogitization and contributes significantly to slab pull in the early stages of subduction. Accordingly, the complex metamorphic structure of the slab and the mantle wedge has an important impact on the development of subduction zones.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relative impact of mantle densification and eclogitization of slabs on subduction dynamics: A numerical thermodynamic/thermokinematic investigation of metamorphic density evolution

et al. 2014

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“…Thus, the effect of the arc crust (Davidson, 1996;Davidson et al, 2005;Davidson et al, 2007;Kimura and Yoshida, 2006;Turner and Langmuir, 2015a) is not considered and will be discussed in a separate paper. Moreover, the serpentine mantle diapir model (Gerya, 2011;Gerya and Yuen, 2003;Marschall and Schumacher, 2012) is not considered because it does not effectively explain systematic across-arc geochemical variations found in many subduction systems Turner et al, 1997). However, the roles of melt diapirs formed by slab melting Tsuchiya and Kanisawa, 1994) are discussed because some felsic to intermediate arc magmas (e.g., adakite and high-Mg andesite) are thought to be the products of slab melts that subsequently interacted with the overriding wedge mantle Li et al, 2013;Martin, 1999;Moyen, 2009;Tatsumi and Hanyu, 2003).…”

Section: Mantle Wedgementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Water penetrating the mantle wedge lowers the mantle viscosity (van Keken et al, 2002) and solidus temperature (Green et al, 2014;Grove et al, 2006). The geodynamic responses are changes in the mantle-wedge flow due to the water-bearing mantle rheology (van Keken et al, 2002;Wilson et al, 2014) and the emergence of Rayleigh-Taylor instability by the formation of buoyant serpentinized mantle at the bottom of the mantle wedge (Gerya, 2011;Gerya and Yuen, 2003). Residual water in the slab and mantle returns to the deep Earth beyond the subduction zones (Hacker, 2008;Iwamori, 2000;van Keken et al, 2011), which can also affect the entire mantle convection process (Karato, 2010) and therefore the Earth's thermochemical evolution (Hirschmann, 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution of the northwestern margin of the Basin and Range: The geology and extensional history of the Warner Range and environs, northeastern California

Egger

Miller

2011

Geosphere

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“…In the past decades, numerical modelling of lithosphere subduction has advanced considerably by incorporating coupling between plates, between plates and mantle, and by incorporating the complexity of detailed subduction zone processes (see Gerya, 2011, for a review and references therein). Up to now modelling of regional subduction evolution is still being performed within spatially bound modelling domains in 2-D or 3-D (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using open sidewalls for modelling self-consistent lithosphere subduction dynamics

et al. 2012

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Abstract. Subduction modelling in regional model domains, in 2-D or 3-D, is commonly performed using closed (impermeable) vertical boundaries. Here we investigate the merits of using open boundaries for 2-D modelling of lithosphere subduction. Our experiments are focused on using open and closed (free slip) sidewalls while comparing results for two model aspect ratios of 3:1 and 6:1. Slab buoyancy driven subduction with open boundaries and free plates immediately develops into strong rollback with high trench retreat velocities and predominantly laminar asthenospheric flow. In contrast, free-slip sidewalls prove highly restrictive on subduction rollback evolution, unless the lithosphere plates are allowed to move away from the sidewalls. This initiates return flows pushing both plates toward the subduction zone speeding up subduction. Increasing the aspect ratio to 6:1 does not change the overall flow pattern when using open sidewalls but only the flow magnitude. In contrast, for freeslip boundaries, the slab evolution does change with respect to the 3:1 aspect ratio model and slab evolution does not resemble the evolution obtained with open boundaries using 6:1 aspect ratio. For models with open side boundaries, we could develop a flow-speed scaling based on energy dissipation arguments to convert between flow fields of different model aspect ratios. We have also investigated incorporating the effect of far-field generated lithosphere stress in our open boundary models. By applying realistic normal stress conditions to the strong part of the overriding plate at the sidewalls, we can transfer intraplate stress to influence subduction dynamics varying from slab roll-back, stationary subduction, to advancing subduction. The relative independence of the flow field on model aspect ratio allows for a smaller modelling domain. Open boundaries allow for subduction to evolve freely and avoid the adverse effects (e.g. forced return flows) of free-slip boundaries. We conclude that open boundaries in combination with intraplate stress conditions are to be preferred for modelling subduction evolution (rollback, stationary or advancing) using regional model domains.

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Future directions in subduction modeling

Cited by 251 publications

References 248 publications

Relative impact of mantle densification and eclogitization of slabs on subduction dynamics: A numerical thermodynamic/thermokinematic investigation of metamorphic density evolution

Relative impact of mantle densification and eclogitization of slabs on subduction dynamics: A numerical thermodynamic/thermokinematic investigation of metamorphic density evolution

Evolution of the northwestern margin of the Basin and Range: The geology and extensional history of the Warner Range and environs, northeastern California

Using open sidewalls for modelling self-consistent lithosphere subduction dynamics

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