Subduction initiation at passive margins: The Scotian Basin, eastern Canada as a potential example

Erickson, S. Gregg; Arkani‐Hamed, J.

doi:10.1029/92tc02602

Cited by 29 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 53 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…To start the process, the silicone plate is initially bent inside the syrup to reach the critical amount of an unstable wedge (corresponding to ∼200 km in nature) to initiate subduction (Figure 2). The problems linked to initiation of subduction are beyond the scope of this paper [ McKenzie , 1977; Mueller and Phillips , 1991; Ericksson and Arkani‐Hamed , 1993; Faccenna et al , 1999; Regenauer‐Lieb et al , 2001]. …”

Section: Model Setupmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In analytical models the role of resistance to sliding along a subduction fault is considered to be the principal factor inhibiting the initiation of subduction [ McKenzie , 1977; Mueller and Phillips , 1991; Ericksson and Arkani‐Hamed , 1993]. In the literature cited above, its value has been estimated to be in the range of 4.8 × 10 12 to 3 × 10 13 N m −1 .…”

Section: Assessment Of Forcesmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Dynamics of retreating slabs: 2. Insights from three‐dimensional laboratory experiments

et al. 2003

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

[1] A laboratory analogue of a three-layer linear viscous slab-upper mantle-lower mantle system is established in a silicone putty, honey and crystallized honey tank experiment. The same setup as in the numerical investigation (part 1) is used. We focus on the interaction of the slab with the induced passive mantle flow by widely varying the mantle volume flux boundary conditions. In our numerical experiments the lateral volume flux was set to zero. In interpreting the results relative to the real Earth, the base of the box is taken as the bottom of the mantle convection system, while the lateral boundaries may be associated with the presence of other nearby slabs. Dynamic force equilibrium, assessed on the basis of an analytical review of forces, is described for four different phases: (1) the subduction initiation instability, (2) the accelerating dynamic free fall phase of the slab, (3) the dynamic interaction with the 660-km discontinuity, and (4) a final phase of steady state trench retreat. Phase 3 is an important feature not observed in the numerical experiments. This highly dynamic phase of interrupted trench retreat can therefore be attributed to boundary conditions on mantle volume flux. On the basis of integration constants of force equilibrium in phases 2 and 4 we identify two different classes of volume flux: one in which the lateral boundary can be considered open and the other class where it is ''closed.'' Closed boundary condition cases are obtained if any of the lateral box boundaries are 600 km away from the slab. Assuming a one-to-one relation between trench retreat and back arc spreading, enigmatic observations of episodic opening of back arc basins can be explained by our experimental observations.

show abstract

Section: Model Setupmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Assessment Of Forcesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dynamics of retreating slabs: 2. Insights from three‐dimensional laboratory experiments

et al. 2003

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Both are not the case for the Earth. (For the comparison of σ I and σ R , see Mueller and Phillips [1991] and Erickson and Arkani‐Hamed [1993].) I chose the values of Γ and other parameters equal to that of case Had1 of paper 3, where the lithosphere falls on the plate‐like regime, in most of the cases shown in Table 1.…”

Section: Model Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chemical stratification in a two‐dimensional convecting mantle with magmatism and moving plates

Ogawa

2003

J. Geophys. Res.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

[1] A self-consistent numerical model is presented for magmatism in a convecting mantle with moving plates. Mantle convection is modeled as a thermal-chemical convection of binary eutectic material with Newtonian rheology in a two-dimensional rectangular box internally heated by radioactive elements. Viscosity is assumed to depend on stress history as well as temperature and pressure to self-consistently reproduce moving plates. The barrier effect of the solid-solid phase transitions at depths around 660 km to convective flow across the 660 km phase boundary is also taken into account. Magmatism is modeled as a permeable flow of basaltic melt produced upon decompression melting of the convecting material through the coexisting matrix. Magmatism makes mantle chemically stratified with the shallower part occupied by chemically buoyant residue of magma and the deeper part occupied by hot but chemically dense materials enriched in basaltic component even under the influence of moving plates and subducting slabs. The magmatism is induced by moving plates (ridge volcanism), mantle overturn, and hot plumes uprising from the 660 km phase boundary or the lower mantle, depending upon the internal heating rate and the strength of the 660 km barrier. A weaker 660 km barrier leads to more continuous plate tectonics. When plates move, subducting slabs penetrate deep into the lower mantle and induce broad thermal and chemical heterogeneity at depth in the lower mantle. The chemically stratified mantle with moving plates is compared to the Earth's mantle.

show abstract

“…On the other hand, examples of compressive deformations at passive margins are documented only in a few sites. These include the region off Iberia in the Atlantic Ocean [ Cloething et al , 1990; Masson et al , 1994, Alvarez‐Marron et al , 1997], the British Isles [ Ziegler et al , 1995], the Scotian basin in eastern Canada [ Erickson and Arkani‐Hamed , 1993], and the Fiordland Region in New Zealand [ House et al , 2002]. …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seismotectonics of the Nubia plate compressive margin in the south Tyrrhenian region, Italy: Clues for subduction inception

Billi¹,

Presti²,

Faccenna³

et al. 2007

J. Geophys. Res.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

[1] Seismological and structural data are used to constrain the active tectonics of the Nubia plate compressive margin in southern Italy. In this region, compressional displacements have resumed at the rear of the Maghrebian orogenic wedge since about 700-500 ka and are presently accommodated along a seismic belt in the south Tyrrhenian area, where a passive margin has developed during late Neogene-Quaternary times. Earthquake data from the south Tyrrhenian belt are analyzed with Bayloc, a probabilistic nonlinear location method. Results show that the seismic belt is segmented and involves a series of NE-SW and NW-SE elongated clusters. The NE-SW clusters are interpreted as high-angle reverse fault zones verging toward the southeast, whereas the perpendicular clusters are interpreted as possible strike-slip fault zones transferring the contractional displacements to advanced segments of the belt in the southeast. Brittle deformations observed in the Quaternary volcanic island of Ustica are consistent with the geometry and kinematics of the seismic belt deduced from the seismological data. The south Tyrrhenian active belt may constitute an early stage of subduction of the Tyrrhenian oceanic crust beneath Sicily. A similar scenario has been hypothesized also for the westward prolongation of the south Tyrrhenian belt off the Algerian coast. By integrating instrumental and historical seismic data with tectonic evidences, we infer that the south Tyrrhenian belt is probably capable of producing earthquakes with a maximum size close to magnitude 7. The analyzed data suggest a multifault system behavior for the studied compressional belt. This inference is important to estimate and mitigate the seismic and tsunamic hazards in such a densely populated region.

show abstract

Subduction initiation at passive margins: The Scotian Basin, eastern Canada as a potential example

Cited by 29 publications

References 53 publications

Dynamics of retreating slabs: 2. Insights from three‐dimensional laboratory experiments

Dynamics of retreating slabs: 2. Insights from three‐dimensional laboratory experiments

Chemical stratification in a two‐dimensional convecting mantle with magmatism and moving plates

Seismotectonics of the Nubia plate compressive margin in the south Tyrrhenian region, Italy: Clues for subduction inception

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About