1 / 21

Geometry & Rates of 3D Mantle Flow in Subduction Zones

Geometry & Rates of 3D Mantle Flow in Subduction Zones. Magali I. Billen U.C. Davis Dept. of Geology MARGINS Successor Program Workshop, Feb. 15-17, 2010. MARGINS & Geodynamic Modeling. Models of wedge convection Rheology (deformation mechanisms, fabrics, LPO directions, dynamics)

tadita
Download Presentation

Geometry & Rates of 3D Mantle Flow in Subduction Zones

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Geometry & Rates of 3D Mantle Flow in Subduction Zones Magali I. Billen U.C. Davis Dept. of Geology MARGINS Successor Program Workshop, Feb. 15-17, 2010

  2. MARGINS & Geodynamic Modeling • Models of wedge convection • Rheology (deformation mechanisms, fabrics, LPO directions, dynamics) • Fluids, petrology... • Mostly kinematic slabs & mostly 2D

  3. How will Geodynamics fit into a MARGINS Successor Program? • Develop better tools for... • 3D & time-dependent models • Dynamic slabs (evolving trench & slab geometry) • Coupling & tracking fluid & melt migration flow • Understanding of special processes • ie., subduction initiation, slab detachment, flat slabs... We’re making progress here but it takes time to develop and test the required numerical methods.

  4. How will Geodynamics fit into a MARGINS Successor Program? 2. Integrate modeling with all stages of MARGINS research • Guide deployment of seismic stations, sample collection, etc... • Region specific models • Analyze/interpret results from various focus sites • Generic (process-related) & regional models • Integrate & interpret multi-disciplinary observations

  5. Two Illustrative Examples • Ridge-Trench Interaction • PhD candidate Erin Burkett • 3D Mantle Flow at a Slab Edge • Margarete Jadamec (PhD 2009) ... illustrate two ways in which geodynamic modeling can be even better integrated into a MARGINS successor program.

  6. Ex. 1: Ridge-Trench Interaction Burkett & Billen, JGR 2009

  7. Detachments & Plate Strength • Detachment: integrated strength of subducted lithosphere => less than stress from sinking slab • plate age & rock yield strength.

  8. Regions With Slab Detachment? • Costa Rica (continued sub.) & Baja Calif. (halted sub.) • What are effects of 3D geometry?

  9. 3D Ridge-Trench Interaction Temperature isosurface ridge trench Slab viscosity isosurface

  10. 3D Ridge-Trench Interaction • Side view • Front view

  11. 3D Ridge-Trench Interaction • Slab sinking induces complex 3D flow & interaction with approaching ridge & small-scale instabilities.

  12. Ex. 2: 3D Flow Models of Alaska • Detailed regional model (2 km resolution). • Slab shape constructed from seismic observations.

  13. Geometry of 3D Flow at a Slab Edge • Corner-flow dominates away from slab edge. • Slab is steepening (sinking back & down). • Toroidal flow around slab edge (slab-parallel flow).

  14. Decoupling of Plate & Mantle Flow • Pacific plate motion matches observations. • Speed and direction. • Mantle flows at rates of up to 90 cm/yr. • Slab-parallel component near slab edge ~ 10 cm/yr. • Significant decoupling of mantle flow from plates.

  15. Evidence For Fast Mantle Flow • Costa Rica: tracking isotopic signature transport along arc. • 6.5 - 19.0 cm/yr • Sub. Rate: 8.5 cm/yr Hoernle et al., Nature 2008. • If slab-parallel component is fraction (10 %) of mantle flow, predicts mantle flow rates of > 65 cm/yr

  16. ISA orientation, LPO & SKS Fast-Axis • ISA can be non-parallel to mantle flow • wedge, slab edge. -- need B-type fabric in wedge nose. • ISA match observations of SKS fast-axis orientations (from Christensen & Abers, 2009).

  17. ISA Sensitive to Rheology & Geometry • Need broad (strategic) distribution of observations • Can distinguish successful models from unsuccessful

  18. 3D Geometry of ISA Orientation • Highly variable orientations in the mantle wedge: shallow horizontal, dipping slab-parallel, middle dipping and...

  19. 3D Geometry of ISA Orientations • Need: Better calculation of LPO from flow (A,B...) • 3D analysis of seismic anisotropy data & model results. Slab-parallel stretching

  20. Conclusions • Many opportunities to use dynamic modeling • to integrate observations & test hypothesis, • to help plan other experiments & observations. • Need to create a strategy for development of better numerical methods for future MARGINS sceince. • What tools do we need most now? • How do we create these tool in tandem with collection & interpretation of data (field or laboratory-based)? • How do we leverage work being done by CIG (Computational Infrastructure for Geodynamics)?

More Related