Computer Science
Scientific paper
Nov 1981
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1981e%26psl..55..463p&link_type=abstract
Earth and Planetary Science Letters, vol. 55, no. 3, Nov. 1981, p. 463-472.
Computer Science
3
Island Arcs, Lithosphere, Loads (Forces), Ocean Bottom, Plates (Tectonics), Convergence, Dynamic Models, Subduction (Geology), Topology, Vector Analysis, Viscosity
Scientific paper
Previous studies of plate dynamics suggest that, at consuming plate boundaries, driving forces (negative buoyancy) acting on the slab are counterbalanced by viscous forces, proportional to the consumption velocity and resisting the downgoing motion into the mantle. New observations on the geometry of subduction zones may help test this equilibrium theory. A condition for local equilibrium of the driving and resistive forces is that the consumption velocity remains constant along a given trench. From this condition, a geometrical property of the shape of trenches and island arcs on the sphere is inferred: the consuming margin of two plates should follow segments of helices about the axis of rotation of their relative motion. A comparison of the shape of island arcs and trenches with helices supports this inference.
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