Mantle avalanches and the dynamic topography of continents

Details Mantle avalanches and the dynamic topography of continents Mantle avalanches and the dynamic topography of continents

May 1997

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1997e%26psl.148..447p&link_type=abstract

Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Volume 148, Issue 3-4, p. 447-455.

Computer Science

17

Scientific paper

The dynamic topography of continents associated with mantle avalanche events are discussed. Our flow simulations involve two-dimensional axisymmetric multi-phase mantle models which incorporate compressibility and a realistic, factor of ~ 40, increase in viscosity with depth. The surface kinematic boundary conditions involve a mix of free and rigid (i.e., no-slip) constraints, with the latter intended to mimic the influence of a spherical continental cap. We find that avalanche events support regional vertical deflections of up to ~ 2.5 km. The horizontal length scale of the dynamic topography is ~ 2500 km and non-negligible deflections can persist on the order of 100-200 Ma. We also find that convergence rates in regions surrounding the continents are variable but can reach rates of the order of 3 cm/a. Finally, we speculate that an avalanche event may have been responsible for the development of the large-scale intracontinental basin system in the western interior of North America from the Early Devonian to Late Carboniferous.

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