A low viscosity wedge in subduction zones

Details A low viscosity wedge in subduction zones A low viscosity wedge in subduction zones

Nov 2001

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2001e%26psl.193..227b&link_type=abstract

Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Volume 193, Issue 1-2, p. 227-236.

Mathematics

Logic

54

Scientific paper

Geochemical, petrologic and seismological observations indicate that there may be high concentrations of water in the region above a subducting slab (the mantle wedge), which could decrease the viscosity of the mantle locally by several orders of magnitude. Using numerical models we demonstrate that a low viscosity wedge has a dramatic influence on the force balance in a subduction zone and leads to an observable signal in the topography, gravity and geoid. A regional dynamic model of the Tonga-Kermadec subduction zone shows that the viscosity of the wedge is at least a factor of 10 smaller than surrounding mantle lithosphere and asthenosphere, consistent with estimates from seismic dissipation and deformation experiments.

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