Published September 22, 1988
| public
Journal Article
Controls of the structure of subducted slabs
- Creators
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Gurnis, Michael
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Hager, Bradford H.
Chicago
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Abstract
Numerical simulations of subducting slabs are formulated in which the shape and dip of the slab are determined by the dynamics of the flow, rather than imposed a priori. The dip of slabs is a function of the time since the initiation of subduction. Slabs fold, develop a kink in dip, and thicken on entry into a high-viscosity lower mantle. Comparison of the simulations with seismic observations suggest that the lower mantle is at least 10–30 times more viscous than the upper mantle.
Additional Information
© 1988 Nature Publishing Group. This work was supported by the National Science Foundation and the Ametek Corporation. Computing was carried out on the facilities of the San Diego Supercomputer Center; we thank Steve Lamont at SDSC for assistance in animating the simulations.Additional details
- Eprint ID
- 37290
- Resolver ID
- CaltechAUTHORS:20130305-082158626
- NSF
- Ametek Corporation
- Created
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2013-03-06Created from EPrint's datestamp field
- Updated
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2021-11-09Created from EPrint's last_modified field
- Caltech groups
- Seismological Laboratory