Dynamics of Plate Tectonics and Mantle Flow: From Local to Global Scales

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 329; no. 5995; pp. 1033 - 1038
• Main Authors: Stadler, Georg, Gurnis, Michael, Burstedde, Carsten, Wilcox, Lucas C, Alisic, Laura, Ghattas, Omar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Association for the Advancement of Science 27.08.2010; The American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subjects: Algorithms; Boundaries; Computer simulation; Convergent boundaries; Dissipation; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Earthquakes; Exact sciences and technology; Flow velocity; Geomorphology; Geophysics; Internal geophysics; Kinematics; Kinetics; Lithosphere; Lower mantle; Mantle; Mathematical models; Plate tectonics; Slabs; Solid-earth geophysics, tectonophysics, gravimetry; Strain rate; Tectonic plate interactions; Tectonics. Structural geology. Plate tectonics; Viscosity; plate movement; strain rates; algorithms; models; simulation; thermal anomalies; lithosphere; velocity; plate tectonics; dynamics; viscosity; extension tectonics; back-arc basins; mantle; subduction zones; plate boundaries; flow; trenches; oceanic crust; high resolution
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.1191223

Plate tectonics is regulated by driving and resisting forces concentrated at plate boundaries, but observationally constrained high-resolution models of global mantle flow remain a computational challenge. We capitalized on advances in adaptive mesh refinement algorithms on parallel computers to simulate global mantle flow by incorporating plate motions, with individual plate margins resolved down to a scale of 1 kilometer. Back-arc extension and slab rollback are emergent consequences of slab descent in the upper mantle. Cold thermal anomalies within the lower mantle couple into oceanic plates through narrow high-viscosity slabs, altering the velocity of oceanic plates. Viscous dissipation within the bending lithosphere at trenches amounts to approximately 5 to 20% of the total dissipation through the entire lithosphere and mantle.