Simple analytic model for subduction zone thermal structure

Davies, John ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2656-0260 1999. Simple analytic model for subduction zone thermal structure. Geophysical Journal International 139 (3) , pp. 823-828. 10.1046/j.1365-246x.1999.00991.x

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Abstract

A new analytic model is presented for the thermal structure of subduction zones. It applies to the deeper regions of a subduction zone, where the overriding mantle is no longer rigid but flows parallel to the slab surface. The model captures the development of one thermal boundary layer out into the mantle wedge, and another into the subducting slab. By combining this model with the analytic model of Royden (1993a,b), which applies to regions in which the overriding plate is rigid, a nearly complete analytic model for the thermal structure of a steady-state subduction zone can be achieved. A good agreement is demonstrated between the output of the combined analytic model and a numerical finite element calculation. The advantages of this analytic approach include (1) efficiency (only limited computing resources are needed); (2) flexibility (non-linear slab shape, and processes such as erosion, and shear heating are easily incorporated); and (3) transparency (the effect of changes in input variables can be seen directly).

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Earth and Environmental Sciences
Subjects:	Q Science > QE Geology
Uncontrolled Keywords:	analytic model; subduction thermal structure; subduction zone
Additional Information:	Pdf uploaded in accordance with publisher's policy at http://www.sherpa.ac.uk/romeo/issn/0956-540X/ (accessed 19/02/2014).
Publisher:	Royal Astronomical Society
ISSN:	0956-540X
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	30 March 2016
Last Modified:	05 May 2023 16:30
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/10774

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