Open AccessMembrane Tectonics
Author(s) -
Turcotte D. L.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
geophysical journal of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.302
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1365-246X
pISSN - 0016-8009
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-246x.1974.tb03624.x
Subject(s) - lithosphere , geology , graben , deformation (meteorology) , seismology , tectonics , geophysics , latitude , magnitude (astronomy) , geodesy , physics , oceanography , astronomy
Summary Due to the ellipticity of the Earth the lithosphere must deform when its latitude changes. In this paper we approximate the lithosphere with an equivalent spherical dome and determine the membrane stresses associated with this deformation, Stresses of the order of kilobars are found. Stresses of this magnitude may result in propagating fractures in the lithosphere. Ocean island chains and graben valleys may be the result of such propagating fractures.