Open AccessMeltMigrator: A MATLAB‐based software for modeling three‐dimensional melt migration and crustal thickness variations at mid‐ocean ridges following a rules‐based approach
Author(s) -
Bai Hailong,
Montési Laurent G. J.,
Behn Mark D.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
geochemistry, geophysics, geosystems
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.928
H-Index - 136
ISSN - 1525-2027
DOI - 10.1002/2016gc006686
Subject(s) - geology , mid ocean ridge , mantle (geology) , geodynamics , seafloor spreading , mantle plume , ridge , geophysics , transform fault , petrology , seismology , tectonics , lithosphere , paleontology
Abstract MeltMigrator is a MATLAB ® ‐based melt migration software developed to process three‐dimensional mantle temperature and velocity data from user‐supplied numerical models of mid‐ocean ridges, calculate melt production and melt migration trajectories in the mantle, estimate melt flux along plate boundaries, and predict crustal thickness distribution on the seafloor. MeltMigrator is also capable of calculating compositional evolution depending on the choice of petrologic melting model. Programmed in modules, MeltMigrator is highly customizable and can be expanded to a wide range of applications. We have applied it to complex mid‐ocean ridge model settings, including transform faults, oblique segments, ridge migration, asymmetrical spreading, background mantle flow, and ridge‐plume interaction. In this technical report, we include an example application to a segmented mid‐ocean ridge. MeltMigrator is available as a supplement to this paper, and it is also available from GitHub and the University of Maryland Geodynamics Group website.