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Partitioning of crustal shortening during continental collision: 2‐D thermomechanical modeling
Author(s) -
Liao Jie,
Gerya Taras
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: solid earth
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.983
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 2169-9356
pISSN - 2169-9313
DOI - 10.1002/2016jb013398
Subject(s) - geology , crust , continental crust , collision , continental collision , collision zone , crustal recycling , deformation (meteorology) , petrology , geophysics , seismology , lithosphere , tectonics , computer security , computer science , oceanography
Partitioning of crustal shortening between the colliding continental plates is highly variable in nature. Physical controls of such variability remain largely enigmatic and require quantitative understanding. In this study, we employ 2‐D thermomechanical numerical modeling to investigate the influence of the rheological properties of the continental crust on the dynamics and distribution of crustal shortening during continental collision. Three major physical parameters, (i) the mechanical strength of the upper crust, (ii) the Moho temperature, and (iii) the convergence rate, are investigated, and their influences on crustal shortening partitioning between the lower and upper plates are systematically documented. Numerical modeling results suggest that a strong upper crust of the lower plate, high Moho temperature, and slow convergence rate favor migration of crustal shortening from the lower to the upper plate. Our numerical modeling results compare well with natural observations from the Alpine orogenic system where variable partitioning of crustal deformation between the plates is documented.